Perfect Wreckage

by Cowles, Catherine

  My legs hooked over his hips, heels digging into his ass. I needed him deeper. So deep, the imprint he left would never disappear. Crosby seemed to silently understand, changing his angle and his speed again. Suddenly, he was everywhere, each thrust reverberating in every muscle.

  My back arched as I welcomed him, trying to grab hold of what it was to feel him like this. I never wanted to forget what it felt like to be wholly his. And as I came apart, I knew I never would.

  * * *

  I came awake slowly as if emerging from a year-long coma. I blinked at the brightly lit space. What time was it? I glanced at the clock, and my mouth fell open. Ten a.m.? I hadn’t slept that late since I was in college. But I had to admit, it felt good. My rest the past few weeks had been rocky, to say the least.

  I rolled onto my back and stretched. Apparently, I’d needed the solid eleven hours. And I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it, even if there were a million and one things that needed doing. I pushed up to a sitting position, the rush of blood making me feel dizzy for a moment. Geez, I felt as if I’d been drugged.

  I gave myself a moment before standing and grabbing my slippers and robe. I made a quick pit stop in the bathroom to brush my teeth and then headed for the kitchen. The heavenly scents that greeted me stopped me in my tracks. Crosby moved around the space with complete ease, as if he owned every last inch of it. Gray sweatpants hung low on his hips. A plain white tee stretched across his muscled chest. I fought the urge to lick my lips.

  Crosby’s gaze locked with mine as he turned. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. I was worried I would have to break your spell with some magic kiss.”

  I laughed, rounding the island and wrapping my arms around him. That phantom energy that always followed Crosby swirled around us. “I haven’t slept that long in years.”

  He pressed his lips to my temple. “You needed it. You’ve had a long few weeks.”

  “What are you still doing here? Don’t you need to be at work?”

  Crosby tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m not due back in court until tomorrow, and I’m prepared. I can take a few hours off this morning.”

  I burrowed farther into his chest. “I’m not going to argue with that.” It should’ve terrified me that I relished his company so much. But I was sick of being scared all the time. I just wanted to live in the here and now. My stomach growled—loudly.

  Crosby chuckled. “All that sleep got you hungry?”

  “I guess so. What did you make me?”

  He made a Vanna White gesture at the stove. “Bacon, eggs, and biscuits.”

  It looked amazing. I wasn’t usually a huge bacon fan, but even that smelled delicious. I guessed that’s what happened when you slept half the day away. “Load me up.”

  “Happy to.”

  Crosby released me and dished us both up heaping plates of breakfast. We chatted about nothing important as we ate, and before long, I’d consumed every last bite of food. I patted my stomach. “Thank you. That was perfect.”

  Crosby leaned over and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Anytime.”

  “Have you talked to Zoe recently?” With all the craziness, we hadn’t been out to visit her lately, and I didn’t want her to feel as if we’d abandoned her.

  Crosby nodded as he set his coffee mug down. “We video chatted yesterday. I told her a CliffsNotes version of what’s been going on. She gets that things are going to be busy for a while. She seems to really be settling in at the Wilsons’. Ingrid said she even had a friend from her soccer team sleep over.”

  Warmth spread through my chest. “That’s a great sign. I still want to get over there as soon as we can.”

  Crosby gave my thigh a squeeze. “We will. I don’t think this trial will last more than another week or two.”

  My stomach twisted at his words. The trial would be over, but did that mean I would be out of a home? I let my eyes fall closed and took a deep breath. I had to stay positive, send out every hope that the judge would see through the Abbots’ concerned family act to their grasping greed.

  Crosby’s hands cupped my face. “I’m optimistic. I really am.”

  I pressed my lips to his. “You’ve done an amazing job with this case.” He’d searched out teachers and neighbors I never thought he’d find to cast doubt on Janet’s testimony. He’d found medical experts to support Dr. Kipton’s statement of Harriet’s state of mind. He’d given everything he had to try and help me keep my home. “I love you” was on the tip of my tongue again, but I held it back.

  “Thank you.”

  One of his hands slid down my face to squeeze the back of my neck. “Anything for you.”

  Not quite. I hated that the thought even entered my mind, but it didn’t make it any less true. Crosby would give me anything but a promise of a future. A family. And there was a little voice inside me that wondered if I could live with that. I pushed it aside, opting to kiss him instead.

  “I’ll take that as payment for legal services any day.”

  I laughed and began gathering up our dishes. “Isn’t that against the rules somewhere?”

  “I could get disbarred, but it would be worth it.”

  I grinned down at the dishes as I crossed to the sink. “You’re incorrigible.”

  Crosby followed behind me, pressing a kiss to my neck. “And that’s just how you like me.”

  It was true. The boyish energy that used to drive me up a wall was now one of the things I loved most about Crosby. It was as if he saw the world as his playground in the best way possible. He wanted to see and experience everything. And he could turn the simplest of activities into the grandest of adventures.

  “So, what are your plans for the day?” he asked.

  I rinsed our plates, sticking them into the dishwasher. “I’m going to head to the realtor and see if there are any office spaces for rent in town. Hopefully, I can check a few out.”

  Crosby handed me our empty coffee mugs. “Sounds good… Be careful, okay?”

  My hands stilled in the sink. “You’re that worried about Grant?”

  Crosby scrubbed a hand over his stubble that had grown to the point of almost being a short beard. “I’m probably being overly cautious, but I’d rather be too careful than reckless. He’s going to get more desperate the worse this case gets for him.”

  I shut off the water and wrapped my arms around Crosby’s waist. “I’ll be careful. I’ve got my phone. I’ll call if he shows up anywhere.” And if Grant gave me any more trouble, I had a nice can of pepper spray in my purse just for him.

  39

  Crosby

  “I’m going to grab a sandwich from The General Store. You want anything?” I wasn’t even that hungry after Kenna’s and my monster breakfast, but I needed a break. I’d gone over and over my cross-examination for Janet, the questions I had for the other witnesses who would be on the stand tomorrow. I needed some fresh air to clear my head.

  Penny looked up from her computer. “I’m good, hun. Got the world of leftovers from everything I made for the knitting circle last night.”

  My lips twitched as I eyed Penny. “You struggling today? I know how wild and crazy those ladies can be…”

  “Oh, hush, you.” She chuckled at my look. “Okay, I might’ve had a little too much of your fancy scotch last night, but the meeting was at my house, so I didn’t have to drive.”

  I grinned at my assistant. “Want me to pick you up a little hair of the dog?”

  Penny made a shooing motion. “Get out of here before I paddle you.”

  I arched a brow in her direction. “Kinky. I like it.”

  “Crosby McCoy, I will tan your hide, and there will be nothing pleasurable about the experience if you don’t stop that talk right now.”

  I held up both hands in surrender as I backed out of the office. “I’m on my best behavior, promise.”

  Penny shook her head. “You wouldn’t know best behavior if it bit you on the butt.”

  “Let�
��s hope it doesn’t.”

  I headed out into the afternoon sun, the fresh air and the verbal sparring session with Penny already doing wonders to clear my head. Gravel crunched under my feet as I walked across the parking lot to the store. My steps faltered as I took in a figure getting out of a ridiculously expensive vehicle. A muscle in my jaw ticked as I forced my gaze away from Grant Abbot and towards the store. The last thing I needed was an altercation with the opposing side of a case. I picked up my pace and headed for the store’s entrance.

  “Crosby.”

  The voice alone had my blood heating. All I could see in my mind was Kenna’s tear-soaked face. All I could feel was the way her body had shook as she sobbed. This man had put her through hell once before and was eager to do it again. I turned on my heel. “Yes?”

  “Good to see you.”

  “I wish I could say the same.”

  Grant’s brows rose. “Can’t we be civil? We’re not in the courtroom, after all.”

  I forced my hands to stay relaxed, to not give anything away. “I have a hard time being civil to someone who has hurt the people I care about. Someone who’s a miserable excuse for a human being.”

  Grant’s eyes flared. “I see Kenna is telling her lies again.”

  “And what lies would those be?” I was curious what tale Grant had invented to cover his bad behavior. I wondered if he’d even convinced himself the story was true.

  He straightened. “She has a few different ones that she likes to tell, so I can’t be sure what she’s filled your head with. But you should know, this isn’t the first time she’s tried to swindle money out of my family.”

  “Oh, by that, you mean asking you to be a responsible father for the daughter you helped to create?” The person in front of me was the worst kind of excuse of a man. One who never took responsibility for his actions and didn’t care who he crushed to get what he wanted. Nothing mattered to Grant but himself.

  Heat crept into Grant’s cheeks. “It was never proven that the child was mine. She was likely cheating on me with someone else.”

  “You know that’s not true.” Anyone that Kenna let in knew the fierce loyalty of her nature. She could no more cheat on someone than sprout wings and fly to the moon. “She loved you. Trusted you. And you broke her. Worse than that, you let your vicious parents at her when she was scared and alone. You don’t deserve to breathe.”

  A sneer stretched across Grant’s face. “I’m pretty sure that was a threat, Counselor.”

  “What are you going to do? Crawl back to Mommy and Daddy? Beg for them to make all of your problems go away? Isn’t that always what you do?”

  The redness in Grant’s face intensified to the point where I wondered if he might have a stroke. I wouldn’t rush to call nine-one-one if he did. “I see someone’s been spreading her legs along with her lies. That’s how she always gets wealthy men to bend to her will—”

  I saw red. Before I could think, I lunged. Two sets of arms pulled me back before my fist could connect with the asshole’s face.

  “Don’t give him any more ammunition than he already has. You’ll hate yourself if you’re the reason Kenna loses her home.” Ford gave my arm a stern shake for good measure. His brother, Hunter, held steady.

  “I’m fine,” I growled. “You can let go.”

  Grant stared down his nose at the three of us as if we were bugs he wanted to stomp on. “But she is going to lose her home and anything else my grandmother was stupid enough to give her. No one wins against the Abbots. Kenna should know that by now.”

  “You’re wrong.” Caelyn’s voice sounded from the stairs to the store. “She’s not a young girl you and your family can terrify anymore. She’s strong. And she’s gonna take you down.”

  Grant scoffed. “You’re trash, just like she is. And trash always thinks they can elevate their station in life by threats and blackmail.”

  Caelyn jutted out her chin. “If you think Kenna’s trash, I’m honored to be called the same. But this trash is the new manager of The General Store, and that comes with some perks. Perks like refusing combative customers. You’re now banned, Grant.”

  His eyes narrowed on Caelyn. “Tell me, Caelyn. How are those parents of yours? Still enjoying their time in jail?”

  Color leached from Caelyn’s face, but before she could say anything, a figure appeared out of the corner of my vision, taking a few long strides towards Grant. In a blur of motion, he decked the asshole, sending him collapsing to the ground.

  Caelyn squeaked, and Hunter hooted. The assailant looked to Caelyn for a brief moment. “No one should speak to a woman that way.” And with that, he headed into the store.

  I let out a low whistle. “I wouldn’t want to mess with him.”

  “I don’t think it’d be a smart move,” Hunter echoed.

  Grant sat up and then stood, a little wobbly on his feet. “Who was that? I demand to know. I’ll be pressing charges.”

  Somehow, I didn’t think any of us were going to give him Griffin’s name. The guy might be surly, but this wasn’t the first time he’d helped out when we were in a tight spot.

  Caelyn leaned against the rail. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You tripped over the tassel on your shoes.” She gave a little shrug. “Who knew it was so dangerous to dress like a douchebag?”

  40

  Kenna

  I stepped out of my car, a bag full of Crosby’s favorite fried meal in one hand, a couple of beers in the other. Closing the door with my hip, I beeped my locks.

  “Hey, Kenna.”

  I looked up to see Penny making her way to her vehicle. “Hey, Penny. You done for the day?”

  She swung her keys around her finger. “I am. And I’m looking forward to a long, hot bath and my book.”

  “Sounds like a good evening to me. He still in there?”

  Penny nodded. “Huddled over some papers.” Her eyes twinkled. “Go right on in. The door’s still unlocked.”

  “Thank you.” I gave Penny a wave and headed up the walk. The little bell jingled as I pulled open the door, but Crosby didn’t call out. I headed towards his office and stopped in the threshold.

  Crosby sat bent over his desk, scrawling on a legal pad, pausing to refer to some papers every few moments. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t notice me at all, so I took the time to drink him in. The man needed a haircut and a shave, but I liked him a little rough around the edges. It seemed fitting.

  The scent of one of his favorite meals must have roused him because he seemed to sniff the air before looking in my direction. A smile curved his mouth. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? And did you bring me a Reuben?”

  I held up two bottles. “And beer. I couldn’t get Ford to put a Guinness in a to-go cup, but he said you like this local ale, too.”

  Crosby leaned back in his chair. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

  “You must’ve been a very good boy in a previous life.”

  “A previous life?”

  I grinned. “Come on, you’ve been nothing but trouble in this one.”

  “You have a point.” He looked me up and down. “Come here.”

  “Why?” I asked. Crosby looked like he was up to no good.

  “I need your mouth.”

  That, I could give him. I crossed to him without hesitation, bending to meet his lips. One of Crosby’s hands wrapped around the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. I almost lost my balance as he took my mouth in a hungry kiss. When I pulled back, I felt a little dazed. “Are you okay?”

  Crosby squeezed the back of his neck as if trying to relieve some of the tension there. “It’s been a day.”

  I set the food and beers on an empty chair and leaned against Crosby’s desk. “I heard.”

  Crosby absentmindedly traced a pattern on my jeans-clad thigh. “I almost decked him.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  He looked up to meet my gaze. “You still care about him?”

&
nbsp; I let out a very unladylike snort. “I hope he falls in a mud pit full of very hungry pigs.”

  Crosby’s lips twitched. “I’m taking that as a no.”

  “I care about you.” I would never forgive myself if Crosby had gotten arrested or disbarred because Grant had succeeded in egging him into a fight. And Grant knew how to push people’s buttons better than anyone I knew. He had this innate ability to discern what would flip someone’s switch.

  I reached out and began massaging Crosby’s shoulders, then his neck. The muscles might as well have been carved from stone. “Don’t let him get to you.”

  Crosby let his head fall to my stomach. “I don’t think someone’s face has ever made me so mad. Just looking at him, knowing what he and his parents have put you through, I couldn’t take it.”

  I kneaded deeper into Crosby’s muscles. “Well, it sounds like he’s going to have a nice shiner. I don’t know about you, but that should make it easier for me to look at him.”

  Crosby’s head lifted. “Griffin came out of nowhere. I don’t think he liked how Grant was talking to Caelyn.”

  I stiffened. “What did Grant say to Caelyn?” Caelyn was tough, but she was also sensitive. Words could hurt her more than most.

  Crosby’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “He called you two trash and said something about her parents being in jail.”

  My stomach twisted. “Her mom’s in jail. Her dad skipped town. That’s why she has custody of her siblings. But it’s a tender topic for her. For all of them. They’ve been through so much, the last thing Cae needs is some asshole throwing it in her face. God, I want to blacken Grant’s other eye.”

  Crosby grabbed my hands as I released my hold on him. “Slow down there, Rocky. Caelyn stood her ground and rubbed his tumble in pretty damn well.”

  Anxiety pricked at my skin. “She shouldn’t have done that.” Grant didn’t react well to being made a fool of. The last thing I wanted was for him to zero in on Caelyn. She had no fallback plan if she lost her job or home. I tried to remember if the Abbots had any sort of relationship with Caelyn’s landlord. I didn’t think so.