Page 7 of Sycamore Circle

Glad that she looked interested and not scared, he added. “Yeah. Lincoln takes a couple of guys under his wing every year. He helps them find a place to live and get a job. But more than that, he gives them a hand getting back into the world, so they won’t feel alone.”

“What do you do?”

“Well, sometimes I help with a couple of construction projects that Lincoln has around town, but mainly I work with men fresh out of Madisonville. I meet with them a couple of times a week, make sure they don’t skip their meetings with their parole officers and such. The guys call me if they start slipping into their old ways or need a pep talk or an extra hand. I guess you could say I’m a babysitter in a lot of ways.”

“Wow. That’s so good, Bo.”

“Like I said, I’m not teaching someone to read, but I’d like to think I’m making a difference.”

“No, you don’t understand. You’ve taken me by surprise. When I first noticed you, all I saw was a good-looking guy who was a few years younger than myself. Then, when you started talking to me, I was pleasantly surprised. Now that I know you spend your days helping men from a population most people don’t even want to think about? Well, it’s... more than I expected.”

She was looking at him like he was something special. Bile formed in his throat. It was going to hurt like hell when she realized just how unspecial he was.

“Joy, I’m not all that good. You see... ”

She leaned a little closer. Close enough that he could smell the faint scent of perfume on her skin. “How did you get into that line of work? Do you know someone who’s spent time in jail or something?”

“You could say that.” Mentally preparing himself for her to back away fast, he looked her directly in the eye. “I got into this line of work because I’ve been through the process myself. I was in prison.”

Her eyes widened.

And, just as he expected, she moved back to her original spot. He could practically feel her guard go up. Her open expression definitely turned a little more circumspect. “I see.” She swallowed. “Um, what did you do? That is if you don’t mind me asking.”

“The short version is that I got in a fight with my cousin’s buddy. He was messing with her. The fight went south and he got hurt pretty bad. Almost died. The judge and jury ruled that it was felony assault. I was sentenced to three years and served two.”

“You must have hurt him really bad to be sentenced for so long.”

And that, in a nutshell, was why they would likely never have a future. She thought what he’d done was real bad. He didn’t disagree—but he had learned that men could do many things that were a whole lot worse.

“Joy, I’ve been out for six years. I have a job, a house, and I pay my taxes. I’ve done some things I’m not proud of, but I don’t go around hurting people, and I sure don’t hurt women. Ever.”

“Okay...” She didn’t look all that sure, though.

“Look, I didn’t want to lie to you. I can give you my record and you can read up on me if that makes you feel better.” He swallowed. “If you were ever inclined to do something like that.”

Boy, he was messing this up. Shoot, he probably already had. “Joy, I’m sorry. I asked you for coffee and next thing you know I’m telling you all about my prison record.”

She swallowed.

He lowered his voice. “Look, if you don’t want to see me again, I’ll abide by that. If our paths cross in the future, I promise to leave you alone. That said, I’m a grown man. I’m responsible, and I’m decent. I’d also like to know you better. If you’d let me call you, I’d like that.”

“And then?”

“It’s up to you. I meant what I said, Joy. You have the advantage here. I can’t be anything but what I am, and I’m well aware that what I am might not be anything that you want.”

Mason sauntered in and walked to his side. “Excuse me, ma’am,” he said before turning to him. “Bo, we gotta go. Lincoln called.”

“All right.” He glanced back at Joy.

She was staring at Mason with wide eyes, making Bo realize that any chance he had of ever seeing her again was out the window.

But still, he tried. “Joy. This here is Mason. He works with Lincoln as well. Mason, this is Joy.”

Mason nodded politely. “Good to meet you.”

“Hi.”

Something shifted inside of him. He’d been such an idiot. Women like her, nice women with daughters and altruistic jobs, didn’t give men like him the time of day. It was time to leave her in peace.

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