Page 29 of Hidden Rocco
She smiled at him. “If you do five a day we might be done in a month.”
Rocco's time was numbered. There was no way he’d have that opportunity. “You plan on keeping me around?”
She pressed her hand on his arm like they were friends as she asked, “Do you have other plans?”
His throat constricted. If only he had this life to lead. Mica’s kisses left him aching.
He massaged his scalp and reminded himself that what he wanted wasn’t important. “My mother…”
“What about her?” She gently squeezed the muscle she touched.
There was no way he could act on that spark, but he let out a sigh and met her pretty brown eyes that had kindness reflecting back at him. He wished he could hold her. “I need to find a way to convince her to get cancer treatments before it’s too late.”
Her lips pursed and her eyes widened. “She’s not treating?”
Because he'd gone to jail and his brothers were dead. Roger was the last, but what had stopped his mother was Rocco’s incarceration. He’d been the youngest, but the one who’d protected his mom. He’d always been her big hope and he’d failed her. He glanced at his new sneakers that Mica had given him as he said, “She was disappointed in life. She needs to know that good still exists in the world.”
Her eyes glistened like she’d cry for him as she asked, “You were on your way to see her?”
Adrenaline and awareness grew through him. He nodded and said, “When we’re both free.”
She lifted her chin, took a breath and said, “Then I’ll fly you there myself.”
“You don’t have to.” She was already doing a lot. He didn’t have ID and at airports there would be security.
Her eyes grew wider and she flipped her ponytail. “It’s been a while since I've flown. I love piloting my plane and helicopter, but with being weak… I’ve been nervous that I’ll need my meds and be alone when the muscle paralysis hits.”
So this was a literal offer and not just a pity ticket. She was way too amazing. “Alone?”
She nodded. “I don’t have anyone flying next to me.”
Jacob made a sound as he reached up for a star on his play mat. Both of them glanced at the baby, and his huge smile.
Rocco put his hands in his jeans pocket. He couldn’t accept her offer. She’d be charged with something for sure if she was caught helping a felon, but it was better not to argue with her. He wasn’t that surprised that she knew how to fly—she was amazing. “How long does it take to get your license?”
“It depends,” she shrugged, “you have to acquire flight hours in school. I preferred to learn how to be a pilot than attend dance classes.” She again tapped his shoulder like they were friends when if he was the man he intended to be, he’d do more than just stand there. “It’s like driving a car really… if you’re willing to sit next to me and make sure I’m okay, then we can go wherever you want.”
For now, he backed out of her reach, toward the kitchen. “We can talk about that later. I’ll get our lunch ready, and then Jacob can hear the next chapter.”
He turned to go, but she stepped in his way, making the air smell like floral perfume. “One more thing?”
Anything she asked he’d probably do. He knew it as he swallowed the sweet scent around her. “Yes?”
She picked up the box that said Armani and handed it to him. “This is for you. To wear to dinner tonight.”
He stared at the white box and then at her. This was too much. His body stilled as he shook his head. “I’m not a doll. You don’t have to dress me.”
“It’s a date.” She traced her arm but straightened her spine. “I don’t get to go out, so we will make our own entertainment.”
Rocco kept his mouth shut about the designer clothes and hugged the box to his side. Armani didn’t make prison uniforms. The doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation.
He blinked and imagined that the police were here, right now, to arrest him. Ali’s men and people like his brothers didn’t ring announce their presence. “Are you expecting more packages?”
“Yeah. It’s probably the cake so you don’t have to bake.”
“I like baking.” He ignored the thump in his veins that reminded him he was on borrowed time.
She had no idea what life in prison was like and that he didn’t get to make his own dinner, let alone dessert.
