Page 72 of Rear View
My chest expanded, and everything in me settled. The girl was my calm. She drowned out the tape on loop in my head, the one blaring my father’s voice, saying I was worthless. Criminal. Unwanted.
Her. All I needed was her. Setting her on the driver’s seat, I edged between her legs and kissed her temple. “Missed you too, darlin’.”
Pulling back, she eyed me. “I thought you were in Emerald Cove?”
I inclined my head. “I was. I gotta get back. Can’t stay long.” Resting my forehead to hers, I said, “Just needed to see your face for a minute.”
Her fingers tracked up my neck until they twisted around my hair. She traced the tips of her nails across my scalp, her eyes softening when she asked, “What happened, Xavier?”
I didn’t wanna tell her. Not all of it, anyway. I wasn’t ready. Not because I didn’t want her to know, ’cause I did. And she needed to. But bringing my convict past and Peter-goddamn-Bosch into that moment… I couldn’t do it. But she’d asked, so I’d give her what I could. “My dad’s gettin’ out next week.”
She stilled, a small gasp escaping her. “Like,out, out?”
The nod I gave her was tight.
“I’m so sorry, Xavier.” One of her palms trailed forward, resting along my jaw as her thumb grazed the line of my chin. “Is there anything I can do?”
I let loose a rough exhale, my fingers flexing against the soft flesh of her back. “You’re already doin’ it.”
She canted her head, the copper in that gaze warm. “Are you okay?”
My mouth pulled up at the corner. “I am now.”
She tugged me closer and grazed her lips over mine before she opened for me, and our tongues met. Goddamn, she tasted good. I wanted to taste all of her. Wanted to slide my hands south and sink into that perfect ass, but she was the go-slow kinda girl. And I wasn’t making any next-level move until she gave me the green light. But once she did, hold the fuck on.
When she pulled back, her eyes softened. “Does your mom know yet? About your dad?”
I shook my head.
“You wanna protect her?”
Taking several strands of her hair, I twisted ’em around my wrist. “Need to.”
“Is she still in hiding?” she asked, leaning into me.
“She is.”
A shadow crossed her eyes, her fingers sliding over my stomach. “You think he’d come for her?”
“I know he would.” A breeze blew, drifting her warm cinnamon scent my way. “We’ve got a code though, in case shit goes down.” Always had one. Used it more than once too.
“A code?” she asked.
“I didn’t like leaving Ma alone if I could help it. Was usually there when my old man caused trouble, but if I wasn’t, we used stuff like ‘dinner’s in the fridge,’ or ‘I’m going to bed early.’ Somethin’ that’d say she was in trouble without settin’ his alarms off.”
She stilled. “That’s smart.” Arching into me, she breathed, “I’d like to meet her someday.”
“I think she’d like that too.” Checking my watch, I frowned.
“You have to go?” she said, voice sad and gentle, and it damn near broke me.
“I do.”
Her gaze fell. “Okay.”
My gut twisted. It felt good knowing she’d miss me. Problem was, I’d miss her too, and that part sucked hard. Hitching a knuckle under her chin, I brought those pretty eyes back to mine. “I’ll be back in a few days, yeah.”
Her smile was empty when she nodded, and it punched a hole in my chest. She shimmied forward to get out, and I took her waist, helping her.
