Page 4 of Darkest Retribution

I jog over to where she’s standing. Jade is sitting on the front porch steps, a mug of coffee in her hands. She gives me a tight smile, and goddammit, she doesn’t evenlookat my bare chest.

That’s a good thing, you idiot.

With a silent nod to Jade, I turn to Rosie. At our feet, she’s drawn what looks like... a box? With a yellow circle above it.

“It’s our house!” she says, waving around the blue piece of chalk in her tiny hand.

The box looks nothing like a house, let alone the one in front of us.

Clearing my throat, I squint at the chalk drawing. “Uh. Good job.”

I hear Jade snicker from her spot in the shade, and I shoot her a glare. She looks downright perfect in a black tank top and a little pair of shorts. The tattoo of a skull surrounded by flowers on her thigh peeks out from underneath the material. Her dark hair is piled on top of her head, her slender neck on full display.

What would it look like with my hand wrapped around it?

Jesus fucking Christ, Dom. Get it together.

“Go sit with Auntie Jade, and I’ll draw you!” Rosie pushes me, getting chalk on my black shorts, but I can’t find it in me to care. She looks so excited.

“I suppose getting out of the sun would be nice,” I mutter. When I sit down next to Jade, I try to put as much space in between us as possible. Otherwise I might try something stupid like accidentally brushing my fingers against her bare thigh, or—

“Morning, grumpy,” Jade says, taking a sip of her coffee.

I hide my smile. She gave me that nickname the first time we met. It pissed me off at the time, but it’s grown on me. Hell,she’sgrown on me.

“Morning.”

“You’re really sweaty.”

“It’s hot out.”Obviously.

“Too hot for a run, in my opinion.”

“Was bored.”

“Hmm.”

We sit in a semi-awkward silence as Rosie draws on the driveway. This close to Jade, I can smell her jasmine and vanilla scent. Or is it honeysuckle? I’m not sure. Whatever it is, I have to fight to stop myself from leaning in closer.

She, on the other hand, seems irritatingly unfazed by my presence.

“Look! All done!” Rosie runs up to us, pointing to the drawing of me next to the house.

“Good job, sweetheart,” Jade murmurs.

The drawing is a disaster, but I suppose that’s how all your drawings are when you’re seven years old.

“Mister Dominic, will you help me ride my bike more today? Auntie Jade said she can’t because—”

“That’s enough, Rosie. I’m sure Dominic has plenty to do today.”

I don’t, but being around Jade when I already can’t stop thinking about her sounds like a very bad idea. “Not today, squirt. But I’ll try to make time this week.”

“Okay,” Rosie says with an exaggerated sigh, and then she runs back to the driveway, picking up a piece of purple chalk.

“I should go.” Standing, I turn to wish Jade a good day, but I find her watching me with her lips slightly parted, like she wants to say something.

With a quick glance at Rosie, Jade stands. “Listen, Dom... I just wanted to say thank you. For being so patient with Rosie, and for helping her with her bike. And—” She lets out a frustrated sigh. “About the other night. Thanks. I scared the shit out of Rosie, and I think having you there helped calm her down some.”

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