Under the Boardwalk

“Maybe you underestimate me,” he said. Just as he’d obviously underestimated her.

She shrugged. “That remains to be seen.”

He glanced at her and felt his reserve softening. He’d only seen her at work, in a tight “Damon’s” T-shirt and black miniskirt. Now he viewed her in a different light. Dressed for their date, she wore a pair of black pants and a light blue sweater with a nice, deep V that accentuated her lush curves. Gone were the sneakers; in their place, black shoes with a slight heel. And when he looked into her wary eyes, he noticed she’d put on a minimal amount of makeup, enough to entice but no heavy artifice to cover the real Maria.

She hadn’t hidden a damn thing from him now. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” she said, ducking her head.

He’d obviously taken her off guard and was about to do so again. “Where’s his father?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you. There’s fifty states. Since he’s not paying child support and my attorney can’t find him, I’d assume he’s somewhere in the other forty-nine.”

Connor nodded. So that explained her wariness. Abandoned himself, he understood. “And you expect me to run scared like he did.”

“Like I said, you wouldn’t be the first.” Her voice quivered despite the outward show of bravado, reminiscent of her son.

Connor turned and glanced at his car parked on the street. Freedom lay a few feet away. He rolled his shoulders, the pain lodged in his back intense. He should just walk down the steps, climb into the car, and take off, putting miles and distance between himself and Maria and her son. He wanted to run before he replicated the mistakes his father had made. Before he hurt a kid the way he’d been hurt. And if he spent any time with Maria and got to know her kid, that could be the end result.

But a distinct memory stopped him from taking off. The one of his mother, dressed for a date just as Maria was now, dropping Connor off at a neighbor’s who watched him when she had to work. He doubted he could call it babysitting, since no money was exchanged. They were two single parents doing each other favors in order to make ends meet. His father had already been long gone. And his mother had never come back. The neighbor, as nice as she was, couldn’t afford to keep Connor in addition to her two other kids, and his trip through foster care had begun.

Connor had always blamed his father for the kind of childhood he’d had, while making excuses for his mother’s decisions. Looking at Maria now, Connor was forced to acknowledge that he’d been wrong. His mother’s choices were as selfish as his father’s had been.

Maria waited, saying nothing while Connor sifted through his memories and his own choices. Here stood a woman who cared enough about her child to put his needs before her own, and he admired her for it.

And here he stood, a man who could follow his heart and get to know this woman or let fear rule his life and make him walk away. Connor swallowed hard. “Who watches him while you’re out?”

She tipped her head toward the run-down house next door. “A neighbor.”

Connor winced at the similarity. For years he’d worked with the kids at the center, and their stories didn’t affect him on a gut level. This woman and her child did.

Just go, a voice in his head yelled to him. Before it’s too late to get out. But then he’d never know what he was missing in life.

So instead he heard himself saying, “Why don’t you get him and we can all go out for a burger.”

Maria’s eyes opened wide, then a cautious smile tilted her lips and he relaxed a little more. He owed it to himself to take this chance and prove to himself he wasn’t like his old man. He hoped like hell he could handle it.

• • •

Quinn drove to Ari’s house while she followed in her own car. It was hard for him to believe they’d made love a few hours ago and he’d compromised his case and his integrity as a result. He trusted her, dangerous as that notion was.

He heard the sound of hammering from inside the truck as he pulled to a stop in front of Ari’s parents’ home. He exited the vehicle and met her on the front lawn near where she’d parked on the street behind him.

“Do you hear that?” She shook her head. “I can’t stay here.”

Without thinking, he grabbed for her hand. “You don’t have to.” He had the perfect solution for her problem. “Do you like dogs?”

“More than monkeys, though I have to admit she’s growing on me.” Ari gestured to the window Spank had appropriated as her own.

He chuckled.

“Why?”

“You can stay at my place while your parents are constructing. My real place,” he amended. Quinn hadn’t realized what a huge burden he’d been carrying until he’d unloaded the truth on Ari. With her knowing he was a cop, he didn’t have to tiptoe around her and could bring her deeper into his life. Something he hoped he didn’t come to regret later.

She stopped and turned toward him. “You’d let me stay there?”

“As long as you watch my dog.” The companion he trusted to be there without conditions.

Her eyes opened wide. “Isn’t that like the equivalent of giving me a drawer in your apartment or us sharing a toothbrush?”

He was scared to death that it meant more than a mere dating convention, but what the hell. By admitting he was a cop, he’d entrusted her with his life. How much more serious could this possibly be?

To forestall any further conversation on the subject, he plucked her key out of her hand and led her into the house. “Did your mother say what she wanted?”

Ariana had finally called Elena back and she’d instructed Ari to bring Quinn home for a “chat.”

“Just something important that affects us all,” she said, her words vague. “Mom? Dad? Anybody home?” she called out over the workers and the noise.

“Let’s try the kitchen,” he suggested.

“Nothing good ever happens in there,” she muttered.

Laughing, he took the lead and walked into the room. The sight in front of him proved Ari right.

Spank sat in a baby’s high chair with various jars of creams set out on the tray. And Sam straddled a chair in front of her, brush in hand, painting a white mask over the monkey’s face. “It smells delicious, Elena,” Sam yelled without looking over her shoulder.

“Just rank them in order of what you like best,” Elena called from another room.

“Aren’t there laws against animal cruelty?” Ari asked jokingly.

“In addition to truancy laws.” Quinn strode toward Sam, tired of the kid’s games.

She turned to face him and rolled her eyes. “You always think the worst of me.”

“Because lately you’ve been proving me right.” He leaned a hand against the counter, meeting her gaze.

“Well, not this time. It’s a half day. Parent-teacher conference, not that I have any parents.”

“Ouch,” Ari whispered in his ear. Then to Sam, she said, “So what are you two doing?” In an obvious attempt to lighten the mood and break up the argument, Ari pulled a chair up beside Sam.

“Elena wants me to see how these smell.” Sam waved a hand over the jars. “But Spank decided to try them on herself, so I figured why not help her?” She giggled and Quinn took three steps back.

This was the second time since meeting Sam that he’d heard her laugh from pure joy. Both times had been in this house. “So you’re playing dress-up?” he asked.

Ari shot him a look at the same time Sam said, “You’re so dense. We’re testing scents, but don’t worry, they’re all natural. Nothing’s gonna hurt Spank.”

“I am so relieved,” he said.

Ari kicked him in the shin. “I take it Mom gave up on the fish oil?”

“Fish oil?” Sam wrinkled her nose.

“Don’t ask.” Ari ruffled Sam’s hair. “As long as she’s moved on, we’re all in good shape. Hey, it’s quiet in here.” She glanced around, suddenly realizing the noise had stopped.

Quinn had just noticed the same thing.

“I think the crew took off early today. Igor said they had to finish up another job.” Sam rose and pulled some paper towels off the roll, wet them, and sat down with the monkey again.