She looked at the metal object as he set it on the porch. “Okay.”
“Is he home?”
“He’s doing homework,” she answered with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
“I’ll only be a second. If you don’t mind, can I come in and ask him about who gave him that shiner one more time?” Maybe she’ll see I’m just trying to help.
“Do you have a warrant?”
“E-excuse me?” he asked, baffled. He was used to not being everyone’s favorite person as an officer of the law, but this was something more.
“Unless you have a warrant, you cannot come into my house or search my property. I know how you people work.”
What the fuck?
“You leave my brother alone. He’s smart and he’s going places. He’s a good boy. We don’t want any trouble, officer.” Belle’s voice was steady, but her trembling hand gave it away. He glanced at her dainty fingers shaking at her side.
Belle balled them into fists before he considered her face, the fear in her eyes. She’s scared of me.
“I never intended to cause trouble. Just wanted to make sure he got home safe. Have a good evening, ma’am.” He turned and walked back to his truck, utterly speechless.
Defeated, he started the engine and shifted into gear. He needed a good strong drink. A woman’s company wouldn’t hurt either. Visions of sucking on those red lips and fisting those dark curls made his cock jerk. He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
Too bad it would only be a fantasy and his hand tonight.
Chapter 2
Belle
Belle pushed the door open to the locker room and strode past the row of metal closets, then sat on the lone bench in the center of the room. She rubbed her hands over her tired face. It had been another long shift that made her body ache. But this was what she’d worked so long and so hard for since she was eighteen. An education and a job to take care of her and her little brother, so they never had to end up on the streets again.
“Long shift?” Katy asked, hanging her lanyard in her locker before shutting the metal door with a screech.
“Very,” Belle answered the woman who’d seemed friendly the few times they’d worked together.
“You should come out with the girls from first shift and me. You’ve earned a drink after this hellish week. I know I did.” Katy pulled her hair down from the tight ponytail.
When was the last time Belle had let loose? Had a drink with girlfriends? She’d been stuck in survival mode for so long. Maybe it was time she took a moment to let out the breath she’d been holding since childhood. TJ was old enough to look after himself, and wasn’t he always bugging her to go out or find a hobby?
“Text me the details. I think I can make that happen.” Belle stood and opened her locker, quickly switching out her lanyard for her keys.
“Woo-hoo! ’Bout damn time we show you this town. Maybe even get you some.” Katy smiled and winked.
“That won’t be necessary.” Belle cringed. She had no want of a man. She could fulfill her own needs—she always had. Life had taught her some valuable lessons the hard way. Men only wanted one thing from a woman, and the second they got it, they were gone. Instead of stuffing down the anger that boiled up inside her, she inhaled long and deep through her nose before exhaling out her mouth. In with light and love, out with the negative.
Katy patted her shoulder before reaching for the door. “You say that, but you haven’t seen all that this little seacoast town has to offer. Unless I read you wrong and you’re looking for some female company?” Katy asked.
“No. I just like being single. Relationships . . . complicate things.” It was a canned response that got most well-meaning friends off her back.
“No one said anything about a relationship, girl.” Katy giggled and led the way into the long hallway of the hospital.
Belle wasn’t that type of girl either. Not that she judged women who were able to separate feelings from sex. God, she wished she could. She just wasn’t built like that.
The automatic double doors to the emergency entrance opened and summer’s floral fragrance enveloped her, wiping away the sterile hospital scent that always burned her nose.
“See you tonight,” Katy called out as Belle opened the door of her car. She took one more pull of clean air before climbing inside and buckling up. Her old Ford rattled to life and a silent ping of gratitude flitted through her. One more thing to be grateful for today. Her car had started. TJ was safe. She had a job that she enjoyed. And now, a potential night on the town with a friend.
***
Belle walked in the house and hung her keys on the notch. “TJ?”
“In here,” he called from the kitchen. Several books lay open in front of him and he held a pencil in his hand. Upbeat music bled into the room from his earbuds.
She smiled. He had grown up so much, survived hell and still come out such an amazing human being. She loved him more like a son than a brother. It was only fitting because she’d raised him since birth, when she was only seven. Sure, her mother had been “there,” but never emotionally, and sometimes she was even physically absent for days at a time.
She reached and plucked one of the white pods from his ear and listened in. “American Funeral” by Alex Da Kid and Joseph Angel blasted through the tiny speaker.
“Studying hard?” she asked, taking a seat across from him at the small table and handing him back his earbud.
“Aren’t I always?” He gave a cheeky grin.
“Have you heard anything about the early graduation?”
His grin widened.
