Looks like Trouble to Me (Bad Boys Need Love, Too #1) Read online

  “I only needed the drugs to get through a rough patch,” she said.

  “Nuh uh. Not buying that shit. You got addicted to narcotics, then to the pain killers prescribed to me for no reason other than they made you feel good. And then you felt so good you fucked Billy.”

  “It was only one night,” she pleaded.

  “Right. We both know that’s not true.”

  “It was a mistake.”

  “Yeah, that’s what my sister says. Mistakes have consequences,” he said, thinking of Marni. “I’ve gotta get going. I only have so much time for lunch.”

  “I could go with you,” she said, hope blooming on her face. “My treat.”

  “Nope,” Jace said. “You’re no longer a part of my life. I’m actually glad you’re moving away.”

  “You’re such a stubborn asshole when you want to be,” Kate said, anger flaring in her eyes.

  “Jesus, Kate.” His gaze snagged on Billy, sitting in his gunmetal gray Porsche, watching them from across the parking lot. “You’d stand a better chance with him.” He stabbed his thumb toward Billy.

  “With who?” Kate whirled around, spied Billy, spun back around to face Jace.

  Billy laughed, his laughter punctuating the air like a hyena’s bark.

  “I thought you called in sick,” Jace called. “What are you still doing here?”

  Billy fired up his car and sped out of the parking lot, sending gravel spraying.

  “You’ll never let that go, will you?” Kate said.

  “Not if I’m smart, I won’t.” His heart softened a little. “Look, Kate. You know how much I loved you. But it’s over now - past tense. All I can do at this point is wish you well and move on with my life.”

  “Are you seeing anyone?” she asked, looking up at him through her long lashes. “You know…a girlfriend?”

  “Not yet. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s none of your business, though. Let’s at least part in peace. I don’t want another argument. I’ve had enough drama with you to last a lifetime. I’d rather remember the good times.” He smiled a half-hearted smile. If there were any…

  She lifted her gaze to meet his. “All right, Jace, if that’s what you want.”

  “I think it’s what you want, too, if you really think about it. We both needed a clean break, remember?” He pointed to his tattoo.

  “Yeah,” she said, lifting her sleeve to reveal a smaller, but similar design. “It was the last great promise we made to each other.”

  “So let’s keep it, okay? Clean break, free the past, move forward with peace,” he said, repeating the phrase he’d uttered to her so many moons before on an isolated ridge in the mountains. It was the last time he’d made love to her. Come to think of it, it was the last time I loved, period.

  “Clean break, free the past…” her words broke off in a sob. “Who’s going to love me the way you did?”

  His face grew stony.

  She turned her tear stained face up to him. “Remember Paris?”

  “Of course I do,” he said, woodenly.

  “How about Peru?”

  “Stop this, Kate. Stop memory tripping. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you right now.”

  “I’ll always love you, Jace. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “Yeah,” he said, his lips pressed into a lifeless smile. “I was. And I’ll always remember you, too. Goodbye, Kate Bethlehem.” He gave her a polite hug and kissed her soft cheek. “And good luck in California.”

  Chapter 5

  Zoé hugged her dad tightly at the front door of his house tucked in the older neighborhood of Seattle’s University District. “So glad you’re feeling better today,” she said to him.

  “Yeah, they do a good job at Harborview. These cuts will heal in no time,” he said, indicating his bandaged thigh.

  “So tell me the story. What happened?”

  He shrugged. “I was guiding a group of teens down the river. We came across a boat that had capsized. The kids were all swimming, floating, screaming for help. I helped.” He shifted his weight to the side. “Want to come in?”

  She didn’t move. “Come on, Dad, there’s more to this story, I know it.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” He looked away.

  “Out with it, Dad. Tell me what happened.”

  “One of the girls got caught in a hydraulic. My legs got banged up a bit trying to rescue her. That’s all.”

  “Jesus, Dad, why do I have to pry information out of you?” Zoé huffed. “I hate that. You called me to pick you up. You didn’t call your girlfriend. At least do me the honor of not having to beg for facts.”

  “We lost her,” her dad said, staring at nothing.

  “Who did you lose?”

  “I gave her CPR - the girl. But she didn’t make it.”

  “Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry.” She wanted to throw her arms around him but noted his stiff posture.

  “Yeah, I’ll get over it.”

  “Stop being a hard ass. I can see this really shook you up.”

  “I said, I’ll get over it.” He pointed his gaze at her, looking at her harshly.

  Zoé stepped back from the reprimand.

  “I’m sorry, honey. You’re right, I am shook up. I’m going to have to live with this for the rest of my life.”

  She regarded him softly. “Thank you. I hope it didn’t hurt to admit that. You’re such a stubborn man sometimes.”

  “Watching the life seep out of a young woman…” her dad added, as if to himself. He turned his face quickly, swiping his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

  She picked awkwardly at a piece of peeling paint on the doorjamb and surveyed the splintery front porch. “You might put a little care into the house, too, Dad.”

  “I’m thinking about it. My girlfriend said the same thing.”

  Zoé grimaced. “Yeah.”

  “You’ve got to give her a chance, sweetheart. She’s really nice.”

  “Look, I know you like her but why do I have to? She’s not Mom.”

  “And she’s not trying to be,” her dad said, exasperated. “Just give her a chance. Dinner Sunday? I’ll cook. All your favorites.”

  “Maybe. I have to work the lunch shift.” She paused, glancing at his attire. Her mother-hen role kicked into gear, the same way it always had since he and her mom divorced. “You do realize it’s raining today, right, pops? I mean, shorts? Really?”

  He chuckled. “Stop mothering me, Zoé. You know me - I’m comfortable in shorts.”

  “Yeah, I’ve even seen you wearing them when it’s snowing.”

  “I think you’re trying to change the subject. I won’t force you to like Linda but it would sure be a kindness if you’ll get along. Your mother and I divorced years ago. I never thought I’d love again. You might be happy for me.”

  Zoé sighed. “At least your girlfriend doesn’t allow you to boss her around like you did with Mom.”

  “Your mom held her own with me,” her dad said defensively.

  “So why didn’t she start her own business until she left you?”

  “Because she took care of you kids,” he snapped, scowling. “Enough, Zoé. We’ve gone over this a million times. I made mistakes. Are you coming to dinner on Sunday?”

  “Okay. Dinner, Sunday. I’ll at least be polite,” Zoé said. “I’ll come.”

  “That’s my girl. Maybe I’ll go fishing tomorrow with Jonas. That’ll take my mind off these damn stitches. See if we can catch a salmon for supper.”

  “Cook it on the grill?”

  “You know it.”

  “I think there’s still corn in the stores.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Okay, if it’s grilled salmon and corn on the cob, I’m in.”

  “You can bring over the guy you’re dating.”

  “Billy O’Reilly? God, no!” She repeated the story she’d told Devon the night before.

  “He didn’t even remember your name? What an asshole!” her dad commi
serated. “No-one treats my daughter that way and gets away with it. Where’s my knife?”

  Zoé chuckled. “You don’t have one.”

  “Okay, where’s a paddle?”

  “Uh, rafting paddle?” She smirked. “Probably with the rafts and other water stuff at the adventure center where you work, miles from here.”

  “Darn it! Where’s a tool for annihilation when you need one?”

  “In your locked closet where you keep the guns.” Zoé patted his head.

  He smiled. “So, nobody else?”

  “No. Haven’t found anyone I like.” Except for Jace. Too bad he was with Billy. She’d spent last night with her battery powered boyfriend, immersed in thoughts of Jace. Her fingers began tappity tapping on the doorjamb.

  “Keep an eye out. You never know when you’ll meet the right guy.”

  “What?” She blinked, focusing on her dad, instead of her rabid fantasies.

  “Keep your eyes open.” He winked at her. “In the meantime, I thought you had to get to work.”

  “I do. I wanted to check on you first, though.”

  “Thank you, honey. You’re a good daughter. Always so dependable, responsible. You’ve been my rock since your brother died, you know that?”

  “I know. I’m the one everyone can count on.” She sighed. Reliable me. “We don’t need to revisit that time. Please.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ve been thinking about him lately. Wondering what he’d be doing with his life if he were…”

  “No, Dad, don’t. I can’t keep looking backward. That time was hard on everyone. I didn’t think I’d ever get it together to pursue my own life and career. I have to run. I’m glad you’re okay.” She kissed her dad goodbye and headed toward her Jeep.

  Twenty minutes later she let herself in the back door to Chica Ríos, wandering to the break room to deposit her purse and coat.

  Devon, dressed in his work attire of black pants and shirt, greeted her as she entered. “Hey, gorgeous. It seems you have an admirer.”

  “What do you mean?” she said. She tucked her purse and coat in the cubby on the back wall and picked her server apron off a hook where she’d left it the night before.

  “Over there. On the table. See anything?”

  She spun around, coming face to face with a vase of roses. “Oh! Man, am I observant,” she said, shaking her head. “I completely missed these. They’re beautiful. Are they for me?”

  “See for yourself. Look at the card.”

  She plucked the small, white card free from the plastic holder, reading the word Zoé. She slid her finger under the flap and opened it, pulling out a crisp white card. Care for some trouble tomorrow night? Meet me after work. Love… Her brow furrowed. “It doesn’t say who it’s from.”

  “What does it say?”

  She read the card to Devon. “The only person I can think of who would have sent these is…” A blush formed on her cheeks as she thought of Jace.

  “Is…” Devon prompted. He regarded her with an impish smile. “Sounds like definite trouble if you’re already blushing.”

  “It could be nothing. It’s the guy who was sitting with Billy last night. We chatted a bit. I found him sexy. But then when I found out he was with Billy, well…there went that fantasy.”

  “He might not be so bad. He didn’t leave with them. You can’t always judge a guy by the company he keeps.”

  “Yeah, but if he’s hanging around Billy?” She stuck out her tongue. “No, thanks.”

  Devon shook his head. “I told you, we could have finished him off, right then. A little poison in his beer and…” He slashed his hand across his throat.

  Zoé laughed. “It’s sure tempting. What do you think?”

  “I think you should give the new guy a chance. He said ‘after work.’ He’ll probably show up here. Have a drink with him. I’ll be here. Martha will be closing up. Jose, the new cook, will be in the kitchen. You’ll be safe.”

  Zoé thought for a second. “I don’t know. That whole crowd is kind of messed up - Billy and friends. I’ll see if he shows up. If it doesn’t work out, I leave and you take him out back and mess him up a bit.” She winked.

  “I’ve got your back, girl.” Devon winked back. He looked at the clock on the wall. “Three thirty. Time for the fun to start.”

  “Happy hour,” Zoé said, “will begin shortly.” She fastened her apron around her waist, grabbed an order pad from the shelf, stuck it in her pocket and followed Devon onto the floor.

  All day her thoughts drifted to the image of Jace. Is he as hot as he looks? Will he be a jerk? She had to keep mentally kicking herself to keep with the present. No sense focusing on the future if it’s not in your face, her father often said. But if he’s a decent guy? On the other hand, what if he’s trouble with a capital T? Only one way to find out. Tomorrow night would come soon enough.

  Chapter 6

  Jace opened the throttle on the Deus when he hit Highway 104, leading toward the bridge. He loved to take the sweet café racer on long stretches of road like this one. The needle climbed to 60…70…80…85. He prepared to gun it up to 90 when he spied the cop up in the distance ahead. He braked, slowing to the speed limit. When he passed the cop, he lifted his leather clad hand in greeting.

  The cop’s head swiveled as he rode by, watching him the entire way, but not pulling out after him. Lucky break, Jace thought. The last thing Marni needs is her uncle getting into trouble with the police. He slowed the Deus even more as he headed down the hill. The last thing her uncle needs is to have to take care of her and not get any sex.

  He let out a sigh. As he approached the bridge, he caught sight of the beginning of a beautiful sunset sliding across the blue, like melting butter. It gave the sky, water, and mountains beyond an almost luminescent glow. Good thing I brought my camera, he thought, quickly pulling into the turnabout. He slung the leather backpack off his shoulders, pulled out his Nikon, held it up to his eye and began shooting.

  He pictured Zoé in the shot, bikini-clad, her nipples forming hard buds in the brisk air. And then I lay her over the bike and fuck her. He adjusted his jeans, making room for his unhappy cock, angled the camera and took a few more pictures before climbing on his bike.

  When he arrived at the ferry terminal, he had about twenty minutes to wait. He removed his helmet and started to wander to the park when his phone blipped. Seeing an unlisted number, he gave a suspicious “Hello?”

  “Hey, doofus.”

  He blew breath from his cheeks. “Jayna. Where the fuck are you?”

  “Don’t be mad at me, Jace. I…I needed to take care of some things.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “You know…things.”

  “You should be home taking care of your child, not your mysterious ‘things.’ She’s your daughter, not mine.”

  “You’re better equipped to deal with her.”

  “What the fuck does that mean? She’s not my responsibility.”

  “I know but…you’re better with her.”

  “For fucks sake.” Jace felt his temper flaring. He glanced around at the rows and rows of cars waiting to get on the ferry and he lowered his voice. “Tell me you’re coming back to resume your responsibility as a mother,” he said, more gently this time.

  “I…I need some more time.”

  “How much more?”

  A neon yellow clad ferry employee waved him forward to drive onto the ferry.

  “Hold on, I’ve got to board the ferry - don’t go anywhere.” He turned on the ignition and drove slowly onboard, parked the bike, removed his helmet and fished the phone out of his pocket. “Jayna? Still there?”

  “I’m still here.”

  A muffled male voice greeted Jace’s ears, followed by his sister’s rising voice. It sounded like they were arguing about something but Jace couldn’t make out any of it.

  “I’ve got to go, brother. I’ll call you in a couple days.”

  “Wait, Jayna, no! Where are you?
When are you coming home? Jayna? Jayna? Goddamn it.” He’d lost her. He gripped the phone, wanting to hurl it into the churning water.

  “Trouble?”

  Jace spun around to see who was talking to him.

  An older woman, wearing a bulky black jacket, a mid-calf plain looking skirt, a white turtleneck, sturdy shoes and a black headpiece draping her head stood gazing at him with kind eyes. He did a kind of double take. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a nun. “Um, a little, yeah. My sister’s kind of messed up.”

  The nun nodded, saying nothing.

  “She, uh, she got involved with the wrong crowd. Left her baby. I’m taking care of her.”

  The nun nodded once more, still silent.

  “She almost died. I found her unconscious in her home last week. OD’d. Took her to emergency. They pumped her stomach, held her for observation but she took off. I haven’t known where she was until just now.” He pointed to his phone like that would explain everything.

  “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

  “So I’ve heard. No offense, sister, but I’m not sure about the Lord. Don’t know if I believe.”

  “No offense taken. Young people don’t always subscribe to the old ways. What’s your sister’s name?”

  “Jayna - it’s Jayna Savage.”

  “Irish?”

  “Yeah. Irish and French.”

  “It’s a lovely name.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Would you like to walk with me? I like to stroll the top deck when I take the ferry - and when it’s not raining, of course. Tonight looks like it will be a crisp, clear night. Fall’s around the corner.”

  “Uh,” Jace said, not sure about the offer.

  “I promise not to convert you. You don’t have to talk to me. Just walk.”

  “I think I’ll take a rain-check, sister. I need to be alone with my thoughts, right now. You know, kind of sort things out a bit. I’m on my way to see someone and my head’s not in the right place.” Why am I telling her this shit?

  “Seeing someone special?”

  “Don’t know yet. It’s a woman I just met last night.”

  “Young love. I was in love once.”

  “Was?”

  “Yes, I was eighteen. Met the man of my dreams. Turns out he was a heartbreaker. He broke mine, anyway. I turned to God for solace and found peace and joy instead.”