She waved a hand in front of me as she glided in. “Hey. Now you’re letting out the cool air.”
My internal struggle waned for the moment as I closed the door. However, the need to pull her to me, taste her, and nibble on her was strong. So was the idea that I had a king-size bed upstairs that we could make use of.
I skirted around her before I gave in, whisked her off her feet, and took her to my room. “We can talk down in the game room.” If she wanted more than friendship, then I had to let her make the first move.
Once she walked into the game room, she lingered near the entertainment center lining the wall adjacent to the door. She scanned the area, which was made up of a chaise lounge, a big-screen TV, a couch, a pinball machine, and a couple of other gaming tables. “I was wondering if we could talk.” She lowered her gaze, seemingly embarrassed about something.
Shyness on her was a first, and I realized the look was sexier than herI’m woman, hear me roarexterior.
I eased down onto the couch that was facing the entertainment center, hoping she would come join me so I could make her feel comfortable.
“I don’t have any girlfriends.” Her eyes were darting everywhere but at me. “I work with women, but I don’t tell them my secrets or hang out with them after work. I’ve always been a loner. If I did hang with anyone, it’s been with guys. Since we’re doing the friend thing, I need some advice.”
We finally locked eyes, and I saw that pain etched her pretty face. Man, she was beautiful. Her lashes were long and soft, and the light color of brown brought out her shamrock-green eyes, sucking me in.
She slipped her hand into the front pocket of her messenger back and produced an envelope. “I spent my entire childhood in foster care. My parents left me at a firehouse when I was a newborn.”
I couldn’t help but open my mouth. What the hell? I thought I had a miserable childhood. I wanted to tell her I was sorry, but if she was like me, and I was beginning to realize she was, she didn’t want pity.
“I’m not enamored with the idea of meeting my parents. But Ted went against my wishes and found my mom.” She stared at the envelope as if she were trying to light it on fire. “Her address is in this.” She held up the envelope. “What would you do?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know how much you know about me except my brothers and me were in a gang and Grace disappeared, but I’m not the best person to ask.” I scratched my head. “My mother took off when I was a kid. But she left because my old man is a drunk and a bastard. It might be good for you to settle your curiosity about why she did what she did.” As much as I was angry with my mom, I wouldn’t mind seeing her and hearing her side of the story. Granted, I was ninety-nine percent sure she had left because of my father, but I’d never actually heard her say that. I would also like to understand how a mom could leave her children with a man who was abusive. That was the huge question on my mind.
Maggie sat down beside me. Then she covered her face with her hands.
My fingers were primed and ready to dance down her back and rub her troubles away. But I was afraid she would get the wrong idea and tense up, and that would pain me.
“Is your mom the reason you sounded upset on the phone after you left Ted’s precinct?” I asked.
She shuddered as she nodded.
“If it helps, I had to leave you the other night because my father was in the hospital for alcohol poisoning. I didn’t want to go, but given the news from Syd about Grace, she might have gone home to find me or one of my brothers. It turns out my dad saw Grace about four months ago in her room, packing some clothes. Or at least he thinks it was four months. Since he’s constantly drunk, who knows?”
She whipped around. “For real?”
“Crazy, right? Look, Maggie, you don’t need to make a decision on whether to see your mother or not at this moment. My advice? Take some more time. I can see you’re not ready.”
She gave me a warm smile as the tension left her.
As for me, I was ready to release some tension too, but not the emotional kind.
