Page 1 of Broken: Taylor

Chapter 1

“It’s over. We’re not doing this again Taylor Hamilton.” Felicia’s barely held rage emanated through the gritted words. She slid from the bed stalking to the dresser.

Her lean, sinewy body, strong and slick with sweat, caught his attention. Disregarding Taylor, she darted about gathering her discarded clothing. The night before had been great, and the sex, totally physical, as always hit the right spot.

However, this morning after another round of sex, passion and want, the mood was replaced by something totally different. Anger, even disappointment perhaps.

The female police detective gave him a flat stare. “This has been a mistake from the beginning. I don’t know why we even keep hooking up.”

“I don’t do weddings. Why is it such a big deal?” Taylor sat up in the bed, his back against the headboard.

It was surprising that he couldn’t see his breath when he huffed. The damn hotel room was like a meat locker that morning. Taylor pulled the blanket up across his chest. He’d hoped to stay under the blankets for a couple hours longer. Judging by how things were going, he decided it was best to get up.

Eyes narrowed, Felicia closed the distance between them. Pointing her index finger at his face, she shook her head. “It’s not just the wedding. It’s everything. I give no damns about the wedding. It’s that fucking self entitlement vibe you’ve got going lately.”

Not sure where the conversation was going, he blew out a breath. “You didn’t have to come here.”

“Your ass could have driven the extra half hour to my house.”

“I have to get up early. I’ve told you that. Plus, I don’t want to be around if your family pops up. It would give the wrong message.”

Felicia threw her hands up in the air not seeming to care she was totally nude. “Oh. My. God.”

Instead of waiting for the explosion that was sure to come, he rolled to the other side of the bed and grabbed his jeans. Just as he yanked them on, Felicia stalked back toward him.

The first slap sent his face sideways, the second made his eyes cross.

“Kiss my ass Taylor Hamilton. I wouldn’t bring you around my family.”

Noting the telltale shine of unshed angry tears, guilt punched him in the gut.

They’d never made a commitment to each other. Their relationship consisted of hooking up a couple, sometimes three, times a month. It was sex only. That was the agreement.

Felicia and he had been partners up until he left the force. After he’d retired, they’d met on occasion for lunch or to shoot the bull. One night it changed, and since then they’d gotten together every so often. Mostly for sex.

Today she was angry. Something was up. Yes, he’d promised to come to her place, and then the next day to a wedding, but had decided against it at the last minute. Usually Felicia would have taken it in stride and not made such a big deal about it.

She was dealing with something and he was the easiest, closest target or letting out her frustration.

Before she could turn away, he grabbed her arm. “What’s really going on here? What happened?”

Her eyes shifted and shoulders fell. “I shot someone yesterday. Damn it. I killed a damn teenager.” Shrugging off his hold, she began yanking on her clothes. “Stupid punks think they are immortal.”

The first time he’d killed someone, it was during his second year as a police officer. The time he’d shot an armed robber. At first Taylor had been satisfied because he’d saved the convenience store clerk’s life. But when they’d removed the robber’s mask to reveal the face of a dumb kid, his guts had been in knots for weeks.

He pulled Felicia against his chest ignoring her struggles until finally she went limp, her tears wet on his bare skin. “When you go and meet up with the shrink, be honest. Don’t hold back. I know it seems stupid, but it’ll help.”

“Shit.” Felicia pushed away, wiping at the tears. “I better go.” Her dark brown eyes met his for a long moment. “Sorry about the slap. You’re a good man, Taylor Hamilton. Give yourself a chance to meet the right woman and settle down.”

“You got a hell of a swing. It was two slaps.”

Taylor studied the pretty woman. Hopefully she wasn’t about to suggest a relationship between them. There was nothing in him to give and he wasn’t about to allow anyone, including Felicia, to settle for him.

She was young and beautiful. Had just turned thirty-four. Smart and a go-getter, she had a bright future ahead of her. He was glad she’d not grown to want more from him. The last thing she needed was to be saddled with a forty-six-year-old broken man.

“Hey.” He took her arm and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “I am sorry about being selfish and shit. You deserve better....”

“Get ahold of yourself Hoss. I don’t want more from this...from you. We are and will always be friends. But this.” She motioned toward the bed. “This part is over.”