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“What about you? What were you doing in the military?” She dumps the glass into a large trash can.
“Same thing. I wanted to see something different.” I’m not used to talking about that part of my life. I don’t want to share much about it, so I keep it vague.
“What was it like coming back?” she asks. I can tell that coming back here this way hasn’t been easy for her.
“It was hard,” I admit. “Until I found the right people.” Caroline’s eyebrows raise. “Sometimes it’s not where you are, but who you’re with.”
By the time everything is done, I’m getting hungry. I’m tempted to ask her if she wants to get something to eat with me. I don’t want to leave her, but I’m dressed in baggy checked pants and a blood-stained undershirt. Plus, I’m exhausted. My stab wounds are begging me to lie down and rest.
She looks around at the result of our work. “It looks good enough to open tomorrow.” I’m impressed that she’s not deterred by the attack.
“I don’t think Kelly will come back tomorrow,” I say. “He’s probably going to let things cool a bit. But he’ll be back soon.” I hobble over to the counter and tear a piece of receipt tape from the register. I write down my number and give it to Caroline. “I’m going to have someone keep an eye on this place and make sure you don’t have any more trouble. Call me if you need anything.”
Caroline pauses for a moment, then smiles as she takes my number. That smile does it to me again. I just want to scoop her up right here and feel her in my arms.
“Do you feel safe getting home?” My protective instincts are always strong, but I also can’t help looking for another reason to put off going our separate ways.
“Yeah, thanks. My aunt’s house is only three blocks away. The real question is, doyouhave a way to get home?” She looks down at my right thigh.
“I’ll be alright,” I assure her.
“Well. Thanks again. I’m glad you came back.” Caroline steps toward me. She puts one hand on my shoulder, rises to her tiptoes, and kisses me on the cheek. The scent of her hair envelops me with that sweet-tart scent I caught this morning. I love the feel of her hand on my shoulder, her soft lips on my face. As she pulls away, I resist the urge to find out if she tastes like she smells. Just barely.
I walk out of the bakery, trying not to limp too obviously, and cross the triangle park to my Porsche Cayenne. I wish it wasn’t so far away. I get into the passenger side and call one of my guys to come drive me and my car home and another to come keep watch over the bakery.
A few minutes later, Caroline comes out of the bakery carrying a backpack and wearing a light jacket. She locks the door we boarded up and turns to walk down the street. From this distance, I can’t see much, but there’s definitely a faint smile on her face.
I close my eyes and lean back on the headrest, feeling more content than I have any right to be.
7
CAROLINE
That wasa roller coaster of a first day. Business was good. But I was almost strangled and a man got stabbed. By far, worse than anything that’s happened anywhere else I’ve ever worked, first day or otherwise.
Things with Raf did get a little… familiar. Patching him up was one thing, but somehow just talking and cleaning up together felt even more intimate. Like we were old friends even though we just met. It was actually fun, which was the last thing I was expecting considering everything that’s weighing me down right now. I kept getting these little jolts like my body was reminding me what happiness feels like. Having been with my ex for a while, I’d gotten used to going through the motions day to day as well as shutting down any attraction I felt to anyone else. It was weird to think that Icoulddo something if I wanted to.
Maybe that’s why I kissed Raf on the cheek. I don’t know if I could have done it if he was still wearing his suit, though. He looked so intimidating this morning when he came in wanting to talk about the business. But in his undershirt and the culinary pants, it was hard to take him too seriously. He still looked hot as fuck. But not as scary.
It was nice to feel desired again, too. I caught that gleam in Raf’s eyes every so often, and when he asked me a question, he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. Then of course, there’s the fact that he saved me from getting killed by that asshole.
But what did he want this morning? I didn’t bring it up with him again because in some way I don’t want to know. There was already too much going on, and I don’t think I could handle any more today.
I can’t help wanting to see him again. But I should let it lie. He’s obviously involved with the mob.
I guess I am too now. Whether I want to be or not.
8
RAF
I keepa soldier watching the South Street Bakery 24 hours a day. For the next week there’s no sign of Nevan Kelly or any other Irish Mafia.
Every couple of days, I check in with Caroline. Just to see that she’s okay. Whenever I come in, she takes a break to sit and chat with me if it’s not too busy.
I can’t tell how she feels about me. About us. It’s like I’m in middle school again, wondering if a girl likes me or not. Usually, it’s obvious. I don’t think about it this much. I meet a woman I’m attracted to, I ask her out. Simple as that.
This is different. It feels like she’s become a friend. I don’t want to lose that. She knows the kind of life I live. I’ve set some of my soldiers to find her uncle. She’s in a delicate place and I don’t want to come in and mess up her life. She was attacked by one mobster. Is she going to voluntarily get involved with another? Kelly and I are from the same world, but I’d never hurt Caroline or her family. And I’d kill anyone that did.
