Reese

ChapterFifteen

Isit on the rickety table with my eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the sun on my face.

The occasional bout of laughter or grunt of pain emerges from the gym, but beyond that, it’s quiet out here and gives me a chance to clear my head for a minute.

I open my eyes when I hear the door creak open and turn to see Law walking toward me.

“I wondered where you had disappeared to.”

He sits beside me on the table and leans back on his forearms, his thick thigh pressing against mine as he rests his feet on the bench.

“Just taking a minute,” I say, and sit in silence for a moment before I admit, “It’s hard not to do background searches on these kids and go fuck up everyone who ever hurt them or made them feel worthless.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Shit. Probably shouldn’t have said that to an ex-cop.”

“The key word in that sentence is ex. Thing is, there is no going back for me now. As much as this new life of mine has been an adjustment, it’s not been without its benefits either. Last week, I stumbled across some asshole getting handsy with a girl outside a club. Instead of taking him in, only for him to get bailed out a few hours later, I had the pleasure of handing out some instant karma.”

“You punched him in the face, didn’t you?”

“Fuck yeah, and it felt awesome.”

I throw my head back and laugh, but my laughter dies down when I feel his eyes moving over me.

I look over at him again, and the expression on his face has me torn between diving off the table and squeezing my legs together.

“Law?”

His eyes snap to mine before he grins unrepentantly. “I can’t help it. Your tits jiggle when you laugh.”

I reach out and shove him off the table. He falls on his ass, which makes me laugh again.

I look over the edge at him. “Still worth it?”

“They are pretty awesome tits.”

“How would you like it if I checked out your junk?”

“Oh, go for it. My dick is huge and will probably make you overlook my imperfections.”

“Is that right? And what exactly are these imperfections?”

“I’m messy, for one, and I can’t cook for shit. I’ve tried a million times, but I’m that person that burns water. I guess God couldn’t give me all this”—he waves a hand over his body as he stands—“and make me perfect in every other way too. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else.”

“You really are humble.”

“It’s my cross to bear,” he admits solemnly.

“How do you like working here? It’s not as adrenaline-fueled as being a cop, I’m sure, but—”

He holds up his hand to stop me.

“Think I’ve reached my quota for adrenaline-filled jobs. Nothing good ever comes from them.”

“Shit, I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t think.” I slide my hand over his when he sits back beside me.

“It’s okay. It is what it is at the end of the day. It happened. I can’t change that. Lord knows I tried. I think about it every single day. What I could have done differently, what I should have. All these alternative endings roll around in my head, mocking me. But the truth is, without the gift of hindsight, I’d have done it the exact same way.”