Big City Little Rebel

“Let’s feed you.” He’d saved the number for Chow Chow once he knew it was Bobbie’s favorite. He dialed, and Joy answered. He ordered all of Bobbie’s favorites. “I’m taking you home. You’ll jump in the shower or bath, I’ll get you food, and then we’ll talk.”

He took her upstairs to her apartment. She opened the door and stalled. “Come in, but don’t judge me.”

When the door opened wide, he stepped into a world bent on destroying Pete, Todd, and Aspen. It was like walking into a serial killer’s house. Every newspaper clipping ever printed about them was taped to her wall. She’d tracked them back to when Schiff and Hundley Construction started over twenty years ago.

Bobbie went to the wall and tore down the papers one by one.

“Stop. Leave it.” He knew the layout of her apartment since his was a replica one floor down. “I want to see it when I get back.” He lifted her into his arms and walked her into what would be her room.

It was Bobbie, simple with no frills. Her bed was made with a beige comforter and two pillows. Not the dozens of pillows that most girls used to decorate. Who needed a decorated bed? There were two things you did in bed, and sleeping wasn’t at the top of his list.

He laid her down and started at her shoes. Tonight, she had on a pair of red chucks. She wasn’t like any woman he’d ever dated. In fact, he couldn’t remember a woman he’d dated who wore athletic shoes. Sandals, heels, and boots looked great, but four-inch heels weren’t functional. Those women didn’t stand in the rain and twirl happily. They weren’t wash and go, and they had never entered his heart as this little spitfire had.

He tugged off her jeans, removed her top, stood there, and stared at her. She was beautiful, and she was his.

“I want to lie down and make love to you, but that has to wait. The minute we’re both naked, I can’t think.” He ran his fingers up her leg, across her belly, and to her chest until his palm rested over her heart. “You have me wrapped up in your heart, Bobbie, and I don’t know what to do. All I know is that my life is far better with you than without you, despite what you put me through.” He leaned over her body and kissed her. “I’ll get you dinner while you shower. Don’t go anywhere. I’m coming back.” He pivoted and walked away.

“Beau?” She rose onto her elbows. “I could fall in love with you.”

He smiled at her. “Bobbie, I’ll make you fall in love with me.”

When he walked back into her apartment thirty minutes later, she was sitting with a folder of clippings in her hand. She had removed every remnant of her fight from the wall. She closed the folder and handed it to him.

“My gift to you.” She leaned into him and sighed.

“I don’t want you to give up your fight. I love that about you. I just want you to trust me to do the right thing.”

She pulled two dishes from the cupboard and two pairs of chopsticks from her drawer. Of course, she has chopsticks. He sat across from her at a table that was the same as his. They were more alike than they were different. The only variant was he didn’t have a bat next to his door, but he had to admit it was an excellent addition.

“I do trust you, Beau. It’s just that—”

“I know. You don’t trust them.” He spooned food onto her plate. “Have you ever considered that using your money for good would be more fulfilling than using it the way you have?”

“It’s blood money.”

“Make it into hope money. What about financing a hospice center, or what about funding an environmental education center for kids? You’re a smart woman, and I’m sure you can figure something out.” He positioned his chopsticks and picked up his first bite of food with marginal success.

“I’ve been so obsessed with making them suffer that I never considered the possibility of easing someone else’s pain. I’m glad you’re here, Beau.” She looked across the table and smiled. “Even if you work for idiots.”