Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters 1)

“I have a good sense of direction,” he said, finishing the short walk up the stone path to the house.

She nodded. “You can leave now if you want to.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Tell me why you think I’d want to.” Stupid statement since he now understood her reasons for keeping him at a distance and putting off any overtures he’d made.

“Because you wouldn’t be the first, for one thing.” She studied him warily.

Hell, he thought, running a hand through his hair. He should have just accepted her signals and backed off. He was a guy who only knew how to take care of himself and chose his women accordingly. He’d made a promise at a young age—he’d never be a bastard like his father and run off on a woman and a kid. Someone who wasn’t an adult and wasn’t responsible for the choices of those around them. The easiest way to accomplish that had been to pick women who liked their affairs free and easy.

His nerves jumped as he walked up the two steps and joined Maria on the small stoop. He found himself at an unusual loss for words.

In full defensive mode, Maria stared him in the face, daring him to glance away or back down. “I’m sure your interest in me didn’t include a kid. Joey and I are a package, so now that you know, why don’t you save us both a lot of grief and take off.” Tension and distrust emanated from her in waves.

She was obviously testing him. Forcing him to make a decision before anyone got hurt. Smart woman, he thought. Once again he wished he’d heeded her signals, yet at the same time, he was still drawn to her, even more so now that he knew there was more to her than just the cocktail waitress he thought would be good in bed. Oh hell, he’d sensed that all along. Wasn’t that why he’d pursued her relentlessly?

“Maybe you underestimate me,” he said. Just as he’d obviously underestimated her.

She shrugged. “That remains to be seen.”

He glanced at her and felt his reserve softening. He’d only seen her at work, in a tight “Damon’s” T-shirt and black miniskirt. Now he viewed her in a different light. Dressed for their date, she wore a pair of black pants and a light blue sweater with a nice, deep V that accentuated her lush curves. Gone were the sneakers; in their place, black shoes with a slight heel. And when he looked into her wary eyes, he noticed she’d put on a minimal amount of makeup, enough to entice but no heavy artifice to cover the real Maria.

She hadn’t hidden a damn thing from him now. “You look nice.”

“Thanks,” she said, ducking her head.

He’d obviously taken her off guard and was about to do so again. “Where’s his father?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you. There’s fifty states. Since he’s not paying child support and my attorney can’t find him, I’d assume he’s somewhere in the other forty-nine.”

Connor nodded. So that explained her wariness. Abandoned himself, he understood. “And you expect me to run scared like he did.”

“Like I said, you wouldn’t be the first.” Her voice quivered despite the outward show of bravado, reminiscent of her son.

Connor turned and glanced at his car parked on the street. Freedom lay a few feet away. He rolled his shoulders, the pain lodged in his back intense. He should just walk down the steps, climb into the car, and take off, putting miles and distance between himself and Maria and her son. He wanted to run before he replicated the mistakes his father had made. Before he hurt a kid the way he’d been hurt. And if he spent any time with Maria and got to know her kid, that could be the end result.

But a distinct memory stopped him from taking off. The one of his mother, dressed for a date just as Maria was now, dropping Connor off at a neighbor’s who watched him when she had to work. He doubted he could call it babysitting, since no money was exchanged. They were two single parents doing each other favors in order to make ends meet. His father had already been long gone. And his mother had never come back. The neighbor, as nice as she was, couldn’t afford to keep Connor in addition to her two other kids, and his trip through foster care had begun.

Connor had always blamed his father for the kind of childhood he’d had, while making excuses for his mother’s decisions. Looking at Maria now, Connor was forced to acknowledge that he’d been wrong. His mother’s choices were as selfish as his father’s had been.

Maria waited, saying nothing while Connor sifted through his memories and his own choices. Here stood a woman who cared enough about her child to put his needs before her own, and he admired her for it.

And here he stood, a man who could follow his heart and get to know this woman or let fear rule his life and make him walk away. Connor swallowed hard. “Who watches him while you’re out?”

She tipped her head toward the run-down house next door. “A neighbor.”

Connor winced at the similarity. For years he’d worked with the kids at the center, and their stories didn’t affect him on a gut level. This woman and her child did.

Just go, a voice in his head yelled to him. Before it’s too late to get out. But then he’d never know what he was missing in life.

So instead he heard himself saying, “Why don’t you get him and we can all go out for a burger.”

Maria’s eyes opened wide, then a cautious smile tilted her lips and he relaxed a little more. He owed it to himself to take this chance and prove to himself he wasn’t like his old man. He hoped like hell he could handle it.

•  •  •

Quinn drove to Ari’s house while she followed in her own car. It was hard for him to believe they’d made love a few hours ago and he’d compromised his case and his integrity as a result. He trusted her, dangerous as that notion was.

He heard the sound of hammering from inside the truck as he pulled to a stop in front of Ari’s parents’ home. He exited the vehicle and met her on the front lawn near where she’d parked on the street behind him.

“Do you hear that?” She shook her head. “I can’t stay here.”

Without thinking, he grabbed for her hand. “You don’t have to.” He had the perfect solution for her problem. “Do you like dogs?”

“More than monkeys, though I have to admit she’s growing on me.” Ari gestured to the window Spank had appropriated as her own.

He chuckled.

“Why?”

“You can stay at my place while your parents are constructing. My real place,” he amended. Quinn hadn’t realized what a huge burden he’d been carrying until he’d unloaded the truth on Ari. With her knowing he was a cop, he didn’t have to tiptoe around her and could bring her deeper into his life. Something he hoped he didn’t come to regret later.