He purposely kept the details ambiguous. Moreno had spoken to their convict and had been told Chris dealt in stolen goods. Hopefully it would spark his interest or at the very least get him invited back here more often. And the conversation wouldn’t be filtered.
He lost a few more hands and won some, leaving him with half of what he came in with. Moreno should be pleased.
As Barone dealt the last hand, Chris looked at Moreno asking, “You never did say what you wanted with Katie last week, the day I beat up your two boys.”
The smirk on the man’s face made Chris sick. “The same thing you’ve been getting from her. I’ve seen the two of you at the resort. I was hoping perhaps she would treat me to a sample of that sweetness.”
It was a good thing Meg had left; she’d be horrified. Chris was even more thankful he hadn’t listened to her insistence that she was fine walking home by herself. He never would have forgiven himself if Moreno had gotten a hold of her that way. How to keep Moreno off her until they could put him away?
“I don’t like to share, if it’s all the same to you.” Chris made his words casual yet clear. “But once I’m finished with her, she’s all yours, day and night.”
“With some new skills too.” Moreno couldn’t hide his pleasure, the scumbag.
What scared Chris though was the absolute delight shining from Barone’s eyes.
Chapter 10
The rain fell heavy, matching Meg’s mood. She watched the empty beach from the bedroom balcony, tears intermingling with the mist. Empty. She understood that. Felt it deep inside today. The worst part, it was her day off. She couldn’t even distract herself with that.
Leaning on the railing, she didn’t care that she got even wetter. Nothing could penetrate the blanket of sorrow covering her. It had seeped inside her skin, chilling her to the bone. Why had she allowed herself to get into this fix? Couldn’t she have been happy with her life and stayed away from Eddie and his bad-boy grin?
She’d asked herself these questions countless times but never seemed to have good answers. Because there weren’t any. She’d been selfish and stupid. And now she was paying the price.
“Hey, there you are.” Chris came up behind her and she attempted to wipe her face. It didn’t work though. Today there was no stopping the tears.
His presence filled her senses but she didn’t turn around. No witty comments or sarcastic banter for him today. She couldn’t even pull up a halfhearted greeting.
“Meg,” he tried again his voice filling with concern. “You okay?”
He gently turned her around his eyes matching the concern in his voice. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did I forget to put the toilet seat down again?”
He got credit for trying but laughter was completely out of the question today. Overwhelming sadness welled up inside, her face crumpling in despair. Her tears blurred the alarm on his face as his arms curled around her. She didn’t fight. Just let herself be pulled into his warm embrace and solid comfort.
“Sweetie, what is it? Are you sick? Hurt?”
She burrowed deeper into his warmth, shaking her head. No one had held her this way in far too long. Her sobs increased when she realized how much she missed it, needed it.
He scooped her up tight against his chest, her feet leaving the floor. She didn’t care where he was taking her; she needed this contact for as long as she could get it. The couch cushions soon bent under her weight, hers and Chris’s. He still held her close.
She wanted to let him know she was fine but right now she wasn’t. The comfort he offered only made the crying worse.Stupid girl. Stop your blubbering and pull yourself together.
He stayed silent rubbing her back, holding her. When was the last time she’d cried like this? She couldn’t stop. He didn’t seem to care.
He stroked a path up and down her back, gentle and soothing in its rhythm. He shifted his fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her face. The beat of his heart under her ear reminded her she wasn’t alone any more. But she had been for too long.
When her sobs finally decreased, she found a tissue near her hand, the hand that had been curled into the snug navy t-shirt that now housed her tears. She eased back enough to blow her nose but still needed the warmth of his masculine arms. Resting her head on his firm chest she whispered, “I’m sorry I’m such a mess today.”
He pressed his lips to her hair, intense hidden emotion saturated her body. Could she stay here forever?
“Is there a reason for it or did everything finally catch up with you?” He made no attempt to remove her from her almost fetal position against him.
She glanced up at him but never lost contact. “It’s my mom’s birthday today.”
That was as far as she got before tears filled her eyes again. Damn. She needed to be stronger than this.
“Oh, sweetie.” His arms provided the strength for her now and she took her fill. Who knew when she’d get this again. “I’m sorry. That’s got to be hard.”
“I got through it last year. I don’t know why I’m freaking out so much today.”
