Lucky put on her most sympathetic face and played devil’s advocate. “Maybe Krystal would benefit from having her father in her life. You’re so close to your dad. Maybe she’d like being with her dad, too, having that sense of security that he’s looking out for her. And you.”
Poor Krystal. She deserved a chance to know the man who really wanted to be a part of her life. And probably would be soon. Especially if Lucky could get the evidence and confession she needed from Desiree.
“There’s nothing between us anymore. I don’t want anything to do with him.” Desiree wrinkled her nose.
Because he doesn’t want anything to do with you either?
“Anyway, the restroom is the second door on the left down that hall.” Lucky pointed to the hallway between the kitchen and dining area.
She waited until Desiree closed the door, then dug through the purse she’d left on the console table behind the couch, keepingan eye on the hallway and Krystal at the table. Desiree’s phone was locked and Lucky didn’t know the passcode. She rifled through receipts, two candy bars, a makeup bag that didn’t have anything damning in it, and a small black notebook with a strap holding it closed.
She opened the book, but didn’t understand the letters and numbers and dates. It didn’t matter right now. She held up her phone and started taking pictures as fast as she could. Page after page.
Hawk caught her in the act. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
She tried not to get distracted by the dark gray t-shirt stretched across his chest and around his biceps, or the way his thighs pressed against his pants. Not to mention that package behind his fly. No. She clicked away.
“She’s coming,” he whispered.
One last click, then she closed the book, secured the strap around it, stuffed it in the purse, then went up on tiptoe to kiss Hawk, saying against his lips, “Push the purse off the table.”
Hawk didn’t waste time and hooked one hand around her waist, palming her ass. The other moved to do the same, but he “accidentally” hooked his hand through the strap and made it fall, spilling all its contents at their feet. Hawk didn’t stop kissing her for a second, just pressed his hand to her lower back and pulled her in closer.
She got lost in the kiss, until Desiree squatted behind her and slapped the back of her thigh. “Do you mind?”
It wasn’t hard to fake her surprise or the sting she inflicted when Desiree pushed her aside. “Hey. Oh. Sorry. I didn’t realize that happened. Let me help you.” She sank to her knees and grabbed the book off the floor.
Desiree snatched it out of her hands. “I’ve got it.” She shoved the book, her wallet, and phone into her bag. “I need to getgoing. Be back in a couple of hours.” Desiree headed to the door without even saying goodbye to Krystal. She opened the front door and gasped.
Standing on the threshold, Neil’s hand was raised as if he’d been about to knock.
Right on time. “Neil.” His name came out with a made up hint of anger and surprise. She had to play this just right. Like they hadn’t seen each other since the night before he’d been arrested. “What are you doing here? How did you know I live here?”
His gaze shifted from her back to Desiree. “I followed you here. I didn’t know whose house it was. I want to see my daughter.”
Desiree froze, then slowly looked at Lucky.
“What is he talking about?” she asked her so-called friend. “Why would he say that to you?”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “You were always so oblivious.”
Lucky narrowed her gaze, cool calculation filling her heart. “You slept with my boyfriend?”
Desiree seethed. “I don’t have time for this. Yes. We fucked. A lot. He’s going to tell you some bullshit that he didn’t want it, but the truth is he did, otherwise he wouldn’t have done it over and over and over again.” She glared at Neil, then turned back to her. “I did you a favor. He could have been your forever, instead he cheated and ended up in jail, nothing but a drug dealer and murderer.”
Neil defended himself. “That guy came at me. It was self-defense. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I had no choice. I wasn’t even charged.”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “Always an excuse for his bad behavior. You don’t need that in your life. You’ve got Captain America now. Helicopter pilot, hero, successful business owner. He’s not just gorgeous, he’s rich. You hit the jackpot. Be happy.Stirring up shit in the past will only make things worse. Let it go.”
“Forget that you stabbed me in the back, that you got pregnant with Neil, and I’m just supposed to drop it, just like that?”
“I’m telling you not to go down this road. It won’t end well for you.”
“Did you just threaten her?” Hawk moved in front of Lucky, blocking her from Desiree.
“See. That right there. Everyone’s always trying to protect you, while I’m scrambling to hold on to what little I have.”
This was Lucky’s opening. “You want help? Then ask your baby-daddy to step up and do his share. Let him take some of the responsibility.”
