Page 5 of Hearts on the Mend

I blame her eyes, that smile, the fucking idiotic need I have to throw myself headfirst into trouble.

“Staying at the old motel by the beach, and it’s a long walk. Super long.”

“Need a ride? Can’t have you walking back in this cold.”

“Jesus, I’ll walk back with you if you shut the door,” Wyatt snaps. “Letting out all the heat.”

A smug, low chuckle falls out of me then as she slips her hand into mine and draws me out of the door. I fall back against the diner, the two of us standing on the sidewalk.

“Hi…” She traces her index finger over my mustache, across my lips, grinning up at me. There’s a challenge in her eyes, like she already knows I’m going to fold. I don’t do this. Not ever. Not for a good reason either. I’ve just made enough messes in the past to know better.

“You’re…”

“Too much trouble?” My heart drums underneath her palm as she slides her hand down my chest. “You did see me break a guy’s nose tonight.”

“Wasn’t a complaint.”

Shit. She’ll fucking break my heart too if she walks away. I sure as hell hope I’m not misreading this.

I cup her jaw and give her half a second to tell me no. When she doesn’t, I kiss her. Her mouth is soft against mine, then rougher when she kisses me back, her fingers curling into my shirt. I straighten, lifting her off her feet, my arm banded tight around her waist. She makes a surprised gasp at the back of her throat before her tongue sweeps into my mouth. For a second, I almost forget it’s twenty degrees out with her body tight against mine.

“Sure,” she whispers as we break apart, catching our breath. “I’ll take a ride with you.”

“You don’t know me.”

I duck my face against her temple anyway, then inhale before I can stop myself. Not smoke or soot or dirt. Fresh, like moss and raspberries. Sweet.

Fuck, this is a bad idea. But I’ve been running toward danger for years. Not stopping now.

Her fingers rake back into my hair, scratching my scalp, drawing out a deep groan buried in my chest. “I could. For tonight.”

“You don’t even know my name.”

“My life is a mess right now. Can’t do details.”

Before I can answer, her mouth is against mine again, and I haul her tighter, fighting for air. Fighting for an excuse.

But there aren’t any.

And my life’s a mess too.

One night can’t fuck things up any more.

“Alright, Hellcat. Tonight. Only tonight.”

“I can live with that. Can you?”

Chapter 2

Cassie

Ten Months Later

Shit. No. No. No.

I peek into the rearview of my old Jeep. “Oh my god, don’t fall asleep, baby. We’re almost there.”

My daughter’s big green eyes bob open and closed. If she falls asleep, she’s going to wake up like the fucking kraken and eat my face and then never get to bed tonight. It’s going to be hard enough to get her to sleep in a new house as it is without a car nap.