Chapter 16

Friday 9.48am

Evelyn

My eyes are gritty, and I’m stifling nervous yawns as I open the door to the parole department. The air is stuffy inside; the office is busy, uniformed officers are scattered around with civilian employees. I swallow hard and adjust the box of donuts I’m carrying and approach the reception desk. The girl behind the desk looks so young; I expect to see braces on her teeth when she smiles at me.

“I saw your picture on TV. You’re much prettier in person.” She grins at me, and a little of my anxiety starts to dissolve.

“Thank you.”

“Evelyn?” A female voice calls. I turn and see a short, curvy dark-skinned woman approaching, with cornrows in her hair and dressed in a suit. She extends her hand. “Tessa Conway. I’m Connor’s parole officer.” Tessa’s eyes shift to the donut box. “You brought donuts?”

I nod, hoping that’s not breaking a rule. I should have checked with Rebecca or someone, but I didn’t tell her I was coming here. I’m pretty sure she’d tell me I shouldn’t do it.

“Is that allowed?”

Tessa chuckles. “I think I’ll let it slide. Come inside. Connor will be here soon.” Even the mention of his name makes ripples of anticipation rip through my body. I follow her to her office, avoiding looking at the curious glances that seem to follow me everywhere I go now and take a seat in an airless office. Tessa sits behind her messy desk and gestures to it. “Just put those over here. You want some coffee?”

I shake my head but leave the donuts on her desk and perch on the edge of my seat. “How well do you know Connor?”

She opens the box and looks longingly at the contents. “You know how many calories are in these things? I’d have to do two hours of cardio to burn off just one.” She sighs deeply and slumps back in her seat, but her lips are curling at the sides. “Connor. How well do I know him? That’s a hard question to answer.”

I cross my legs and sit back a little as she picks up a pen and taps her chin with it. “A man like Connor Slade doesn’t show many people who he really is. I don’t think I’ve even seen a glimpse of the real man under the muscle and charm.”

I swallow. “I’ve been looking at the details of his conviction. He was only eighteen when he was sent to jail.”

Tessa eyes the donut box. “He was. And like they all do, he came out harder than he went in. His brother died while he was inside.”

I don’t try to hide my shock. “I didn’t know he had a brother,” I mumble.

She nods, her lips pressed downwards. “Look, it’s obvious you care about Connor, so this should be coming from him and not from me. I’m privy to a lot of information about this case that isn’t public. I’m not comfortable sharing anything past what I think you need to know to make a decision about allowing him to serve out his home detention at your house.”

I suck in a breath. “I can do that? I can take him home with me?”

Tessa’s face contorts. “Well, he’s not exactly a cute little puppy who needs a home. You need to understand that he’s a convicted felon serving out the final stretch of his parole. There will be regulations and rules. If he breaks them while living at your house, you could find yourself back in court.”

My stomach flips around. “Can you tell me what he did? I’m not sure I understand how he ended up with such a heavy sentence.”

Tessa finally gives in and picks a donut, taking a bite before answering. “So, Connor is an eighteen-year-old, his parents have just died, he’s bouncing around, picking up work where he can, doing his best to keep his little brother from going into foster care—”

I hold up a hand. “Wait, Connor’s parents died?”

She wipes some powder off her lips and nods. “Killed in a car wreck a few months before he was arrested.” My heart drops to my toes. No wonder he was so angry when I told him about Scott. No wonder I felt like he understood. He’s been through it too. “Anyway, Connor finds a job in a bar, and because his brother has started hanging out with a couple of troublemakers in his class, Connor decides it’s better to bring him to the bar so he can keep an eye on him.” Waves of nervous tension are making all my muscles knot as I wait for her to finish. “It’s Friday night and somehow some cocky teenagers from Tyler’s year sneak in. Connor is tending the bar and refuses to serve them. One of them shoves Tyler, who takes a swing, and you can piece everything together from there.”

I shake my head. “But the police report said Connor broke a man’s jaw? It didn’t say anything about minors.”

She finishes her donut and wipes her mouth again. “No. And that added another layer to an already complicated situation. Connor’s employer knew the kids and wanted Connor to serve them. Things got physical and well, you know the rest.”

I slump back against my chair. “He was just trying to do the right thing?”

Tessa sighs. “Yup. That’s why he’s gotten more than just a little sympathy from most of the cops involved in the case. No one wanted to see him serve a full sentence. His lawyer was a court-appointed hack. Any half-decent one would have gotten his sentence reduced.”

Angry tears start to brew. “What happened to Tyler?”

Tessa doesn’t look me in the eye, just toys with the pen on her desk. “He was put into foster care. He got into drugs and overdosed while Connor was locked up.” While I sit stunned, Tessa smiles sadly. “Pretty shitty, huh?” I don’t know what else I can say, so I just sit there feeling numb and sick to my stomach. Tessa taps something into her computer and looks at me. “Connor Slade went into jail an angry teen who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he came out a very dangerous man with a serious dislike for authority.” I start to nod, but she interrupts me. “That’s as far as I go in my professional capacity as his parole officer.”

She leans forward. “This is Tessa mode. Someone who wants Connor to find a nice woman to help him go straight. This Tessa is going to level with you. No matter how well you think you know Connor, I guarantee he’s not being entirely truthful with you. I don’t think he really knows how to be.” I swallow and nod as she continues. “No man goes into prison for as long as he did without making criminal connections. There are too many things about this Hoskins’ trial that smell funky. I’m not pushing it. The police aren’t pushing it, but you need to be aware a life with Connor Slade isn’t going to be only hot sex.”

I exhale slowly, trying to read between the lines even though my cheeks are blazing. “I understand.”

She shakes her head. “No, you don’t. I think you’re so in love with him that all you’re seeing is what you want to see, but Connor needs someone to see the good in him. He deserves a good woman.” I nearly choke on a sob as she smiles at me, then looks at her watch. “It’s 9am. Connor and his lawyer will be here any second.” I sniff, and she hands me a tissue as her phone buzzes. “Okay. He’s here. I’ll give you a few minutes alone; then I need to have you both sign off on a couple things.” She picks up a piece of paper on her desk and hands it to me as she walks towards the door. “This is a waiver; you should probably have your lawyer look it over before signing. It basically says you agree to have sensors installed and agree to the conditions of carrying out Connor’s remaining parole.”

The paper starts to shake as I take it out of her hands. “Okay.”

She squeezes my shoulder gently as she walks past. I take a shuddering breath and try to prepare myself for Connor’s arrival. I don’t know whether to stand or sit or to try and look casual and unaffected by him being here, but my heart starts to race as the door opens, and all my false confidence dissolves as he steps inside the room.

***

Connor

She’s across the room and throwing her arms around me before I can even say hello. I stagger back, circling my arms around her as I kick the door closed. She smells incredible, like sunshine in a bottle. She’s trembling as she clings to me, her breathing rapid as her mouth crushes against mine. Our tongues connect sending waves of pleasure shooting straight to my cock.

I grab her ass and pull her closer to me. Her hands slide up my back, fingernails pressing into my skin as we crash against the door. She moans into my mouth, and my fingers start to unbutton her blouse. Her rapid breathing increases as she tugs at my pants, I have just enough time to slide my hand inside her shirt before my brain kicks into gear. I kiss her harder, then release her. Her eyes are glassy, her hair mussed, and it takes all the control I have not to bend her over Tessa’s desk and pull up her skirt.

I back away, smiling at the black lace poking out from her blouse. Her nipples are sticking out, so I avert my eyes and run a hand over my face. “Not that I’m complaining but—”

She nods weakly, her lip catching her teeth as she starts to button herself up again. “I’m sorry. Um, I don’t know what happened.”

I chuckle. “You don’t need to apologize for giving me a hard-on.” Her cheeks turn crimson, but she licks her lip, sending all the blood flow to my already hard cock. “Shit, woman. I’m trying here, but could you stop looking at me like that?” She releases a breath and stumbles back until she hits the chair. Her legs buckle, and she collapses into the seat. I keep my eyes on her legs as she crosses them so slowly I catch a glimpse of the matching panties I’d hoped she’d wear. I groan and lean over so I’m staring at the carpet. My voice comes out somewhere between a rasp and a pant. “Just give me a minute.”

She sounds half aroused and half concerned when she replies. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, trying to shake all thoughts of doing something stupid. I try to think about the least sexy things I can to distract myself from how close she is and how willing she is. We have limited time, and I need to talk to her while I can. I can’t even look at her until I know I’m under control, so I stare at my boot laces and start counting in my head.

“Evelyn, we literally have five minutes.”

Her voice is breathless, but she seems a little steadier than I feel. “You’re right. We can pick this up later. When you come home with me.”

My head snaps up. My eyes lock onto her to see if she’s serious. “What?” She gestures to Tessa’s desk, and I have to lean over to see. “You can serve out your home detention with me. I’m a good candidate for—”

I shake my head. “No. I’ve put you through enough.”

Her face falls, her mouth slackening. “But, I thought… I could help you.”

Ice starts to run through my body. Her expression has changed; she’s not thinking about me the same way. She probably knows all about me. All about Tyler. I know the look that’s on her pretty face, I’ve seen it on too many faces to count. From the court-appointed counselors to the prison chaplain, to the mandated therapist, the state forced me to see. It’s the same look people gave me for weeks after my parents died, the look the social worker gave me when she was trying to figure out if I could raise Ty on my own.

My voice comes out too harsh. “I don’t want your pity.”

Her bottom lip starts to wobble. “What are you talking about?”

I work my jaw as irritation surges through me, washing away the last trace of lust. I keep my voice hard. “I’m not some pet project.”

Her eyes widen. “I never said you were.”

I can’t look at her anymore; this is hard enough without seeing her upset because of me. “This, us, this isn’t going to work out. It never would have lasted.”

Her breath releases in a rush, but instead of tears like I usually get when I end things, she sounds pissed off. “Really? You’re so sure?”

I shrug as lazily as I can. “I’m not denying I had a great time, and I appreciate the offer, but this is complicated enough already—”

She cuts me off with a choked laugh. “Complicated? Are you fucking kidding me?” The seconds tick by as I stare over her shoulder. She doesn’t say a word, just glares at me. “Wow. Silence. That’s all I get from you after everything I did to clear you?”

I flick a glance at her, which I regret instantly. Her eyes are brimming with tears, and her hands are shaking. She swallows, and a tear drips down her cheek. She leaves it there as a testimony to what a complete prick I am.

Evelyn shakes her head. “I’m such an idiot. I actually thought you cared about me. I guess that lawyer was right after all. You were just using me.” She rises slowly and clears her throat as she swipes her tears away and straightens her clothing. “Goodbye, Connor.”

Her perfume wafts over me as she stalks out the door and slams it behind her. I stare at my boots and don’t look up until I hear Tessa’s irritated voice. “What did you do?”

I slump back in the chair and stare at the waiver for home detention approval on the desk. A lump forms in my throat as I see Evelyn’s signature already on the bottom. My voice is too thick as I try to answer and convince myself at the same time. “I did her a favor.”

Tessa looks like she’s about to throttle me as she slides behind her desk. “Oh, you stupid, stupid man. That’s your pride talking.”

I snort a fake laugh. “Yeah, well, pride is the only thing I have left right now.” Tessa’s lips press together as she hands me the sign-in sheet, all without speaking a word. I scribble my name and get to my feet. “Are we done here?”

She takes the sheet without looking at it and grabs a donut from the box on her desk. “Yeah. We’re done.” My hand is on the doorknob when I hear her mumble through mouthfuls of donut. “Jackass.”