Page 18 of Hidden Rocco
This only delayed the end.
He lowered his head. “As you wish, ma’am.”
This might be his last meal—he had to chance calling his mother and convince her to get help, and a cure. She deserved to live a full life and not avoid treatment because she was… sad.
Roger and Harry never should have known about his plan for Vegas and setting him up with their botched bank robbery left their mother with no one, not that they’d ever cared about her. Only he had, and their mother needed to survive this mess. She needed to stop appealing to the court on his behalf and focus on her health. He realized people weren’t evil; they just didn’t care about his plight.
Mica’s light hand brushed against him and his hair stood on end as he turned and she asked, “Do you mean that? Anything I wish?”
If he’d been smarter than his brother, he’d have proven his own innocence. But the idiot he was didn’t deserve a good woman. “Yes. Do you need something?”
She came closer and every cell in his body flared alive as she asked, “Need?”
He lowered his head and his lips ached to take her, kiss her, and never let her go.
But he’d give her a life sentence and she didn’t deserve to ever be involved with a criminal. Rocco didn’t dare move. “Yes, ma’am.”
She reached up and brushed her soft finger against his taut cheek as she asked, “Am I the only one fighting an attraction here?”
His heart thundered in his chest. Every part of him ached to follow his desire for her, but he closed his eyes and said, “Excuse me, ma’am.”
Mica ran her hands through his short hair. “Look, neither of us are eighteen. When I want something, I acknowledge my desires and go for it. And I want you. We didn’t expect to meet, but here we are.”
If he followed through on that desire, he’d destroy her life and bring the authorities, danger, and his troubles to her door.
His life was already ruined but he couldn’t take her down too. He backed away from her despite his temptation to haul her close. “I’m not good for you.”
She pressed her hand to her heart. “I decide what’s good for me and what’s not.”
But she didn’t have all the facts—if she did, she would run. He tucked his hands in his pockets unsure what to do. “Yes, ma’am.”
Tears formed in her eyes as she said, “The last man that I had sex with tried to murder me. Would you do that to a woman, Rocco?”
That man was a reason for life in prison. Rocco would murder him with his bare hands and he never raised his hands to anyone. He met her gaze. “Absolutely not.”
She folded her hands in front of her, and that caught him off guard. “Then you more than qualify as “good”.”
Confidence in herself would return. She was smart, beautiful and had one very bad experience. The rest of her life would be beautiful, as long as he kept his distance. He traced her arm, as she needed a friend, and said, “You aren’t making a smart choice by wanting me. I’m sure there are men who would be happy to wear these clothes.”
She let out a small sigh like she released her frustration and stood. “They fit. It’s already better than what you showed up wearing. Your clothes were falling off you. I’ll keep my distance.”
For her own benefit. But she needed an ear and he had those to offer so he picked up the plates and she followed, bringing their silverware. He asked, “How did you know my size?”
Her gaze went up and down his body. He froze. Was she sizing him up like a man did to a beautiful woman on the street? His cheeks warmed. He put the plates down and she said, “My brother Gabriel served and he had your build. What branch were you in?”
Observant was a great skill to have. Mica was pretty perfect in every way from what he could tell. He stood taller like he went to attention as he said, “Marines. But that was a long time ago.”
She laughed, like she was happy despite everything. “He was too, and he says the same thing.”
Even if he reminded her of someone she loved, she was nothing like any woman he’d known. None had made him wish he was worthy of her. “I’m sure he’s a good man.”
She smiled at him, more like beamed her sunshine at him as she said, “As I’m sure you are.”
“I’m not your brother.” His voice was more throaty than he had a right.
The tingles in his lips to kiss her and take what she offered could never be satisfied.
She reached out and brushed her fingers against his cheek. “You are absolutely not. Rocco, I want two things right now.”
