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The scent of the cleaning products his mother used hits Saks’ nose when Hawk, holding Saks up with one arm, opened the door to Saks’ apartment. Sure enough, his home sparkled, courtesy of his mother and sister, he was sure. He was sure he’d never hear the end of how much work they did, but once a Parks woman got hold of a house it would be cleaned and polished so that all surfaces gleamed.
“You,” complained Hawk, “are heavier than you look.”
“It’s all muscle.”
“Yeah. And beer. As I can see from the fridge. Where do you want to park, Parks?”
“Ha, ha, asshole,” said Saks dryly. “Like I’ve never heard that before.”
“Come on, man. Which room?”
Saks admitted he was exhausted. The trip from the hospital took more from him than he’d expected. The pain in his shoulder notched higher with each heartbeat. But he had to put some things together before he could proceed with the plan he and Luke worked out. “Bedroom.”
“Off we go.”
Sakes leaned on Hawk as they maneuvered to his room. He sank to the bed and stretched out. He’d rest for a few minutes.
“Do you need anything?”
“Can you pick up my pain medicine? The hospital called it in.” Saks fumbled for his wallet and handed Hawk a twenty. “That’ll more than cover it. The pharmacy has my insurance info.”
“Insurance?”
“Luke’s a good boss.”
“I’ve heard. I wonder if you can put in a good word for me.”
“I’ll talk to him. No promises.” Or you could just ask the guy yourself.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“Pharmacy’s the first one on the right when you turn left out of the parking lot.”
“Luke mentioned he’s coming by, too. He just had to go to the shop first. Do you want me to wait until he comes?”
“Nah. I’ll be okay. Just leave the door unlocked for him.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t your cop cousin say it wasn’t safe?”
“No one’s coming by, Hawk. They arrested the idiots. I’m not in danger. Louis’ just paranoid. Been a cop too long.”
“Fine. I’m not going to argue with you. You want the light on or off?”
“Off.”
“I’ll be back soon.
When the door shut, Saks blew out a breath he didn’t realize he’d held as he pressed his hand to his hurt shoulder. In the privacy of his apartment, and only to himself, he admitted that perhaps it would have been better to stay in the hospital. But, no. He was a tough guy. No problem leaving the hospital two days after surgery.
He was a freaking idiot.
Maybe sleep would help. He closed his eyes and forced himself to try to relax. It wasn’t working very well.
“Hello?” a soft voice called out.
Saks’ eyelids popped open. Was he dreaming?
“Saks. It’s me, Chrissy.”
What the hell?
“In here,” he called. Hating that he sounded weak. Why the hell was she here? She’d left. Maybe... Nah, she wasn’t here for him. Shit, she’d probably hired the goons to shoot him and was coming back to finish the job herself.
“Can you come out here?”
“Uh... No. Not possible.”
She came to the doorway and stood in the doorframe. The light from the living room backlighted her curvy silhouette. “You okay?”
“Fine,” he replied cautiously. “What’s up?”
She shifted from side to side, as if nervous. “I, um, heard some news that I got from my grandfather. Rather my sister, Gloria, got the news and told me.”
Saks wasn’t used to seeing Chrissy nervous. Angry, determined, stubborn, yes. But not tongue-tied and nearly incoherent. It was kind of cute.
You’re an idiot, Saks. This woman has pummeled you, insulted you, and left you more times than you can count and you think she’s cute?
Hell, yes.
And the worst part of it was he suspected this woman would melt him into a puddle any time she wanted. He had it bad for this pretty Serafini.
“What is it, Chrissy?”
“The men who hit you are from the DiMea family.”
DiMea? The Jersey boys?
“They were hired by the Rojos to get revenge for getting their gang in trouble with the law.”
“Rojos,” hissed Saks. Is that what Pez was doing hanging around him? Getting intel on where he’d be and when? To make it easier for the men he hired to make the hit?
“Thanks for telling me, Chrissy. I’ll pass it along to my cousin.”
“Cousin?”
“Yeah, Louis Anglotti, one of Westfield’s finest.”
“Oh.” She didn’t move from her spot in the doorway, and she looked damn sexy standing there. His brain centered on the curves of her breasts swelling in the light button-down sweater she wore as a shirt. Underneath that shape-clinging sweater he knew she was wearing lace. White? Or Black? Either would be sexy as hell against her skin. “Would you do me a favor?”
“What favor?” she asked. The uncertainty in her voice hit a chord with Sakes. Perhaps she wasn’t as adamant about staying away from him as she’d declared. Otherwise, why was she standing here in his room?
“Could you help me with something? I’m sorta stuck.”
“What do you mean?”
“Can you help me sit up? This sling they make me wear restricts my movements.”
“Oh! That kind of stuck. Okay...” she said hesitantly. She walked to his bed and held out her arm. He wrapped his good arm around it, and pulled against her.
But she was all of a buck ten, while Saks easily had eighty pounds on her, and when he pulled against her arm, she fell forward.
“Oh shit,” groaned Saks as she fell against him. The pain in his shoulder flared, but it was worth it to have Chrissy this close to him. Her scent stole his reason and he didn’t care about his shoulder anymore.
“Sorry. Sorry,” she said frantically, trying to push away, but Saks put his hands on her shoulders, stilling her. He gazed into her caramel-colored eyes. “You know,” he said with a smirk, “you were damned sexy standing in my doorway, but you look even better here.”
Chrissy took in a quick breath. “Are you still drugged up?
“If there’s one thing I’m sure of,” said Saks, “I’m of sane mind. This is the one thing that we should always be doing. Stay. For a little bit.”
He shifted slowly, watching his shoulder, and gave her some space to lie beside him. He wasn’t sure she’d stay.
“What’re you doing?”
“Making you comfortable.”
“I—We shouldn’t—”
“Chrissy, stop. You and I both know you wouldn’t be here unless you wanted to be.”
She swallowed hard. “Even if I do, I shouldn’t. My grandfather told me to stay away from you.”
“What are you going to do, Chrissy? Do what your family wants, or what you want?”
“Our families—” Chrissy looked so distressed, he took her hand and squeezed it.
“Yeah, a Romeo and Juliet situation. Well, screw it. I like you and you like me, and that’s all that should matter.”
“Like?” she said. “That’s it? Like?”
“What do you want me to say?” he growled. “You want me to tell you that whenever I see you I can think of nothing but how to get you into my bed?”
“Well,” she said, giggling, “that’s a good start.”
“A start. Wow. You’re tough. Okay,” he said as he shifted to his side to face her, “I think you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”
“That’s nice of you to admit I’m hot.”
“You are.”
“But if I’m to ‘deny my father and refuse my name’ I’d need a little more than that.”
“Oh, that’s not fair. You’re quoting Shakespeare.”
“All’s fair in love and war,” she said with a sexy smile.
He groaned. More Shakespeare. “You’re fucking killing me.”
Her face turned serious. “Baby,” she said, “I want to love you.”
“Love? Is that what you want?”
“Every woman wants love.”
“I think,” he said almost in a whisper, “I can give you that.”
“Can you?” she said as softly as if she spoke a secret.
“Yes.”
He stroked her thigh and trailed his free hand up her body to her breasts. Her nipples peeked through the soft knit fabric, enticing him to touch them. He pressed one nub with his index finger and thumb and she mewled.
Saks’ cock throbbed and filled as electricity shot through him when he touched the enticing swells of her breasts. He bent and pulled apart the sweater, one pearl button after another, and pulled the clingy fabric away to reveal her lacy bra.
“Ah,” he sighed. “White.”
Saks took the edges of her bra in his teeth and pulled with a growl. She reached back and unsnapped the clasp, letting her breasts spring free. Again with his teeth, he pulled up the bra over her pink nipples.
“You’re not too injured?”
“This is the best medicine any doc could prescribe.” He loved those nipples. He lapped each with the tip of his tongue. His lips touched her globes in little kisses, slowly and tenderly. She sighed with satisfaction.
“Baby, you’re really good at this loving thing,” she said.
“I haven’t even gotten started.”
She slid her hand to his bulge and stroked its hard length, which caused a groan to escape his lips. “Oh, I think you’re more started than you think.”
“I know where I’m at,” he said.
“You do?”
“Yes. Front and center and ready to serve.”
“Sweetheart, you’re on the injured list. I think it’s my turn to take care of you.” Staring into his eyes, she unzipped his jeans and reached inside to stroke his cock. “Um,” she said licking her lips, “commando.”
“Anything to please.”
“So, not a laundry issue?”
The woman forgot nothing. That was his excuse the first time they made love. “Does it matter?”
“No,” she said in a low, sexy moan. “Let me make you feel better.” Her thin, tiny fingers could barely wrap around him, but when her tender lips touched him it felt like he’d shoot like a rocket to the moon.
“Fuck,” he gasped.
