“Let me think.” She polished off her hot dog, sipped soda through a straw.
Jayce watched as he ate. Christ, she was beautiful. And fearless. Down-to-earth, yet complex. Part of what had hooked and intrigued him the night he’d lost his senses and taken her virginity. The same qualities that had haunted him all these years.
“Observation deck of the Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty.”
“Daisy’s list?”
“No, mine. Gram wanted to go dancing in a nightclub and speed-cruising on the Hudson River. Oh, and we both wanted to see a Broadway show. I know it’s a lot to squeeze into two days, especially if you have work—”
“I’m free. Anything else?”
She glanced at the horse carriages lined along Central Park South. “A hansom-cab ride though the park was on Gram’s list. Romantic, she said.” Rocky shook her head. “In the movies maybe. In theory. But not in real life. Horses don’t belong in big cities. The traffic. The noise. Look at them. They’re miserable.”
“The city’s steeped in controversy over whether or not to ban horse-drawn carriages. You’re right. Harsh life for the animal.” He appreciated Rocky’s sensitivity. Then again, she was a country girl. Used to seeing animals in a more natural environment.
“Mentally crossing hansom-cab ride off the list.” Rocky stood and tossed her trash in a nearby bin. “Can we walk instead? Just enough to get a flavor? That way I can at least share a partial experience with Gram.”
“Sure.” Been a long time since he’d strolled Central Park. Typically Jayce got his nature fix in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Smaller yet brimming with picturesque scenery. Woodlands. Lakes. Trails.
Rocky took off down a path in her sleek black boots. Jayce kept stride. The air was cool, the sun bright. Branches and leaves rustled in the autumn wind. The colorful foliage reminded him of the intense beauty of Vermont this time of year. Walking among nature with a girl from his hometown, a girl from his past, filled Jayce with an unsettling mix of contentment and longing.
“I’d love to jog through here.”
“Bad idea.”
“Why? The park’s like an oasis in a desert. A serene bit of nature amidst steel and chaos.”
“Do you know how many rapes, muggings, and murders occur in Central Park each year?”
“No. But it can’t be that dangerous, especially if you stick to populated areas and stay aware. Look at all these people. Families, couples, loners. It’s not like I’d go running in the dark.”
Jayce wished he could see the dense wooded areas, lush grounds, and multiple trails through Rocky’s naïve eyes, but headlines, statistics, and personal experience tainted his perception. Instead of expanding on his dark thoughts, he held silent. Why spoil one of the “must-dos” on Rocky’s wish list? It was not as if he was going to let her out of his sight.
Rocky glanced his way, then focused back on the path. “Must be tough. Living day after day surrounded by crime. It’s either develop a thick skin or live in fear.”
“Or make a difference.”
“Which is why you pursued a career in law enforcement. Only you left the NYPD after just a few years. You never said why.”
“You never asked.” She’d spent years shutting him out, obsessing on a grudge he didn’t fully understand.
Rocky’s cheeks flushed. “I should’ve said Dev never said why.”
“Did you ask him?” Jayce watched as her flush deepened. Of course she hadn’t asked. Her way of dealing with their one-night affair and the morning after was to build a wall around herself where Jayce was concerned.
“Fair enough.” She licked her lips and stared straight ahead. “If I ask you now, will you tell me?”
Fortunately, her cell rang, saving Jayce from expanding on a conversation he didn’t want to have. Not now anyway. His reason for leaving the force was complicated and could be construed as either selfish or indolent. He didn’t want to spend the afternoon defending his actions, nor did he want to look like a pompous ass in Rocky’s eyes. Bottom line, he didn’t feel comfortable enough with the woman to share intimate details of his life. Navigating their complex relationship was like navigating a minefield.
“It’s Dev returning my call,” Rocky said, jolting Jayce out of his thoughts. He watched as she stared at the screen for another two rings.
“Get it over with, Dash.”
She blew out a breath, connected. “Hey, big brother. You got my message?”
Jayce slid on his sunglasses and pretended not to listen. Meanwhile he stayed aware of their surroundings, unlike Rocky, who kept walking while talking.
“Yep. The meeting went great. Our cupcakes were a hit. Tasha’s Death by Maple won the honors. Like she needed a bigger head. Overall, Tasha focused more on herself than she should have, but you know Tasha. Anyway, please pass this on to Gram and Chloe so they can keep the club in the loop. In a nutshell,” she rushed on, “we met with our editor and publicist and discussed the proposal the club submitted and how they wanted us to expand on that. Also touched on marketing, publicity, and deadlines. It was interesting, I suppose. I just hope it doesn’t interfere with our charity efforts. I could see…” She shook her head. “Never mind. Don’t get me started.… No, we didn’t sign anything. We told them to send the contracts to our business advisor—which would be you. Speaking of you and business…”
Rocky veered off the path and started pacing along the edge. “You might be hearing from my credit-card people. No, I didn’t overspend! That’s the least of your worries. Hard to spend without the plastic. No, I didn’t lose my purse. I … It…”
Standing on the sidelines, Jayce geared up for the impending meltdown. He didn’t have to hear to know Dev had switched into overbearing-caretaker mode.
“Listen, don’t overreact,” Rocky said to her brother. “It was nothing. Well, it was something, but I’m fine. My bag was sort of stolen. Some bastard snatched it off my arm when— Yes, I’m fine. I told you— Would you please stop shouting. I’m fine. I’m with Jayce.” Fuming, she passed him the phone. “Dev wants to talk to you.”
“She’s fine,” Jayce said.
“What the hell?” Dev snapped.
“Like Rocky said, someone snatched her bag. The police are on it. I’m on it. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry? My sister’s been in New York less than a day and she got mugged!”
“It happens. Meanwhile I’ve got her covered.” Jayce kept his voice calm and low, hoping his friend heard between the unspoken lines:
I’ll look out for Rocky, like you asked. I’ll keep her safe.
It’s not like Jayce was in a position to speak freely. Not with Rocky pacing in front of him, listening to every word, and signaling him
not
to tell Dev about the car accident.
Dev blew out a breath. “You’re sure she’s okay?”
“You know your sister. Tough as nails.”
Obstinate as a mule.
“I’ll wire her some money.”
“I’ve got that covered, too.”
“Keep the receipts.”
“Don’t insult me.” Jayce never took money from friends he considered family. Dev knew that, but they still went through this song and dance on occasion. Like last month when Dev had asked Jayce to do a background search on Chloe. Something that had backfired on Dev but thankfully righted itself. Jayce had witnessed the chemistry between Dev and Chloe firsthand. They belonged together. He recognized a similar spark between himself and Rocky. Although it wasn’t a spark as much as a raging inferno. Potentially hazardous but impossible to ignore.
“Is Rocky standing within earshot?” Dev asked.
“You bet.”
“So you can’t talk.”
“Not really.”
“Did you tell her you’re moving home?”
Jayce glanced at Rocky, who’d stopped pacing but was now glaring at him and chewing her thumbnail. “Not yet.”
“Maybe you should hold off,” Dev said. “Considering her less than stellar attitude toward you, I’d hate to see you alienate her more when I need you to stick close.”
“Taking her on a whirlwind tour of Manhattan,” Jayce said, throwing a placating smile Rocky’s way.
“Unobtrusive way of sticking close,” Dev said. “Smart.”
“That’s why they pay me the big bucks.”
“But you won’t take my money.”
“Finally getting that, are you?”
Dev grunted. “Put Rocky on.”
Jayce passed back the phone.
“Happy now?” Rocky asked Dev while frowning at Jayce. “I have a babysitter. Does this mean I don’t have to check in with you again tonight?… Thank God.… Tomorrow? I don’t know my precise plans yet. A tour of some local bakeries was mentioned, but— Yeah. Okay. Sure.” She rolled her pretty blue eyes. “Shouldn’t you be helping Gram and Chloe prepare for the café’s opening?… Uh-huh. Give them my love.… Right. Stick close to Jayce. Got it.” Another eye roll. “Pinky swear. Love you, too.”
She pocketed her phone and fussed with the buttons of her peacoat. “Yeah.
That
wasn’t too painful.”
“Dev means well.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I know my brother’s heart. I just don’t like being bossed.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Jayce flashed back on when he’d tried to stop Rocky from rushing into her collapsing sports shed. She’d punched him in the damned jaw. “Had enough of the park?”
“Ready for my whirlwind tour if that’s what you’re asking.” Rocky looked over his shoulder at the towering skyscrapers, then to a nearby family playing catch with their dog on a patch of grass. She touched her bandaged forehead, frowned. “Like Gram says, life’s short.”
That statement resonated with Jayce more than Rocky could possibly know. His mood inched toward somber, prodded by fresh and ancient memories. Yeah, life was short, but it was also what you made it. He’d been spinning his wheels for far too long, looking for validation and contentment in all the wrong places. With that in mind, he looked hard at the beautiful woman who’d seduced him, then tortured him with rejection and disdain for more than a decade.
He’d managed their irrational feud until this last visit to Sugar Creek. Until he’d gotten an up-close-and-personal dose of the adult Rocky for a full week. He’d thought he’d put their relationship, or lack thereof, in perspective, but then he’d learned she had a fuck buddy and his world as he’d created it imploded. Jealously and envy ate at his gut. Regret, lust, and genuine affection screwed with his head. He’d been set to leave Sugar Creek forever—turning his back on everything he loved … and hated. Then Rocky had come running with the news that she’d broken up with Brody, followed by some half-assed attempt to put her past with Jayce to rest. Instead, she had challenged Jayce’s priorities and ignited his fighting spirit. That good-bye kiss had cinched his suspicion: Rocky still burned for him. And, God help him, he burned for her.
Tend to your soul.
All roads to validation and contentment led to Sugar Creek.
“About the tour,” Jayce said, steering Rocky back toward Fifth Avenue. “This is my city. My comfort zone. For the rest of the day and night, I’m in control.”
Rocky sucker punched him with a look that gave him an instant erection. “Dream on, Bello.”
“I could drop you back at your hotel, alert Dev you refused my company. He’ll either wire you some money or get Nash to fly him—”
“All right, all right. You call the shots, but just until midnight, Cinderfella. After that I turn back into a pumpkin with a mind of my own.”
“Your gratitude is overwhelming. So what’s first? Empire State Building? Statue of Liberty?” He quirked a sardonic smile. “Why am I asking you? I’m in charge.”
She pursed those lush lips. “I never realized you were so irritating. Oh, wait, yes I did.”
Jayce laughed at that. “Wait’ll you get to know me better.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Growing up with an old-fashioned dad, two older brothers, and a slew of protective male cousins, Rocky had learned early on to speak up and speak out. Otherwise she would have been treated like a delicate, helpless girl. She was not delicate, nor was she helpless. She was outgoing and athletic, like her brothers. Strong-minded like Dev and sociable like Luke. She had dreams and goals and a strong desire to make her own way.
Whatever it took.
Sometimes it meant invoking a hard, confident stance, brazening her way through an argument. Sometimes it entailed a covert approach, batting her baby blues, playing the vulnerable or coy card. She wasn’t fond of the latter, but she wasn’t above it either. That approach always worked with her dad. The only man who had ever left her completely clueless and flustered was Jayce.
Five years her senior, Jayce had been around as long as Rocky could remember. Dev’s best bud, thick as mud. He spent so much time at their house he was practically a member of the family. He’d even joined the Monroes on a couple of vacations and almost always shown for picnics and parties. Things had been spiffy and okay, and then Rocky had started feeling all wobbly kneed every time Jayce was around and that hadn’t been okay. That had been weird. She’d been ten at the time. Over the years things went from weird to worse. By thirteen she was so head over heels in love with Jayce Bello, she could barely breathe when he entered her space. Her heart pounded and her girly parts tingled. By sixteen she was certain she would die if they didn’t “do it.” She’d lain in bed late at night touching herself, thinking about kissing and stuff. Specifically with Jayce. So handsome. So muscular. So kind, but fierce. One of those guys, like her brothers, who always stood up for the underdog.
She was also attracted to Jayce’s mysterious side. An only child of two working parents, he didn’t talk a lot about himself. Unlike with her brothers and cousins, Rocky didn’t know much about Jayce’s likes and dislikes or his dreams and goals. He had a way of making the conversation about you or someone else but never himself. He hadn’t changed much in that regard over the years. Even though Rocky had agreed to this personal sightseeing tour in order to get to know Jayce better, so far today the conversation had revolved around Rocky and Manhattan.
Since Rocky had yet to hear from Tasha about a timetable for Saturday, Jayce had suggested combining (and augmenting) Gram’s speed-cruising wish and Rocky’s desire to see the Statue of Liberty. On the ferry ride across the Hudson River to Liberty State Park, Jayce had pointed out buildings and areas of interest along the Manhattan skyline. Later the conversation had centered on the Statue of Liberty, mostly because Rocky had been so impressed and in awe, then on 9/11 because of a sudden surge of patriotism and a pang of sadness when Jayce had pointed out where the Twin Towers should have been.