CHINA
“Doll.”
Knowing the growly voice, I don’t even turn in greeting. “Hey, Tre.”
“Why didn’t you call me to join you at the arraignment?” Placing a hand on my shoulder and plops down on the step beside me. Trellis tucks in close, slinging his arm over my shoulders.
“The girls were with me, and I didn’t think—”
“Why didn’t you call me, though? I would’ve helped you out of this.”
“I don’t want out of it this time, Tre. It’s about time I dealt with my shit myself. No Crown bullshit. No backroom deals, and no one covering my ass. I had to do this alone.”
Trellis resigns to my stubborn streak. Leaning into his strong chest, I tuck in.
“So, why aren’t you on the bike on a day like today? Get geared up and go, D.”
Holding my coffee aloft, sipping at the sweetness, I relax. “Not now. It feels funny hitting the track. It’s like—”
“Like the ghosts are running it? Yeah, I get it, Doll.” His voice is soft, sad, and understanding. Trellis is as versed in death as I am.
“Nice jewelry. What’s the deal?”
Shaking my leg, I rattle the monitor and muster up a grin. “Under the circumstances, I guess it’s not that bad. It could’ve been worse.”
“And I hear you’re under surveillance too? Who’s the guy that’s stuck with you?” Trellis is trying to get me to smile.
“I’m stuck with him, but I think he’s really stuck with me. The girls fell in love with my arresting officer and new jailor.”
“Risen Mason is the guy that’s watching you?” He grinds his teeth so hard, I’d swear he chipped a few. Standing up, he wipes down his shorts. “No. Ain’t happening, China. You’re not staying in this house with him alone. No way, Doll.”
Standing up, I face Tre. I can see his anger seeping to the surface. “What’s so wrong? He’s a police officer, Tre.”
“Doll, there’s no way you’re staying here alone...with him.”
“Tell me why, Trellis, and maybe I’ll listen to you.”
Growling, he turns toward the house with deadly intent. “Doll, he’s not the guy you think he is.”
“Then tell me. Tell me why you’re so against a cop staying here?”
Spinning back around, he stomps toward me. I’m kind of freaked out. Trellis is a hulking large man, as big as a bodybuilder, but naturally that size. He’s daunting, even to me. “China, I know Risen. He’s not the good guy. We have a history, and that’s all I’ll say on it.” Running a hand down the side of my face, he rests it along my jawbone. I lay into it. I’ve always had a crush on Tre, but being my brother’s friend, he’s been off-limits.
Tre’s phone pings, breaking the silence. Looking down at his phone, his fighting attitude escapes. When he speaks again, his voice is soft. “I need to go. Tarrant needs me tonight for some shit out at the club. I’ll catch up with you later, yeah?”
I force a grin. I’m pleased with his care, but worried about why he’s so upset about Officer Mason. “I’m flattered you’re worried, Trellis, but I’ll be fine.”
“Just be careful, Doll.” Nodding, I agree, and watch as he leaves.
With the sun sitting high, the porch was starting to be a bit much. I return to the house and sit with Cassidy in the kitchen for a bit to talk about what’s going to go on. Cassidy is crazy excited about meeting Risen after everything the girls had told her. Their recollections of his manliness made quite an impression on each of them in very different ways.
Cathryne said he reminded her of Opie from the Sons of Anarchy. She’d said he was soft, silent, a great defender, crass, sarcastic type that changed the word swoon into an adjective.
Hallette felt he was more like Dwayne Johnson from the Rundown. Again, the soft, silent, broody defender, but for some reason, she was convinced he was a serial killer that hid behind a police persona.
Creepy.
Harlow wanted to know if he had a brother. She kept comparing him to her favorite men by personality in real life, not by acting roles. It came down to a few, but only with the caveat that their wives would agree. She’d taken a sneaky pic of him on her cell and forwarded it to the respective women for their approval. Then, for some odd reason, she tossed in Conor McGregor, the MMA fighter, for good measure, she said. I think there’s more to it than she’s letting on. Hallette and Cathryne both gave sidelong glances to Harlot as she giggled into her tea.
If I’m being totally honest with myself, I’ve thought about him off and on when I was so rudely arrested. He is sexy, but he doesn’t look like anyone to me in particular. His mussed brown hair that comes to his shoulders neither detracts nor hides anything. His strong square jaw and garnet eyes finish off the whole package. I think he’ll be a danger to me.
I’ve seen him up close and personal a few times, and I’ve noticed a few blemishes that accent his beauty further. There’s a tiny freckle like mole right by his mouth, and a scar, that is obviously old, right by his chin. And the hole in his ear that’s lazily closing up, apparently housed a spacer at some point in time. Officer Risen Mason isn’t someone that I thought would be the rebel, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised. He just might be under all that seriousness and professionalism, a person I can enjoy this incarceration with. I just hope that whatever it is that has Trellis worried for me isn’t going to cause me further arrests.
On the day he cuffed me, I’d heard him muttering to himself. He was pissed about doing his job. He seemed torn. If I were a betting woman, I’d say he was made to do it by someone else in charge, that it wasn’t by his own volition. I find myself wanting to know more about his character and his motivations.
After what Tre said, I can’t deny I want him. I do. I shouldn’t want to know more about him, though. Other than thanking him, and making it through the incarceration with the least amount of trouble or distractions from the sexy man, I should avoid him. Yep. I should. I can make it through a month and a bit unscathed with a sexy as hell officer that has a job to do. If I keep him in his hall and me in mine, we should do just fine. Or, at least, I can keep telling myself that.
Yeah, go for it, China.
“Fuck. How am I going to make it through this and avoid him?”