Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

wanted to make progress in the neighborhood without running back to Dean for help.

He smirked at my suggestion. “You have yourself a deal.”

Wringing my fingers, I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. What had I gotten myself into? “I’ve never waitressed before.”

“Of course not.” He sighed. “Have you ever worked a job that didn’t require a suit?”

I wondered if I should I tell him I lived with my parents and rushed home after school and my internship to help them with my severely autistic brother? Something told me he wouldn’t care. “No.”

“Be here at seven P.M.” He walked back to the stockroom, leaving me standing there alone.

I’d moved here to take a brief respite from my life. I loved my family, but when I was living at home, I didn’t go out with friends and I didn’t date. I spent all of my spare time with my brother. We had a unique bond. I’d sit with him and watch TV or read to him. My parents wanted me to go out more, but the reality was that Caleb was calmer when I was there. It made things easier, but at the same time, I needed to do something for myself and I could only do that if Caleb wasn’t nearby. I couldn’t drop everything and go to him if I was halfway across the country. I’d wanted independence, an adventure, and New Orleans—this job provided that.

Caleb was twenty-four and because of his size and needs he was already getting to be too much for my parents, so I’d decided to give myself a year or two at this job before I’d need to return home.

I opened the door and stepped back out into the humidity. I knew nothing about this life or this city, but I wanted to learn. I wanted to make a difference. If I had to work at his bar—if I had to work with that man—then I would. This job was important to me and I wanted to make a good impression so Dean could help me transfer within the Department of Justice back to Baltimore at some point to be near my family. It was only when I stepped onto the streetcar that I realized I’d never gotten the man at the bar’s name.

Chapter Two

GABE

When the door closed behind her, I breathed easy for the first time since I’d turned in the alley to find her—long blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, in her black suit and fuck-me red heels. She had curves in all the right places and when she flashed me her badge, holy shit, I’d never seen anything hotter. It was a sign of authority I hated, except when it came in the form of a hot woman.

“Who was that?” Isaac asked, coming in the door Taylor just left. Isaac was in his fifties, trim beard, thinning hair, and stocky. He was sometimes mistaken for a bouncer, which came in handy when patrons were unruly.

“An attorney from the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

“Oh, shit. I completely forgot we were supposed to meet.” He glanced at his phone. “Our meeting was at ten. Did you talk to her?”

“About how she wants to help the community?” There was no mistaking the sarcasm in my voice. I was annoyed at myself and my reaction to her. I wanted to hate her. She represented everything I’d always loathed—authority, the law, privileged rich people. “Fuck no.”

“Sorry, I should have warned you she’d be coming. What’s wrong with community outreach programs?” He waited a beat and when I didn’t respond, he came around the bar. “The crime camera over the door is supposed to deter theft, but if police aren’t responding to our calls then it’s useless. Her boss was interested in revitalizing the street, which can only be positive for business.” Isaac stopped to study me. “You’re worried about Zach.”

“Of course. Any time the law is sniffing around it’s bad news.” The moment that woman said she was a prosecutor, a weight had settled uncomfortably on my chest. I couldn’t have her around. I couldn’t let her find out—she saw things in black and white. She’d tell someone at the Department of Family Services and if she did, I’d never see Zach again.

I had to tell him I’d agreed to allow her to work in the bar. I wasn’t the manager, so I’d overstepped. Not that I cared about her desire to be introduced to the other business owners, but I didn’t want to piss Isaac off. “She wanted to work as a waitress until we find someone.”

“Why?” Isaac’s eyes narrowed on me.

“She said the other business owners would respect her more if one of us introduced her around.”

“She’s right about that, but why work here?”

“I guess she sees it as us helping each other out. Maybe she thinks she’ll be more approachable.” I certainly wasn’t welcoming to the woman in a suit carrying a badge.

“That’s interesting. You wouldn’t talk to her, but you agreed to let her work here.”

“Uh huh. It’s not a big deal.” Except I had no idea why I’d agreed to it. She had more to gain than me. The only solution was to keep it to one night, give her information on the neighborhood, and never see her again. Satisfied I’d solved that problem, I said, “I need to get home and check on Zach. I’ll be back at seven.”

“Take your time. I got this.” Isaac’s hand landed on my shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing with that kid.”

I moved out from under his hand. I wasn’t used to anyone else touching or praising me. “Just doing what anyone would do.” My voice sounded gruff as I tried to hide how much his words meant to me.

“No, they wouldn’t. That’s the thing. You’re putting your neck out for that boy. Most people would look the other way.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll see you later.” I knew why I did it. Zach was me fifteen years ago. My mom sat at home collecting assistance. She didn’t