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

theft conviction. It will be there forever. It affects everything in my life. How people perceive me, my ability to get a job, to obtain a loan, to open a business. I’ve never gotten close enough to someone to tell them. Honestly, I don’t think the other women I’ve been with would have cared.” People in law enforcement usually looked down on criminals. Was it too much to hope she was different?

“You’re right. Any theft over one thousand dollars in Louisiana is considered a felony which is an issue when applying for a loan or applying for a job but I’m glad you told me. The fact that you opened up to me is more important than one conviction when you were eighteen. The purpose of jail is to punish but also rehabilitate and I think you’ve learned from that experience.”

She seemed sincere but I had to be sure. “You don’t think less of me that I have a conviction? You’re a prosecutor. Don’t you think I’m a liar?”

“In court, a theft conviction can be used to say that you’re not truthful, but I haven’t seen anything that makes me think you’re a liar. I thought you were hiding something—” She was quiet, and I kept my eyes on the beer bottle in my hands. “I thought you were hiding a kid or a girlfriend or something.”

My head snapped up at that. “A kid?”

“Yeah, I thought you were hiding baby mama drama from me,” Taylor said it lightly, but I could see the idea bothered her. “And it’s not the idea that you had a kid that bothered me, it was that you were hiding something from me.”

“That’s not it.” But not far from the truth.

Her forehead wrinkled. “What else are you hiding from me? Do you have a kid?”

If I wanted her to trust me, I had to tell her. The only thing I could hope was that she’d be supportive. “I don’t have a kid. I’m helping my neighbor. He’s fifteen and his mom’s always working and never home, so he fends for himself. There’s rarely food in his fridge or cupboards and he only gets free breakfast and lunch when he’s in school.” He lowered his head. “I just don’t want him to end up like me.”

She huffed. “You have a pretty low opinion of yourself. Why would it be so bad to be like you? You’re a hard worker, you work extra hours for Isaac without being asked, and you take care of this boy. You made one mistake when you were young. Big deal. You didn’t have the opportunities or direction I had. I think it’s amazing you’re doing as well as you are based on your upbringing.”

Why was she so quick to dismiss the very things that I thought would keep us apart? “It’s not that simple.”

“Actually, it is. Do you want me to get that conviction erased from your record?”

I sucked in a breath as hope filled my chest. Was that even a possibility? “What are you talking about? How is that even possible?”

“You had one conviction when you were young and nothing since. If that’s true, then I can petition the court to expunge your record.”

“I served time for it.” How was this a possibility and I didn’t know? I thought once something was on your record it was permanent.

“Department of Corrections or prison?”

I could see Taylor going into attorney mode as she asked questions. “D.O.C. I was sentenced to a year.”

“I can outline what you’re doing now, the good you’re doing for the community, the child you’re helping, or how you’d like to apply for a job without the conviction on your record. It’s not guaranteed, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.”

I placed my beer bottle carefully on the table between us as panic filled me. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. This isn’t fixable. I can’t tell the court about the child I help. I don’t want anyone to know his mother neglects him. I don’t want Family Services involved. I don’t want them to take him. I might never see him again. They might put him in a worse situation.” I stood, wanting to leave.

Taylor stood, laying her hands on my chest, her blue eyes on mine. “You don’t know what would happen and I wouldn’t do anything you don’t want me to do. I promise. I’d never do anything to hurt you. You can trust me.”

I’d told her the things I was most ashamed and scared of. I told her about Zach the person I most wanted to protect. If I wanted something more with her, I’d need to trust her. “Okay.”

Chapter Sixteen

TAYLOR

I wanted to step closer to him. I could feel the muscles of his chest, his stomach. I wanted to push up his shirt and feel his bare skin. I knew words were difficult for him, but I hoped touch would be easier. I placed my hand on the back of his neck, tugging him down to me. I moaned when his lips met mine—from a combination of the hard ridges under my exploring fingers and the realization that he was all mine, even if it was for just this moment. As he took the kiss deeper, his hands on my hips, he held me there then pulled me closer so I could feel his hard cock. “Please, Gabe.” I wanted more. I wanted him over me. I wanted his shirt off, but I wasn’t sure he’d take this any further.

He took one look at my face and lifted me into his arms, my legs wrapping around him. “Bedroom?”

“Yes.” He walked me inside and I fell back on my bed.

He toed off his shoes before climbing onto the bed to hover over me, lips finding mine again, as his hands were everywhere—caressing my breasts, drifting down my stomach, and then unbuttoning my jeans before his hand slipped under my panties, cupping me.

“You’re so wet.”

I’d never been so attracted to a guy or