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

my life. I never introduced him to an important woman in my life. He liked it.

We piled into a cab and headed to a pizza joint nearby that I loved. The evening was technically nothing special. Three people enjoying good pizza. Except it was—the three of us together, happy, talking, and joking. I could become addicted to this. My life had taken on so much more color and depth since Taylor came into it.

“How are things going with your brother?” I asked once all that was left of our pizza was crumbs.

She shifted in her seat. “Fine. Why?”

She seemed uncomfortable and I didn’t know why. “No reason. It’s just you haven’t talked about him since that night he wandered from your family’s home.” And she revealed herself to me. It was when she’d become a person with depth to me. No longer the ice princess I’d thought of in my head. And I wanted to know more about her situation with Caleb. I wanted to know if she intended to return to Maryland.

Taylor shot a look at Zach. “He’s fine. Thanks for asking.”

She clearly didn’t want to discuss it in front of Zach which concerned me. Why was that? She didn’t want him to know she had a brother with disabilities? That didn’t make sense. It had to be something else.

Maybe she didn’t want to discuss his disability with Zach. Maybe she was private about Caleb. I only knew because she’d taken a call from her family in my office, and that bothered me a little now that I thought of it. She didn’t discuss him otherwise.

I wanted her to know that I would support her just like she supported Zach. “You know if you want to talk about him you can.”

“I know.” She smiled tightly and didn’t add anything further, so I let it go.

We went home together and watched a movie in my apartment before I escorted Zach to his empty apartment. I didn’t like leaving him there, but I didn’t have a choice. He was old enough to stay home alone and it was relatively safe. He never mentioned his mom bringing strange men home. If he was scared, he could tell me. I didn’t have the right to keep him at my place.

My mom never wanted anyone else to know about the fact we accepted government assistance or anything else. And I assumed Zach’s mom was the same. She wouldn’t want anyone in her business. I’d bet my life on it.

Returning to my apartment, Taylor pulled me down on the couch next to her. “Have I told you that it’s hot you’ve taken Zach under your wing?”

“I think you’ve mentioned it a time or two,” I teased.

“It is. So hot.” She ran her fingers over my chest.

“If I’d known that, I would have used him to get more women.”

“You wouldn’t have. You’re too good for that. You didn’t even think of yourself as doing good until I came along.”

“True.” I was uncomfortable with her complimenting me.

“You’ll get used to it.”

Her words echoed Isaac’s from earlier. Was my discomfort so obvious? My lack of belief in myself so apparent to everyone else? That couldn’t be good. If I wanted to be a good example for Zach, I needed to believe in myself—to show him how to be a strong confident man. That’s what I wanted for him. To know that others cared for him, believed in him.

Then Taylor climbed into my lap, grinding down on my cock. I forgot everything but her scent, the warmth of her body against mine, and the slide of her hair against my face. I loved this woman. I didn’t know how long I could be with her and not blurt it out.

Chapter Twenty-Two

TAYLOR

At the office, the file I was reviewing blurred in front of me as my mind wandered to Gabe. I felt more for him then I felt for anyone else except for my family. I’d never thought I’d care that much about someone else. I figured I’d be single and enjoy my independence for awhile after I moved here. I hadn’t anticipated meeting Gabe. But was it a good idea to get involved with someone who believed they weren’t good enough?

I sucked in a breath. Everyone knew people didn’t change but Gabe was different since we’d met. He’d changed or I was seeing the real him—the one who hid behind that chip on his shoulder.

“Hey, where’ve you been lately? With Gabe?” Hadley asked, plopping into the chair across from me.

“Yeah.”

“Do you still feel like this office might be too much for you?”

“I wanted to make a difference, but we step in after they’ve been victimized.” It was still an important step in the justice system, but I wanted to be more proactive. It was probably why I enjoyed community outreach more.

“There’s a position open in Maryland if you’re interested. I don’t want to move but it would be perfect for you.” She laid a printout with multiple job openings in front of me.

“Which department?” I scanned the list.

She pointed at the Baltimore listing. “They’re creating a new position to handle the federal grant certain cities received to enforce rape kit testing.”

That sounded interesting.

Hadley scrolled through her phone and showed me an article. “See?”

She’d highlighted several sentences: “One-million-dollar federal grant to staff new prosecutors, an investigator, and a victim service advocate to investigate and prosecute cases resulting from belated testing of rape kits.” It was a wonderful cause. It wasn’t much different than what I was doing, but I couldn’t look at child pornography pictures and videos much longer. I was going to lose my mind.

“Only cities with the worst track records in testing rape kits were awarded grant money.”

“New Orleans doesn’t have a similar opening?”

“There’s nothing listed yet. The Baltimore one closes in two weeks if you’re interested. I’d hate to see you go but it looks like a cool job.”

“It does.” But could I leave Gabe, especially when he needed my help with Zach? Even if