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

didn’t know much about your job.” He dropped his arms and his stance relaxed slightly.

I never talked about my job because I didn’t want to. I loved being an attorney but not my actual cases. “She thought this new job would be ideal for me and it does sound like something I’d be interested in. The DOJ created new prosecutor positions in cities where they’re behind on testing rape kits to speed up prosecutions. I’d work closely with victims and get them justice. So far, the only opening is in Maryland. I’m not ready to go back there when I just moved here.” I studied his face but it gave nothing away. “I’ll ask my boss tomorrow if New Orleans will get the same grant and tell him I’m interested.”

“But you do want to go back to Maryland eventually?”

I had to be honest with him. “That’s the plan. My family’s there. But I came here to do something on my own and I just got here. Like I said, I’m happy here. I don’t want to go back.”

A slow smile spread over his face. “You are?”

“Are what?” I teased knowing exactly what he was referring to.

“Happy here? I know you said it before, but we weren’t alone.” His hands went to my hips, pulling me in closer to his body so that I could smell his scent, and feel the warmth of his body as I rested my hands on his biceps.

I smiled, reveling in the feel of being in his arms. “Yes, of course.”

“And why are you happy?”

I looked over his shoulder pretending to think about it. “Well, I love the city.”

Gabe’s eyes narrowed on me. “Just the city?”

“Be patient. I’m just getting started. I met this awesome kid named Zach and I have a new friend, Hadley.”

“Anything else?”

“I met this hot bartender. I don’t know where it’s going but I sure like where we’re at.”

He cocked a brow. “Oh, yeah? Anyone I know?”

“You might. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, but pretty grumpy.”

He tickled my sides. “Grumpy, huh?”

I jerked away from him. “No, stop! I hate being tickled.”

“You should have thought of that before you called me grumpy.”

But he’d stopped tickling me so I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You should stop being so grumpy. Retire the chip.”

“I thought I had.”

“Most of the time, but every once in a while it shows up again.”

“I only ask that you’re honest with me. If you want to go back to Maryland, tell me.” His voice was soft and he looked down at me with such affection in his eyes it made it difficult to draw in a breath.

“Sounds like a plan.”

The thought of not being with him and moving halfway across the country for a job made me feel ill. I changed the subject to the other issue on my mind. “Has Zach said anything to you about his mom? I asked him when I was with him but he’s not talking.”

Gabe’s shoulders dropped. “I don’t know what to do. He’s not saying anything to me but I’m positive his mom is still pressuring him.”

My stomach dropped. “I think we need to sit down and talk to her—whether it’s all three of us or just you if you want.”

“I agree but we should talk to her together.”

I ignored the thrill that shot through me because I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. The fact that he wanted me there to support him was such a change for him. “Do you have any idea when she’s even home?”

“She’s sleeping when he leaves for school so maybe we can stop after Zach’s in school and see if she’s there?”

“Okay. I can do that.”

“His birthday is next Thursday, so we don’t have a lot of time. Do you have time tomorrow morning to talk to her?”

“I’ll make time. This is important.”

He stroked a hand down the side of my face. “You’re unreal, you know that?”

My skin heated at his touch and I leaned in closer. “Maybe it’s time to accept that I’m here to stay and I want to be here for you. Whether it’s to help you with Zach, your job, or whatever you need. Can you do that?” I looked into his gray eyes which twinkled.

“I think so.”

“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.” I went up on tiptoes to kiss him. It was a sweet kiss sealing my words—showing him what he meant to me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

GABE

The next day I waited until Zach was at school and Taylor met me at my apartment before we knocked on Zach’s mom’s door. As we waited for any noise inside the apartment to indicate she was home, it struck me that I didn’t even know her name or much about her. I assumed she worked in the evenings, but I didn’t know for sure. She could be involved in something illegal. I should have confronted her earlier.

“Do you think she’s home?” Taylor whispered.

“I don’t know.” But I needed to speak with her. I banged harder on the door. “Maybe she’s hungover and can’t hear.”

Taylor’s lips pursed and I knew she didn’t like that idea.

I wanted to prepare her for what we would encounter. “I know you want to think she’s a good person and she’s just working hard but the reality is she doesn’t make sure her son has food to eat.”

We didn’t hear any noise inside the apartment until the door was suddenly pulled open. Taylor took a step back in surprise.

“What do you want?” A woman in a tank top with no bra and tiny sleep shorts on stood at the door with her hair a mess, like we’d woken her.

“I need to talk to you about Zach,” I said.

“Is he causing you trouble?” she looked from me to Taylor and back to me.

I knew she’d cataloged Taylor’s suit and wondered if we were family services. That her first thought was Zach causing trouble angered me. It was just like my mother. Quick to assume their child was the problem and