Hard to Love

19. Seth

Eight years after the dreaded night on the west coast when Laura left....

The first chapter of Desperate to Touch

I wonder if Laura knows it's me, for about half a fucking second. The way she averts her eyes and refuses to look at me gives me the answer I'm looking for. The East Coast has been good to me. I wouldn't have chosen it for myself, but it's where Laura ended up.

It's pitch black and the stores in the shopping center are closing down. I've been parked here for a good three hours now, just watching. It's what I'm paid to do and what I need to do tonight.

I'm supposed to watch Jase Cross's girl. I've been working with the Cross brothers ever since I left Tremont in Derrick's hands. There was no one left to kill there, no challenges to face. So I followed Laura, keeping my distance and getting comfortable.

Fate's a prick.

She's with the girl I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on. I suppose it makes sense. My life's a sick joke.

Fuck, just looking at her dredges up everything. Every splinter of emotion I thought I'd long buried. The sick concoction of it all slips into the crevices of my bones as my eyes wander over the curves of her collarbone.

Then lower, to the dip at her waist.

It's hot and cold. Anger then lust. Fuck, I can't keep still in this piece of tin knowing she's right there. So damn close, I could go get her if only I wanted to. Some moments I do, but I don't know that I'm ready yet and I need her to come to me. A piece of me needs her to be the one to come to me.

Her eyes catch mine once, then twice. She turns stiff in the car across the vacant parking lot.

I bet she thinks I'm here for her. She thinks this is about her, and maybe it was when I first moved here. Now though, I have plenty to keep myself occupied here before I attend to her.

If she thinks what's between us is over, she's wrong.

If she thinks I'm going to let her get away with it, she's out of her fucking mind.

The wine bottle is nearly empty in her hands as she sits in the driver's seat. I've been watching her and Bethany, Jase's girl, drink at the bar, go into a shop, drink at another bar, and go into another shop all damn night. They're both on the verge of fucked up when Bethany knocks on my window, wanting a ride.

The slow smirk is hard to hide when I roll down my window. She thinks she can trust me. She hasn't learned that in this life, you can't trust anyone. Not even the ones you love.

Bethany's a sweet girl but oblivious. It's nearly sick how much I revel in her unsuspecting question to simply take them home.

Bethany gets in easily enough, feeling safe and secure because she knows her boyfriend is my boss. She knows I won't do a damn thing to hurt her.

She has no idea what I want to do to Laura, though. She isn't aware that I know her. I know Laura more than I know anyone.

The click of Laura's car door echoes in the empty lot as does the staccato of her heels as she makes her way to my car. I remember those blue eyes spearing into mine when she peeks at me through her thick lashes.

She gets in without a word, but the air burns hot. Her friend is clueless. Utterly unaware.

I can't hear a damn word Bethany's saying of the confession that spills from her and I wonder if Laura can hear it. If she has the patience for it, the mental capacity to think of anything other than what I'm going to do to her once Bethany gets her ass out of this car.