Page 11 of Prospect Year

“Louisiana’s version of the GED.”

Saying nothing, he only nodded.

“My mom left us when I was a teenager. My dad started drinking, then gambling. Honestly, I don’t know what all he did other than waste money and forget to pay the bills. Just before my sixteenth birthday, he had accumulated so much debt that the club came after him. So, he paid them off with the only thing he had left that he could part with.” She glanced toward him. “I was underage, so Ace put me up in the clubhouse. I became the live-in maid, until I became of age.”

“Hey,” he stopped her, “I get it. You were thrown into a situation that you didn’t choose. Looks like fate threw us both a hard ball.”

“Yeah.” She smiled.

“We’re both on the right path now. That’s all that matters,” he told her.

“Prospect!”

Lola jumped from the table and jogged across the grounds toward Rash where he stood next to his old lady who was stretched out on a lawn chair with her feet still bandaged.

“Yeah?”

“What happened to ‘she may not want to be around people’?” London asked smugly, crossing her arms.

“You want to see how she is, she’ll come here. You are going nowhere.” Rash emphasized the last statement, resting his hands on his hips and cocking his head toward her.

“What’s up?” Ghost questioned the small group, propping his elbow on Lola’s shoulder.

“Lola’s going to get Mia,” Rash told him.

“What if she says no?” London blurted out.

“She has no choice,” Rash explained.

Lola stood quiet, following the conversation and waiting for the word to go.

Ghost laughed. “She’s small enough. Hogtie her and toss her in the Jeep. Problem solved.”

“You wouldn’t.” London squinted her eyes toward Ghost.

“Oh, but I would, and I have.” Turning away, Ghost called over his shoulder, “Come on, Lola, we’ll get you some rope.”

***

Thirty minutes later, Lola was walking into Angel Haven. The house was quiet, which was no surprise. It was also dark. He took the steps two at a time, slowing when he reached Mia’s door.

After knocking a couple of times, he eased the door open to find the room empty. He pulled the door closed. She must be working on her swing. He jogged up the last flight of stairs. No Mia. She seemed to love the outdoors, maybe she was outside enjoying the bright day. He moved through the only stream of light giving life to the room. Standing at one of the few windows on this floor, he scanned the acres beyond the patio and pool. Then to the side past the sand volleyball court. Nothing. Just as he stepped to turn, movement near the pool caught his attention.

There she was. He grinned and raised his hand to the window, leaning into it, watching. Alone. With her guard down. Pushing from the window, he turned and ran down the stairs and through the kitchen toward the back door. He paused and as quietly as he could manage, he opened the door and stepped onto the patio, leaving the door ajar. Carefully, he eased toward the edge of the pool where she sat with her back to him, her feet dangling in the water. Reaching behind her, she easily unclipped the green bikini top, dropping it next to the towel piled on the concrete beside her. She stretched, inhaling deeply before allowing her head to fall backward. With her face toward the sun and her eyes closed she leaned back with her hands splayed on the hard surface behind her.

Lola froze, letting the clock in his mind tick slowly as he considered his options. One. Be a gentleman and let her know he was there. Who was he kidding? He was no gentleman. Two. Just walk up and enjoy the view. That sounded doable. Three. Strip down and join her. His personal favorite, but that’s not what he was sent here to do. Plus, she would never go for that. At least, not yet.

He grinned and quietly closed the gap. “Is this a private party or can anyone join?”

***

The warmth of the sun faded, and Mia’s eyes popped open. Lola. A flutter rippled through her belly. How had she not heard him arrive? She bolted upright, jerking the towel from the pavement next to her. Her heart pounded and without thought, her hand flew to her chest as if to keep it from jumping from her body. He had seen her. Seen her chest, her neck. She clinched the towel to her neck like a lifeline and began wiggling backwards. She jerked her feet to the concrete and tried to balance with only one hand to scoot away.

“Whoa.” He dropped to his heels next to her. “Calm down.”

Her heart still raced even though her body had thrown in the towel and refused to budge any further.

“I didn’t intend for you to come unglued.” His voice was gentle, and soothing. He reached out.