Hustler_A Second Chance Romance Read online

“What?”

  “You not texting me when you got home last night.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I got home and there were things that needed to be cleaned up, then I had to run something to my mother’s because Harper forgot it and—”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Save it for the jury,” I said, with a grin.

  “I tried to send you a message as I was laying down in bed, but I forgot to hit ‘send’ before I fell asleep.”

  “In bed, huh? Was it a picture?” I asked.

  “You’re relentless.”

  “I’m a man. So sue me,” I said.

  “I’m actually glad you called. I wanted to ask you something.”

  “What’s up?”

  “How would you feel about me wanting to introduce you to Harper?” she asked.

  In any other world, I would have been honored. Ecstatic. Elated even. But with the life I led and the things I was planning on doing, this wasn’t good. Her introducing me to her daughter meant she thought I was sticking around. At least long enough to try and cultivate a relationship with her. With the life I led, I couldn't do that. I would get attached and it would put them in danger. Her meeting Jason was different. He was a teenage boy fully aware of the world around him.

  Harper was a five-year old girl who didn’t have a father.

  But I really liked Grace, and I knew if I liked Grace I would like Harper. Every single part of me wanted to do it. The only thing holding me back was all this shit Kenneth and Jesse and I were planning.

  I knew I was going to regret it, but I went with my heart on the decision.

  “I think it’s great,” I said. “But you know I don’t have to meet her simply because you met Jason.”

  “No, that’s not why,” Grace said.

  “I just—don’t want to mess it up.”

  “She’ll love you. I promise,” she said.

  Yeah. That was my fear.

  “What are you doing Saturday?” Grace asked.

  “Nothing, as far as I know,” I said.

  “Wanna go to the park with Harper and I?”

  “I thought Harper was with your mother until Sunday?”

  “I think my mother’s going to be ready to relinquish the little tyrant a day early. Harper left her favorite blanket behind, and when I handed it to my mother, she already looked like she had one foot in the grave.”

  “So—she’s just like you,” I said.

  “Hey. I resent that comment.”

  “Don’t. A bull-headed daughter turns into a strong-willed woman. We need more of those,” I said.

  “So you’ll come with us Saturday?”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” I said.

  I hung up the phone with Grace before a message came through from Kenneth’s burner phone. I rolled my eyes and sighed, noting the meet up place and time. I gathered all the things I’d been picking up around town and tossed them into the trunk of my car, then made my way out to an abandoned warehouse on the opposite side of town.

  We never met in the same place twice. My father had learned that lesson the hard way, and we took our cues from him.

  “You got the shit?” Kenneth asked.

  “Yep. The wide-brimmed hats and the gloves,” I said.

  “Where the fuck’s the equipment for the damned power system that bank has?”

  “What the hell’s up your ass? I’m going out of town tomorrow to get it. Getting that shit in a small town like this will raise all sorts of flags,” I said. “Where’s the shit you’re responsible for?”

  “I got the masks,” Kenneth said.

  “I got the jumpsuits,” Jesse said.

  “Wasn’t Jesse supposed to get the boots, too? You know, boots a size and half too big?” I asked.

  “I’ve got them in my car. Chill out,” Jesse said.

  “Yeah, Ryan. Chill the fuck out,” Kenneth said.

  “Then stop coming at me with all this heat. It’s not gonna be good for us to go in with whatever “Forgive me if I don’t one-hundred percent trust the son of a guy who got sent to federal prison for getting caught,” Kenneth sneered.

  “Where the fuck is this coming from? Have I ever screwed up before? No. And my old man pulled off eight jobs before he got caught. And he only got caught because he got lazy. I am not lazy and you fucking well know that. Your hotheaded ass is more likely to get us jammed up than I am,” I said.

  “Well just remember, if you blow this for us, we won’t just kill you. We’ll go after that runt brother of yours, too,” Kenneth said.

  “Trust me. I’d pull your throat out from your asshole before you laid a finger on him,” I said.

  “You’d better be ready to put your money where your mouth is,” Kenneth said.

  “Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t like you. I never have and I never will. And I don’t give one good goddamn how you feel about me. You just chill the fuck out and get the job done and we can be done with one another for good. You got that shit straight?” I asked.

  Kenneth clenched his jaw as Jesse took in a deep breath, clearly waiting for Kenneth and I to come to blows.

  “You don’t get to threaten me,” I said. “So here’s what’s happening. I’m going out of town tomorrow to get the electrical shit. That’ll get us past the door and back into the vault. It’ll also disable all of those red buttons those bankers can toggle underneath their desk. We’ve got everything else we need to lock down that place while we’re in it and escape out the back. Jesse, you still okay with driving?”

  “Yep,” he said. “I’m good with it. Got an average everyday run of the mill car like everyone else has from a tow yard in Ohio. Stole the plates yesterday from a salvage yard. No one will pay any attention to a car that ordinary. Should be the perfect escape vehicle.”

  “Good. Once we get back to the vault that’s where you need to head. Kenneth and I will fill up the bags and you’ll have the car running. If we can get to the city limits with at least fifteen minutes between us and the cops, we’re home fucking free,” I said.

  “You make it sound easy,” Kenneth said.

  “If your temper doesn't fuck it up, it will be,” I said. “Any more questions?”

  I watched the two of them shake their heads as I pushed the blueprints toward Kenneth.

  “Don’t you call another damn meeting ever again. You don’t run this show. I do,” I said.

  Then I picked up my shit, stored it back in my car, and headed back into town.

  CHAPTER 8

  GRACE

  “Hey Mom, how’s Harper doing?” I asked.

  “We got home from school a little while ago. She’s swimming in the pool right now.”

  “You’re with her, right?” I asked.

  “Of course I am. I’m in my new lounger. And yes, Grace, she’s in her floaties.”

  “Okay. Good,” I said.

  “You enjoying the time off from being a a mom? I hope you’re using the time for yourself,” she said.

  “I am. I had another date a couple of nights ago.”

  “With the same guy? I’m surprised, Grace. I haven’t been able to get you to put yourself out there in years.”

  “Well, this guy’s a bit different.”

  “He better be. So tell me about him. I didn’t get a good look at him the other night since he stayed in his car,” she said.

  “You kind of already know him.”

  “I do?” she asked.

  “It’s Ryan Park.”

  The silence that fell over the conversation made me nervous. My mother was the reason we couldn’t officially see one another in high school. Of course we found ways around that. We’d use our friends as alibis and sneak off to be together. It had added an element of excitement to the whole thing, and made it even sexier. I was a good girl by most definitions, but sneaking around with Ryan made me feel like such a rebel.

  Mom was definitely not a fan of Ryan back then.

  “Grace—”

  “I know that tone of vo
ice, but hear me out,” I said. “He’s changed. He’s not the troublemaker he was in high school.”

  “Why do I get the feeling that isn’t quite true?” she asked.

  “Because you’re prejudiced against who his father was.”

  “He was raised by a criminal, Grace. He had no future aspirations. No want to go to college. No passion or desire to be good at anything.”

  “He was good at drawing. Remember that picture you found of me in my bag that one time?” I asked. “He drew that.”

  “But he didn’t do anything with it, Grace. What’s the man doing now?”

  “Construction work. He’s earning an honest paycheck and he’s not the troublemaker he was.”

  “He got arrested in high school for vandalism of property. Multiple times, Grace.”

  “That was eight years ago, Mom. How can you still hold that against him?” I asked.

  “What did you guys do for your date?” my mother asked with a sigh.

  “He invited me over to his place and cooked me dinner. Steak and potatoes. And it tasted wonderful.”

  “So he cooks.”

  “He does. And he remembered all sorts of things about me from my high school days. Like my passion for writing. And the table even had a lit candle on it.”

  “Sounds like he was trying to be romantic,” she said.

  “He was. And on our last date, he took me on a moonlit picnic.”

  “Wait, there was another one, too?”

  “Yeah. Amy watched Harper that night. He packed a picnic basket and we drove to the park. He spread blankets out and had lanterns and we talked for two straight hours. Mom, on our first date, I told him about Grant.”

  “You did what?” she asked.

  “Yeah. And he opened up to me about his father. Ryan’s different. He’s different, Mom. I’m telling you. He’s not the boy you remember from high school.”

  “Grace, you haven’t been out with a man since your husband passed and now you’re on three dates with some boy from high school within the span of a week?”

  “Mom, I know what you’re think—”

  “No, you don’t. Grace, you were devastated when Grant died. Now Ryan might be a different person. He might have grown into a palatable man, butI want you to watch out for yourself. You have a daughter now, and whirlwind romances don’t suit single women with children.”

  “Thanks for the support,” I said flatly.

  “It sounds like he’s trying hard to impress you, and I’m glad you’re having a good time. But you seem to be moving at a pretty quick pace. I just don’t want to see it crash and burn and you get hurt. I know he feels familiar to you and maybe that’s why it’s been this easy, but if he really is different, then it might not end up being as fun as it was in high school.”

  “I know, Mom. I know. It sounds crazy, but I really enjoy the time I’m spending with him, and all I want is for you to be happy for me.”

  “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. But I’m always going to be worried for you, too. I saw what Grant’s death did to you. I saw the hole you sank into. I watched it almost eat you alive. So forgive me if I’m protective of my daughter,” she said.

  “I love you too, Mom. But all of this brings me to a question.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Would it be okay if I picked Harper up Saturday afternoon?”

  There was another beat of silence before my mother drew a sharp breath.

  “No,” she said.

  “Mom.”

  “You’re not doing that.”

  “Mom, you can’t keep my daughter from me,” I said.

  “I don’t mean that. I would never do that. You’re not introducing her to Ryan.”

  “No offense, but it isn’t your call,” I said.

  “Grace, you’re blinded right now. He was a forbidden boy from high school and you're exploring the unexplored.”

  “Mom, trust me. He’s not as unexplored as you think.”

  “I’m not going to even begin to unpack that statement. It’s a mistake introducing him to Harper after only a week. That much I do know. I was single mother, Grace. That isn’t a good decision.”

  “So come with us, Mom. Come to the park and meet Ryan. See for yourself how different he is.”

  “Different or not, it’s too soon,” she said.

  “Well, I’ve made the decision and its happening. You can either bring her here or I can pick her up, but either way come one o’clock on Saturday, Harper and I will be at the park with Ryan.”

  “And I wholeheartedly disagree with that decision.”

  “Your opinion is duly noted. How do you want to trade off Harper?” I asked.

  “You can come get her from here,” she said.

  “Great. I’ll pick up Ryan beforehand and bring him along.”

  “Grace—”

  “I know that when you see him again your opinion of him will change. You’ve always been a good judge of character and it’s important to me that you feel comfortable at least with the person he is. Ryan’s coming with me to get Harper and the two of you are going to meet. End of story.”

  I heard my mother sigh before the phone conversation got scratchy.

  “Mom?” I asked. “You there?”

  “Hi, Mom!”

  “Hey, Harper! How are you doing? Are you having fun?” I asked.

  “Why are you and grandma fighting?” she asked.

  “We’re not fighting. We’re talking,” I said.

  “Grandma’s face is scrunched up. You’re fighting,” she said.

  “Maybe Grandma has to sneeze.”

  “I’m having fun at the pool!”

  “I bet you are. Are you swimming around a lot?”

  “Oh yeah. Grandma got me toys I can throw and then swim after.”

  “Self-fetch. I like it,” I said. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Okay.”

  “You know how Mommy has been spending time with a friend?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, what if me and that friend come pick you up Saturday to go to the park?” I asked.

  “The park? That’s awesome! What time?” she asked.

  “One o’clock? Is that okay? I know you were supposed to stay with Grandma until Sunday,” I said.

  “I wanna meet Mommy’s special friend,” she said.

  I blushed at the term and shook my head.

  “Is it a friend that’s a boy? Or a girl?”

  “My friend is a boy,” I said.

  “Is he going to be my new daddy?” Harper asked.

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “Because boys that are friends with mommies become daddies, right?” she asked.

  “No, sweetheart. Not always. It’s way too soon to start thinking anything like that, okay?”

  “But after the soon?” Harper asked.

  I knew she didn’t understand and I was struggling for a way to communicate this to her. I could only imagine my mother’s face. I closed my eyes and wracked my brain, trying to come up with a way to explain this to her.

  Then, one of the plots to my many children’s books popped into my head.

  “Harper, you know how sometimes I tell you that families don’t always have a mommy and a daddy?”

  “Yeah?” she asked.

  “Some families have two daddies and some two mommies. And some don’t have a mommy and some don’t have a daddy.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “I remember.”

  “Well, those families that don’t have mommies or daddies doesn’t mean those families are not whole.”

  “I know,” she said. “We’re a hole Mommy.”

  I tried not to giggle. “Mommy’s friend is someone I’ve known a very long time.”

  “Like I know Grandma?” she asked.

  “Yes. And I want us to all get together and be friends and have a fun time. Is that okay?” I asked.

  “So he’s not going to be my daddy?” she asked.

  “
No sweetie. He’s not going to be your daddy.”

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Am I ever gonna have a daddy?”

  I closed my eyes and tried to hold back the tears brewing behind them.

  “How about this? After the park, we’ll come home and open up Daddy’s picture album.”

  “Will you tell me stories?” she asked.

  “For as long as you want.”

  “With ice cream?”

  “Sure. We’ll have some ice cream, too,” I said.

  “With sprinkles?”

  “Don’t push it,” I said, playfully.

  Hearing Harper giggle was the best sound in the universe.

  “I love you, Mommy.”

  “I love you too, Harper. Now go drive your Grandma crazy,” I said.

  CHAPTER 9

  RYAN

  I was nervous about meeting Grace’s daughter. I couldn’t sleep much the night before and I was still wide awake by the time breakfast rolled around. Jason had his nose in a book while he chomped on a banana, and I was fumbling around the kitchen trying to piece myself together. I was going to have to keep my cool if this was going to work.

  After I made Jason and I some lunch, I headed for Grace’s house. She was standing on her porch with a booster seat in her arms and started walking towards me the moment I pulled up. She looked incredible. A smile lit up her beautiful eyes and her hair was flowing around her shoulders. She had on a pair of jeans and a tank top with some sort of poncho-looking thing over her shoulders. It kicked up with the wind and gave me a peek at those curves.

  The ones I couldn't get out of my head.

  “Mind if I put this back there? Or do you want to take my car?”

  “I don’t mind driving at all,” I said.

  She opened the backseat and placed the car seat in before she slid in beside me. I looked over at her and smiled, taking in the way her hair framed her face. I reached out for her hand and took it, not sure if she wanted me to lean over and kiss her.

  But she answered my question when she pressed her lips to mine.

  “Come on. I’ll give you directions.”

  We pulled into her mother’s driveway a few minutes later to find her mother and Harper standing on the porch. Harper was holding her grandmother’s hand and it was like looking into a time machine. Harper looked just like Grace, and Grace looked just like her mother.