a bit unruly, charcoal eyes, and rough goatee, he looked like he’d jumped out of a Sons of Anarchy episode. He cocked a hip, meaty fists clenched by his side, and spoke in a gravelly voice that shimmered with command.
“So we meet again, Arilyn Meadows.”
She hated the way her heart sped up a bit from the use of her name. He was the one mandated to attend these sessions, and already she sensed his mockery. Jerk. Did he believe he was above the other men here and her teaching methods? Wait till she got done with him. He would not only be a convert, but maybe after forcing him to get real with himself using her creative methods, he wouldn’t wear that smirk so often.
Maybe.
“Yes. Welcome. I’d like to do an introduction with all three of you and then give you a summary of what to expect.”
That lower lip kicked up a tiny bit. “I’m a nice Catholic boy. Not too keen on chanting to Buddha to channel my inner saint. Against the rules.”
Ah, his sarcastic sense of humor was another element she remembered well. Arilyn rose to the occasion. “Funny, I thought nice Catholic boys were taught not to judge others and to turn the other cheek. No worries, Officer. You can always attend confession.”
He moved an inch, but she already felt crowded. His massive body blocked out everything else. The light. The shadows. The air. “Maybe. But the first lesson they teach you is being truly sorry for your sins.”
She arched a brow. “And are you?”
He had a crisscross scar on his brow. His jaw was a complete square, and his nose had definitely been broken. A few times. He smelled like everything primal. Sweat. Coffee. Earth. No wimpy over-the-counter scent for him. Just all the delicious musky fragrances combined to spell out M-A-N. “Sometimes.” He dropped his voice. “Other sins no one should be sorry for. Those are the best kind. Don’t you agree?”
Oh, Lord, he was flirting. Wasn’t he? How dare he flirt with her? She was in charge. If he thought he’d charm her into letting him off easy, he was smoking more than cigarettes. She chilled her voice. “No,” she said. “Much easier to avoid those types of sins completely.”
Her skin tingled under his burning gaze. “Pity.” He paused. “Maybe you just haven’t encountered the right temptation.”
Oh, yeah, he was flirting. Or just screwing with her mind—he was too damn smart for his own good. She snapped off her comment with one goal in mind. Total eradication of any future come-ons. “Been there. Done that.” Arilyn made sure to rake his figure with a dismissive gaze. “Not tempted to do it again. Take a seat.”
He didn’t move for a moment, as if reminding her that he did things on his own terms. He finally obeyed, but his mocking grin told her he had allowed her to win this round. Another shiver shook her from the thought of him controlling all aspects of a relationship. Total nightmare.
Arilyn cleared her throat, dragging herself back to the present. The three men listened as she outlined the rough syllabus and goals for the full six weeks. She preferred to keep some of her field trips a surprise until the day of so no one worried or had too much time to weasel out of them. After Stone’s last statement, Arilyn decided it was a good time to break for lunch and regroup in the afternoon. Her head throbbed slightly, reminding her that she had forgotten her herbal supplements and had eaten only a Greek yogurt with fruit this morning. Maybe she’d have time to stop for a veggie wrap before she headed home to let Lenny and Mike out. Since the breakup, she’d been extremely unorganized and felt like her head was stuffed with cotton. Time to refocus. The three men in the room deserved it. Kinnections deserved it. And the shelter needed her sharp, considering the current crisis going on with funding. This was the time when she truly wished she was rich and able to funnel tons of money to them so there were no worries.
She hurried out of the firehouse and down the sidewalk, then stopped short.
Officer Stone Petty stood under the bright green-and-yellow awning of Stella’s Beauty Shop, transfixed on the object in his hands.
A crumpled pack of Marlboros.
The sudden spurt of rage surprised her. She may disapprove and try to help, but Arilyn understood the power of free choice and being ready to