quit any vice. But for some reason, the sight of this powerful man slowly killing himself made her vision blur. Since her car was parked right by him, she forced herself to walk past, yank open the door, and mind her own business.
It didn’t happen.
“Enjoying yourself, Officer?”
He turned his head. “Huh?”
She clenched her hand around the handle and shook with temper. “Enjoying your cigarettes?” she sneered. “Having fun destroying the body God gave you so you can wake up one day gasping for breath and talking through a tube?”
He raked his gaze over her in a lazy, assessing way that only made her madder. “This is the second time you threatened me with hospitals and tubes. I take it you don’t agree with smoking?”
She fumed. How was he so calm when she wanted to jump across the street and throttle him? The image of her mother slowly dying of lung cancer still haunted her, but she managed to live with it. Watching her dad die after her of a broken heart, not caring that he left his only daughter alone, had been even harder. Mom had fought to live. Dad had fought to die.
Stone obviously cared about people, especially since he was a cop. Why couldn’t he care about himself, too? Was that so hard to do? Arilyn swallowed back the words and managed a shrug. “I don’t agree with waste,” she said. “Or suicide. But it’s your choice. Enjoy your smoke.”
She turned her back, ready to get in her car, but his words sliced through the air.
“I quit.”
She slowly cranked her head back around. “Yeah. That’s why you’re holding a pack.”
He held up the package. “It’s empty. I’m on the damn patch, but sometimes I go nuts for a craving and need to smell it.” He let out an aggravated breath. “Stupid, I know, but it helps. I’ve been clean for a month now.”
Relief cut through her, but she didn’t dare analyze it. “Oh. Well, good for you. I know it’s hard. Do you have someone you can call?”
His rough laugh made her tummy dip. He was so . . . virile. “Nah, no smoking sponsor for me. In fact, no one’s pretty much given a damn if I quit or not. Until you.”
Heat coursed through her, and it had nothing to do with the sun. She cleared her throat. “I care about everyone,” she said. The prim tone made her want to wince, but she owned it. “Aren’t we all worth more than we think?”
Like a falcon sighting prey, he remained still and silent. Those inky eyes refused to release her. Yet. “Sure. If that’s your party line.”
The annoyance snapped back. “You don’t believe everyone deserves not to be judged?”
“Nope. Criminals deserve shit.”
“What if they committed a crime with a higher purpose?” she challenged. “There’s plenty of gray areas. Not everything is black-and-white.”
“I don’t care what someone’s lofty ambition is if they break the law. Or are you one of those touchy-feely types who believe the garbage on death row should be forgiven? Released back into society for a second chance?” The already familiar sneer touched his lips. “Easy to forgive when you’re not the one who was affected by the crime, huh?”
“I think people make mistakes,” she shot back. “Like you did. Now you’re trying to correct your behavior.”
Why did he set her off just by opening his mouth? He wasn’t worth the energy of losing her temper. She’d just breathe, smile politely, and walk away.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m the real criminal here. Too bad the punishment sometimes doesn’t fit the crime, huh? I mean, this anger management junk should be saved for serial killers.”
Oh, she really, really didn’t like this man.
Arilyn turned her back before he baited her further. “Be back at two. Don’t be late.”
His voice mocked her departure. “Yes, ma’am.”
Arilyn got in her car and drove away, refusing to look back.
four
STONE STUDIED HER while he filled out more ridiculous forms with the goal of targeting his “true” anger issues. At least it was a break from Luther’s ramblings and Dude A’s lame attempt at flirting. They’d been warned that the first day was a full eight hours, and then they would move to three-hour sessions for the rest of the prison term.
Faint lines settled into the crease above her nose, and she seemed distracted. Probably running around saving the world, one criminal at a time. Still, he’d been right about his instincts. She was cute when she got pissed. Trying to hide it by