Big Bad Boys A Romance Collection - Penny Wylder Page 0,28

thinking. I don’t know that he’s thinking the same.

So I tighten my fists on the steering wheel, prepared for whatever he’s about to ask me.

But all Damon says is, “What happened to the money?”

My mouth quirks a little into a faint smile. “I gave it to Mrs. Brown,” I say. Then I cast a sideways glance at him, nervous again. “Was that wrong?”

But he’s smiling wider than ever now, relief evident in his eyes. “No, Ashley.” He catches one of my hands, draws it off the steering wheel so he can kiss the back of my hand. Then he spreads my fingers, turns it over and kisses my palm too. “That’s perfect. It’s exactly what I would have done.”

I smile and relax into the seat. “Good. Now, about tonight. I was thinking…”

“Would you mind if I stayed with you?” Damon blurts, before I can even propose it.

I laugh, any remaining tension I was still carrying flooding out of my shoulders. “I was just about to ask if you wanted to.”

“Of course I do. I’m with you, Ashley Marrón.” He tightens his grip on my hand, and I squeeze right back. “Wherever you want to lead, I’ll follow.”

We share one last grin before I pull onto the highway toward the house. “Then let’s go clean up our acts, Damon Tell.”

Epilogue

I pull up to the house in my squad car, and sit there for a moment to just stare. It’s been six months, yet part of me still can’t believe how complete of a 180 my life has taken since the day Ashley Marrón first sauntered into my jail cell.

We’re still living in Ashley’s father’s old house—though she’s gutted just about everything but the foundation to completely remake it in her own style. Now, instead of imposing guards out front, I’m greeted by Hop, our enormous golden retriever, straining at his leash to reach me as I climb out of the police car.

That’s right. I’m a cop now. Talk about a full role reversal. But once Ashley and I got my record expunged, and I sat down to talk with a career counselor about my options, the right fit was staring me right in the face. I knew the ugly side of life. I knew how bad things could get when you were down and out on your luck.

I knew the ugly side of the police force too, the guys who took it out on even the prisoners who were in for nonviolent crimes, just because they were angry at the system. And I knew how much of a difference I could make joining up—catching the real bad guys, men like Ashley’s father who believed they were above the law, and helping out the poor sods like I used to be, the nobodies who get caught in the middle of powerful men’s games.

A few weeks of training, then a couple months in academy, and here I am now, with a badge on my chest and a whole new outlook on life. And I have Ashley to thank for that—for all of this. She’s never once wavered in her belief in me, and that only makes me want to work harder to be the man she needs. The right man, the one who will choose the right path, even when it’s hard.

I scratch Hop’s ear, then laugh as he jumps up on me, and tussle with him a little on my walk toward the door. “In a few minutes, boy,” I call over my shoulder when he whines, clearly ready for his afternoon walk. But he’ll have to wait a moment. I’ve got my number one to go greet first.

“Ashley?” I elbow open the front door, carrying the groceries she asked me to grab for dinner slung over one arm.

“In here,” she replies, her voice distant. I pause long enough to drop the supplies off in the kitchen, then wind through the house. I stop dead at the foot of the grand staircase, and chuckle softly under my breath. Because right there at the foot of the steps is a clue as to where my afternoon is heading.

A single pair of red panties is draped across the first step.

It reminds me of that first meeting. The first time I saw her, the first time I knew, viscerally, on animal instinct, that I needed to have this woman. Her scent, on the soaking wet panties she threw at my lap, drove me wild for days afterward. Now, just like I did then, I bend