“We won’t go until after your visit, so you tell me.”

Rowdy set a time with them. While he finished his juice—which was way too sweet for him—and tossed back two cookies, he saw Marcus hide a cookie in his pocket.

The emotional turmoil the kid generated had Rowdy ready to crawl out of his own skin.

Marcus talked a little more, played with the car and finally it was time for Rowdy to head to work. “So what’s it to be? A purple car for Alice and for Marcus—what color?”

Marcus thought about it for a long time before raising his pale blue eyes to Rowdy’s gaze. “I like green.”

And just like that, Rowdy felt like he’d conquered something monumental. His damned eyes burned and his tongue felt thick. “Well, since you already have green, how about I grab you a red one next?”

Hopeful, Marcus nodded. “Okay.”

Cash bounded over to see him off. Thank God the dog offered a distraction and a way to get his shit together. Rowdy took his time with Cash because, he realized, Cash was important to him, too. Then he went to one knee in front of Marcus and offered his hand.

“Marcus. It was good visiting. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

Clinging to Alice’s leg, his face averted, Marcus reached out and took Rowdy’s hand.

All in all, great strides.

That rhino on his chest did a little stomping, but as he went out the door, he thought about seeing Avery next, and damned if he didn’t find a smile of anticipation.

CHAPTER TEN

EVEN BEING A few years old, Avery’s sporty little convertible was too valuable to be left in the parking lot. Rowdy rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to do about it. He didn’t like the idea of her driving home alone any more than he’d liked the idea of her walking a block from the bus stop.

The security lights overhead would keep the area well lit. But with bright lights came heavy shadows, and even as he walked the lot, he felt an ominous stare. With plenty of daylight remaining, he looked around but saw that no one was noticeably watching him. That meant someone was trying to be covert.

Idiot.

He let his gaze wander, taking in minute details, studying everything, everywhere—and there. Parked on the side street, more hidden than not, he spotted the same damn BMW that had tailed him. That new, slick, silver four-door hybrid stood out even more noticeably than Avery’s little cherry-red ride.

Ready for a showdown, Rowdy took a step in that direction and the car peeled away.

You better run, you bastard.

“Trouble?”

Rowdy turned to find Cannon behind him. “Damn, but you’re sneaky.” Twice now, Cannon had come upon him without his noticing. It unnerved him and pissed him off. “Any reason you’re skulking around?”

“Just showing up for work.” Cannon grinned. “You were busy giving that car the death stare or you’d have heard me.”

Rowdy noticed that Cannon didn’t ask him why he’d been watching the car. “You’ve seen it before?”

“Haven’t been the recipient of that stare yet, thank God, but the car was here last night after you left for the hospital, basically doing the same thing.” Cannon shrugged. “Hanging around and looking suspicious. The windows are darkened, so you can’t easily see inside. I got the license plate number if you need it.”

Son of a... “Already got it myself.” Hands on his hips, cold wind cutting through his clothes, Rowdy studied his new hire. “Any reason why you noted it?”

“Sort of a habit to pick up on those things.” Cannon remained utterly immune to Rowdy’s death stare. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I do.” He started for the bar, and Cannon followed. “So how’d it go last night?”

“No problem.” He grinned. “Your buddy Reese is handy behind the bar.”

“You met Alice?”

Cannon nodded. “The kid took to her.”

“So I heard.” Rowdy opened the back door and waited for Cannon to enter first. “Alice has a way about her....”

“Hard to miss.” Pulling off his hat, Cannon kept pace with Rowdy straight to his office. “If there’s anything I can do to help with the boy, let me know.”

“Appreciate that.” So far, Rowdy wasn’t sure what to do. He understood Marcus, but he feared making a misstep, doing something that would somehow sadden Marcus more. Though they shared a similar history, not everyone felt the same about things, especially such weighty issues as abuse and neglect.

“You have a nice place here,” Cannon said.

“It’s better than it was.” Rifling through a desk drawer, Rowdy found an employment form. “Any hours you can’t work?”

“No.”

“Got an aversion to mopping floors or doing dishes?”

“Love it.”

“You’ll be bounced around, doing whatever odd job needs doing.”

“Keeps it interesting.”

They both knew Cannon would be wasted as a fill-in. “Think you can handle being a bouncer?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Long as you’re asking me to keep the peace and not suggesting I randomly bust heads.”

“Someone wanted to use you as muscle?”

Cannon stared him in the eyes. “Several have tried to insist.”

By his own admission, Cannon came from a rough area filled with rougher criminals. You either joined in, or you got the hell out.