Beautiful Innocence (4 page)

“I guess I’m at a disadvantage. I don’t who you are.” He’s quite handsome to the point when Mr. Sexy holds out his hand, my mouth drops open. “I’m Dane Woods, and this is my brother Jason.”

“Oh, well, it’s nice to meet you. By any chance is there one more boy? I met someone last week and he kind of looks like you.” Much cuter, and definitely more dangerous, but I keep that to myself.

They both roll their eyes. “That would be our baby brother Josh. If you’re smart, you’ll steer clear of him. Bit of a ladies’ man.” He winks and I melt right there in the middle of the bar.

I pull myself together, trying not to look too stupid and young, and square my shoulders. “Thanks for the tip. Were you thirsty for anything?”

“Two bud drafts,” Jason says and then turns and tells Mr. Sexy it’s his shot.

I jot down their order and grab a couple more orders before heading back to the bar. “Hey, Sam. Can I get four bud drafts and a margarita rocks, no salt.”

While Sam goes to work on the order, I peer over my shoulder, sneaking a peek at the pool table to get another look. Sam clears his throat. “He’s happily married Ava, and Ashton would come in here and kick your ass for looking.”

Busted! I giggle and shake my head, trying to play it off. “Please, Sam. He’s much too old for me. He’s just kind of…all man, huh?”

He frowns and his eyebrows come together. “Uh, yeah, I guess.” I start to put the drinks on the tray, but Sam’s hand comes down and his fingers wrap around mine. “I want to ask you something.”

“Sure,” I answer, hoping he’s going to finally get the nerve to ask me out.

“I have off this Saturday, and I saw that you weren’t on the schedule, either. I’d love to take you out for dinner and maybe a movie.”

I smile big, and I know it because his face goes from tentative to a big oh, thank god look in a split second. “I would love to.” He lifts my hand and gently places his mouth over my knuckles and kisses each one.

“I look forward to Saturday.” I’m gazing up into his eyes when he leans over the bar, closer. “You better get those drinks out before a riot starts.”

Without a word I grab my tray and go back to work with an enormous smile that most likely won’t disappear soon. I like Sam. He’s super nice, dresses kind of cute and has the most intense brown eyes I’ve ever seen. I didn’t come down here looking for a boyfriend, but since I’ve never had one, the thought is suddenly tempting. Most of my life has been pretty sad in the boyfriend department. I worked at a store in the mall folding clothes and there was a boy there who liked me. He kissed me one night in the back stock room and right then and there I knew why my mom liked men so much. Two days later he dropped me off from work and walked me to the door. I was pressed up against the siding, his mouth on mine, his hand in my hair when the door flew open. Danny left with a threat from Roger. I was never allowed to go back to work again. Roger called and told them I quit. That was the end of Danny. And my last kiss.

My mom was always skipping towns, which meant I was always skipping myself into a brand new school, and had a real hard time making any friends.

When she met Roger, I was seventeen and finally able to graduate. We didn’t have the money for college, not even community, so I stayed put and worked, helping out with the bills. Alex and David always kept a close eye on me, not allowing me to have any friends, any boyfriends, or any kind of life. It wasn’t until the two days before I ran, that I found the courage to break free after overhearing their horribly, inhumanely, awful plans for me. They started slipping here and there the whole month prior, which was their biggest mistake. They got lazy and I got smart.

I told my mom just before she took off that I wasn’t comfortable, but she kept telling me it would be all right and we’d both be gone soon enough and they wouldn’t be able to touch either one of us. Instincts told me that she had come up with a plan, but she never shared it with me, or maybe she just never got the chance.

That night in bed I dreamt a happy dream. They are very rare in my life so when I have them I find myself wanting to make them come true. And the face that made me happy wasn’t cute, reliable, safe Sam, but a temptingly, dangerous, hot as hell Joshua Woods. The only problem I have with this dream is that he scares me. I’ve heard from four people now to stay far away from the likes of him. It doesn’t really matter, I haven’t seen him since the first time he came in and practically ordered that girl to go home with him. There is no way my inexperienced heart or inexperienced girly parts would be able to handle what he has going on.

Just the way he walks like he invented the idea, the way his jeans hang loosely on his hips with a chain of keys dangling down from his belt loop, to the twinkle in those deep blue eyes has my heart racing so fast I thought for sure he had to hear it pumping when he asked me to get that drink with him. Joshua Woods doesn’t seem like the type of man who likes inexperienced girls and most certainly doesn’t look the type to want to teach one. But if he ever asks again for a date I’m not going to be stupid twice. How the heck I said no the first time still boggled me. I just need one more chance.

JOSH

I’m parked out front of this crap house with a chain fence that goes around the whole property, and it’s locked. I’ve seen only two people in the last two days come and go. And both times they are the same two men. One, mid-forties and graying so badly he can probably be mistaken for his fifty’s. The second early twenties, lifts weights, or takes roids, light-skinned and has a permanent scowl on his face.

I spent the day before knocking on doors, and only one person had been willing to tell me who they were, but I knew this from the little recon I did after I plugged in the address. Roger Waters and his son Alex. They both look like they should be behind bars, and Roger has been.

The neighbor hasn’t seen the young girl for over two weeks, the mother for longer. Apparently there was another guy living there, but he disappeared about a week after Ava left. That bit of information worries me. He’s either looking for her or has moved on. My guess is he’s coming for her.

I call Dane with the information from their neighbor who sits out on her front porch all day and night long. Dane fills me in on his research. Roger has a criminal sheet a mile long. Most of his offenses were domestic abuse, but once it was for child pornography. I almost throw up in my mouth as Dane reads off his offenses. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I don’t know man. If he touched her that might be why she ran. This is not something I like to deal with. The only thing I can think of is Annabelle and Lily and locking them up until they are fucking forty right now.”

“What should I do? I got a few pictures, but that’s it.”

“Can you get inside?”

“Tried. It’s locked like fucking Fort Knox. I’m sure I could, but there are some nosy ass neighbors watching. I did get a few shots of Ava’s room through the window. At least I assume it’s hers. It’s been trashed. Everything is turned upside down and inside out. She must have something on them. One took off just after she did. He might be searching for her now. No sign of the mother anywhere. No pictures on the walls, mantels…nothing.”

“Catch the next flight back then if you feel like you got enough. We’ll talk to Angie first thing and see what she wants us to do.”

“What about Ava’s mama? I got nothing. She disappeared too long ago not to have shown back up somewhere, and nothing is coming up in the system, not even a credit card. It’s been almost six weeks. And from what Angie tells me, that bastard took every cent from her.”

“I know. But, if all these charges are true, she’s running too. I’m just shocked she left that little girl behind. We’ll check into some shelters, maybe she’s hiding. I ran some stuff, but nothing on a Lori Scott or a Lori Barry is coming up, other than the basics. Her license, she has two credit cards in her name, not one has been used in over a year and both paid off. She’s gotta be out there hiding.”

“All right. I’m already heading to the airport.”

I’m just about to pull away when a shiny black car pulls up and a man gets out. Roger comes out to greet him and then his son follows to hand over a file. I zoom in and take the shot. Next all three are shaking hands and he’s back in his car. Roger and Alex stand on the porch with their arms crossed and disturbingly nasty grins scatter across their faces that make me shiver inside. I take one more shot before they storm into the house and out of sight, then quickly snap one of the retreating car’s plate.

~~~

Angie is waiting in my office when I get there Saturday morning. I usually don’t work weekends, but Dane and I want to sit her down. Dane shuffles in with three coffees from the Quick Stop, hands them out and remains quiet.

“So what did you find out?” she asks.

I toss the photos on the desk for her to rifle through. “There’s two men coming and going. Her room was tossed around and no sign of Lori, which we knew. A man showed up,” I tap the photo. “took an envelope and left. We’re trying to search the database for him, but so far we haven’t had any luck. The car was a rental and the man paid in cash.”

“So you got nothing?” Angie’s frown reminded me of my first grade teacher when I messed up and I wanted to apologize.

“At least we know what they look like in case they come looking. There’s one more thing. Dane did some digging into their criminal background. It’s not good, Angie. Lots of domestics and shit!” I hesitate for a brief second. “I’m just gonna say it, child pornography. It was a couple years back before Ava and Lori moved in, but still it’s something we need to think about.”

Her hand flies to her mouth. “You think he took pictures of Ava?”

Dane settles her down by patting her back. “Now, Angie, we didn’t say that, we said he has a record. It’s from a several years back. He spent some time in jail. I’m still looking into other things.”

“But that means he likes young kids.”

“Maybe you could ask her. Get her help if she needs it.”

“Have you met her?”

I swallow, picturing those sweet angel eyes. “Yeah, I did.”

Dane nods in agreement, but it’s the first I hear of him meeting her.

“She doesn’t give up information real quick and as much as I ask she just tells me its all the past, that she’s starting over. Maybe we shouldn’t press it. Let her move on.”

“It’s up to you, Ang. If she were my kid or niece I’d want to know, and I’d want to kill that son of a bitch even he just thought about it.”

Dane stands. “Enough, Josh. Angie, why don’t you take a day or two and let it all sink in, and then let us know what you want to do. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open just in case something pops up.”

“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to touch that precious angel. I may not have liked what my sister did by leaving, but I am sure glad Ava came to find me.”

Dane and I both smile. We know what family means. Everything.

“I’ll let you know next week at the bar. I assume I’ll see you both on Thursday?”

“Sure thing, Ang,” Dane answers.

Although, I have plans to head in there tonight to get another look at her.

When I get to the bar that evening it’s packed, and I don’t see her anywhere. Of course I know everyone here, but don’t feel like partying tonight. “Hey, Josh,” I hear my name being purred into my ear.

“Hey, Shelley.”

“Can I buy you a shot?”

I turn on the stool and she slides right in between my thighs and places her hands on my shoulders. “Not tonight, doll, I’m working.”

“I can wait.”

I shake her off and softly push her back from me. “Maybe another time.” I pat her ass, shooing her away. “Hey, Susie can I get a draft?” Susie is a single mother whose deadbeat old man left her for greener pastures once their kid turned five. She’s so busy raising a kid alone and working to afford him that she hasn’t found anyone to help her out, but it never stops her from trying. She strolls over, doing her best to get my attention by bending over so I can see straight down her shirt. “What are you doing here on a Saturday night all alone?”

“Just killing time. Hey, have you seen Angie or her niece?” Her expression turns from “let me fuck you please,” to, “what the fuck.”

“Ava’s off tonight.” Susie gives me an eat-shit glare. “Out with Sam, I hear. Angie’s in the office.” She turns to someone shouting out for her, leaving me stumped. He might be a nicer guy than I am, and probably better for someone like Ava, but he’s still a guy and guys want only one thing. And I want that one thing to be mine. At least once.

I sip my beer, contemplating my next move. A big part of me wants to figure her shit out and make sure she’s safe, for Angie’s sake. The other part wants to figure her out in other ways. Grabbing my beer, I push off and make my way to the office door and tap loudly to override the music. She yanks it open still sitting in her chair. “Did you find something else?”

“No. Did you know she was out with Sam tonight?”

Her eyebrows shoot up, but a faint smile crosses her face. “Yes, I know. Why? Do you have an issue with Sam?”

Yes, I have fucking issue with Sam. He’s moving in on something I want. “Nope. Just making sure you know.”

She rolls her eyes before looking back down at her paperwork. “Just so you know, I told her to stay away from you.”

My hand flies to my chest. “Me? What did I ever do to you?”

“Nothing. It’s just what you do to every other girl in this town, honey. You’ve broken enough hearts to last a lifetime, leave hers alone. I have a feeling it’s been broken enough.”

“Pfft…I’ve got no interest in her.” Maybe I’m saying it out loud to convince myself, but even I know I’m lying. I have every intention of seeing if I’m right, since the last time she looked into my eyes, I saw a little bit of devil that was dying to come out and play.

I pivot and start walking, but hear her mutter, “yeah, all right.”

AVA

Sam is putting our name in with the hostess at some swanky seafood restaurant on the water and the only thing I can think of is how much I need to go shopping. I’m wearing the nicest shirt I own and a pair of shorts in desperate need of a good wash. I am completely underdressed, but he doesn’t comment on it, which is so nice and refreshing. Yet, another reason why he’ll make a good choice for me.