Small-Town Redemption

He knew the last time she was at his bar, she and Sadie had fought about James Montesano, a local carpenter. That their argument had disrupted Kane’s night and upset Sadie enough that she’d ducked out of work three hours before the end of her shift.

“I know you want to piss off your sister. Find some other way than throwing yourself at a guy.”

Charlotte’s hands balled into fists. “This has nothing to do with Sadie.”

“Bullshit. You think sleeping with me will prove you’re over him? That you don’t care he chose Sadie over you? All you’re doing is embarrassing yourself.”

Her eyes welled. Her lower lip trembled.

Panic squeezed his spine. Had his palms sweating. He had no use for tears or the women who used them to get what they wanted. Women like his mother.

“Swallow those back,” he growled. “Or I swear to God I’ll toss your skinny ass out the window.”

“I wouldn’t cry over you,” she said with a deep sniff. “I wouldn’t waste one single tear. You’re not worth it.”

She had that right. “Good to hear.”

“You...you’re...”

“Could you spit out whatever you’re choking on so I can get back to my bed?”

“You’re an ass. A bastard. A—”

Someone knocked on the door.

Red, her mouth open, her eyes wide, leaped behind the chair, half crouching behind it. “Who’s that?” she whispered.

“Sorry but my X-ray vision is on the fritz.” He stepped toward the door.

“No,” she gasped, grabbing his hand. “For God’s sake, don’t answer it.”

More knocking, rapid in succession and annoying as hell.

“If I don’t,” he ground out, pulling free, “I can’t get rid of them.”

For the second time that morning, he opened the door.

And for the second time that morning, found an unwelcome visitor.

“I’m sorry,” Sadie Nixon blurted, her blond hair a wild mass around her face, dark circles under her eyes. “Did I wake you?”

“I run a bar that doesn’t shut down until 2:00 a.m. What do you think?”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, sounding as if she was about to burst into tears any second. Christ, but this was not his morning. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

He raised his eyebrows at the suitcase she held. “I hear the Holiday Inn off the highway has affordable rates.”

He started to shut the door, but she blocked it with her foot. “Please,” Sadie said, much nicer than Red ever spoke to him. “Just for a night or two.”

Have her bunk with him for a few nights? No way. He didn’t get involved in personal problems, didn’t get personally involved with the people he worked with.

Or, in this case, the people who worked for him.

“You don’t want to come in here,” he said.

“I do. I really do.”

Maybe the only way to get rid of her—of both of them—was to let Sadie in.

Scratching his stomach, he stepped aside. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Thanks,” she said, brushing past him. “I promise not to—”

“You have got to be kidding.”

Sadie slowly turned, her eyes about popping out of her head when she saw her sister. “What are you doing here? Where did you get those clothes? I didn’t realize Nordstrom had a tart department.” She whirled on Kane. “And you. You should be ashamed of yourself. She’s just a child!”

“I probably should be,” he agreed. Would be if he’d gone through with some of the more lewd thoughts he’d had concerning Red. “But I’m not.”

He had more than his fair share of sins, but this wasn’t one of them.

Red stalked over to her sister, towering over the curvy blonde. “How dare you? I’m a grown woman, damn it.”

Sadie sniffed. “Then I suggest you act like one.”

“I don’t need to stand here and listen to this.” With a toss of her hair, Red snatched up her purse. “You’re in my way,” she told Sadie, who blocked her exit.

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what, exactly, you’re doing here.”

“I’m not telling you anything. Now move. Or I swear, I will move you.”

Sadie narrowed her eyes. “I’d like to see you try.”

“And I’d like to see the backs of both of you as you leave me in peace so I can get some more sleep,” Kane said.

“Blame her—” Red jabbed a finger at Sadie.

He yawned. Rolled his shoulders back, then took them each by the upper arm and tugged them out into the hallway. He stepped inside his apartment and faced them. “Let’s not cast blame.”

He shut and locked the door, the soft click echoing in the stunned silence.

Stunned, blessed silence.

He walked to his room. He might not have been as gentle as he could have been with Red, but he’d done the right thing. Which wasn’t something that came often or, to be honest, easily. Mostly because he couldn’t care less about what other people thought was right. But, yeah, for once he’d made the morally acceptable choice.

Give him a freaking medal.

He kicked off his jeans and padded naked to the bed. Lying down, he linked his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. He blew out a heavy breath. Shut his eyes, but could still feel the warmth of Red’s fingers on his skin. Could still smell her. She’d invaded his apartment and now her ghost was sticking around.