Welcoming the Bad Boy: A Hero's Welcome Novel (28 page)

His heart bucked against the badge on his chest.

He’d meant it when he said she looked like a nice woman, though. Too nice to get caught up with the likes of him. He had a history of dating and then moving on. That’s just what he did. And in the process of that, he unintentionally hurt people. Nice people.

“All right, then. I’ll see you around,” he said, forcing his lead-heavy feet to move away from Red’s floral scent and goddess-like beauty. He got into his truck and started the engine, then looked over at the parking space where her little car had been a moment earlier. Already gone. Well, good. He had other things to worry about right now, like work, repairs on the fixer-upper house he’d purchased a few months back, and his mother’s guilt trips about not going home for Christmas. Then there was the auction he’d offered himself up for tomorrow night. It was a strange idea, selling men for the good of children. He supposed he’d make a great deal for some overburdened Marine’s wife whose husband was deployed right now. He could conquer a yard like no one else. Troy had grown up doing yard work for extra cash. He was also pretty handy with home repairs. A jack-of-all-trades. He just hoped no one crazy would bid on him. Spending time with crazy wasn’t his idea of fun.

Spending time with Red, however, might’ve been a whole lot of fun.

And a whole lot of trouble, too.