A Not-So-Perfect Past

“I really am the most dangerous guy you’ll ever know.”

Nina’s mouth was dry. Her head was light; she couldn’t catch her breath.

If Dillon let go of his hold on her, she’d probably fall at his feet.

She tried to step back, to break the contact between them. But his large hands, placed so intimately, didn’t budge.

His gaze fell to her mouth and he bent his head.

“Stop me,” he murmured.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. How could she stop him when he looked at her with such…intensity? Such hunger. How could she stop him when he made her remember how it felt to be held by a man? Touched by a man.

Wanted by a man.

Award-winning author BETH ANDREWS is living her dream – writing romance for Mills & Boon while looking after her real-life hero and their three children. A self-professed small-town girl, Beth still lives in the Pennsylvania town where she grew up. She has been honoured by her kids as The Only Mum in Town Who Makes Her Children Do Chores and The Meanest Mum in the World – as if there’s something wrong with counting down the remaining days of summer vacation until school starts again. For more information about Beth or her upcoming books, please visit her website at www.bethandrews.net.

Available in September 2010

from Mills & Boon®

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A Not-So-Perfect Past

by Beth Andrews

For the talented, supportive and just plain awesome women of Writers At Play and Romance Bandits.

Thank you all for being such great friends!

And as always, for Andy.

You give me hope.

Chapter One

AW, HELL. Not “Jingle Bells.”

Dillon Ward grit his teeth as he entered the brightly lit bakery. Red and green decorations and twinkling colored lights took up every inch of the large room. The effect was cheerful, bright and filled with so much Christmas spirit, it hurt his head.

He stomped his boots harder than necessary and brushed snow off his jacket. Luckily, the smells of yeasty bread and sweet pastries and chocolate helped ease the shock of the faux Christmas wonderland.

He scanned the room as he crossed to the front counter. Only two of the dozen or so small tables had customers, but Dillon figured that had more to do with it being twenty minutes before closing time on a Sunday afternoon, and less to do with the snow falling steadily outside.

It’d take more than an early December storm to keep the citizens of Serenity Springs, New York, from their donuts.

An elderly lady turned from the counter, her step faltering when she noticed him. She clutched her white bakery bag to her chest, lowered her head and scurried out.

Dillon took off his knit cap and pushed a gloved hand through his hair. Even though he’d lived here for almost two years, people were still wary of him. Still looked at him with the mix of curiosity, fear and revulsion usually reserved for circus acts.

Or killers.

He took off his gloves, stuffing them in his pocket. “This month’s rent,” he said, holding an envelope out to Nina Carlson.

From behind her cash register, the curvy blonde looked past him to the large picture window. “You didn’t have to shovel the walk.”

He shrugged. “It needed it.”

Because she hadn’t reached over for the rent check, and because he was tired of holding it out, he set it on the top of the pastry-display case and slid it toward her.

“Well, I appreciate it.” She cleared her throat. “Why don’t I get you some lunch? As a thank-you?”

Usually his cupcake of a landlord could barely meet his eyes, let alone stammer out a few words to him. Now she wanted to give him lunch? “Why don’t I just take ten dollars off next month’s rent? And we’ll call it even.”

Staring at the counter, she picked up the check. “Actually, I was hoping to talk to you…”

“About?”

She blinked several times. “Just a few things. About the apartment.”

“If you’re raising the rent—”

“I’m not. It’s more complicated than that. If you can’t stick around until closing, I could come up to the apartment when I’m done working.”

To his place? Alone? Wouldn’t that go over well with Serenity Springs’ moral majority? Sweet single mother Nina Carlson going to the lion’s den.

Or in this case, the ex-convict’s lair.

He doubted she even had the courage to climb the stairs.

Whatever she wanted to talk to him about must be important. And as always, his curiosity got the better of him. Never a good thing.

“I’ll wait,” he said, noting the relief on her face.

Dillon picked a table by the far window on the opposite side of the room from the middle-aged couple finishing their coffee. He sat with the window to his right, allowing him a clear view of the entrance, the kitchen and out onto the street.

Prison had taught him to protect his back.

A few minutes later, the kitchen door swung open and Nina came out, a coffeepot in one hand, a tray of food in the other.

She set the tray in front of him. “I’m finishing up with your sister in the kitchen—she’s tasting wedding cake samples—and I thought I’d bring you something to eat while you wait.”

He slouched in his seat and hoped Kelsey stayed in the kitchen. At least until he was gone.

Nina leaned over and poured a cup of coffee he hadn’t asked for and didn’t particularly want, and he caught a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage. He frowned. He’d bet his brand-new nail gun she’d run screaming from the room if she knew where his thoughts went at the sight.

“It’s today’s lunch special,” she continued, placing a shallow bowl and a large plate on the table. “Tomato parmesan soup, a ham and provolone Panini on my honey wheat bread and a raspberry bear claw.”

She tucked the tray under her arm and watched him expectantly. He almost refused the food, but his stomach chose that moment to remind him the only thing he’d eaten all day were two slices of cold, leftover pizza.

His resolve was nothing up against hunger. Or a pretty blonde.

Especially this woman, with her big gray eyes. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans that accentuated her generous curves and a bright pink, V-neck top that clung to her breasts like frosting on a cake. Knowing he was beat, he picked up his spoon, sampled the steaming soup and grunted in appreciation. She smiled, producing a small dimple in her left cheek. Her loose braid swung in time with her hips as she walked away.

He’d gotten the better part of this deal. Great food and a full stomach while all she’d gotten was a cleared sidewalk. He glanced out the window. A sidewalk that would be covered again within the hour.

Halfway through his sandwich, the nape of his neck prickled, telling him he was being watched. He slowly shifted his gaze to the left and stared into a pair of guileless blue eyes.

Emma Martin, with her soft halo of blond hair, grinned up at him. “Hi, Uncle Dillon,” she said around a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie. “What’re you doing here?”

He scowled at her. Not that it would deter Emma any. She was high-strung, affectionate and could talk you into a coma.

She also scared the hell out of him.

“I’m not your uncle,” he pointed out gruffly.

“You will be,” she said, “once Kelsey marries my daddy and becomes my mom.”

The kid was a little young to be getting so technical about things, wasn’t she?

“Where’s your dad?” he asked, surprised to find the room empty except for him and Emma.

“Working.” She wiped her hands on her legs leaving a trail of cookie crumbs across the light blue pants. Before he knew what she was doing, she nudged her way under his elbow and climbed onto his lap. “Me and Kelsey are picking out wedding cakes.”

Dillon shifted his leg but she didn’t budge. Over Emma’s head he saw his sister’s bright red hair through the small window into the kitchen. He opened his mouth but the mini-queen of gab kept right on talking.

“Kelsey said they couldn’t have a Princess Barbie cake for the wedding but that I could get one for my very own when they got back from their honin’ moon.”

He glared at the top of Kelsey’s head. Felt a trickle of sweat form between his shoulder blades. Come on. He didn’t doubt Kelsey knew he was staring at her.

“I want to go on the honin’ moon, too, but Daddy says I have to stay at Grandma Helen’s, even though I promised to be real good and not bother them when they lock the bedroom door so they can make my baby brother.”

His mouth dropped open. “What?” he croaked.

“I asked Daddy if they could make me a baby brother on their honin’ moon,” she told him patiently. “Daddy laughed and said it would take lots and lots of practice to make me a brother.”

“I don’t need to know any more,” he said with a quick shake of his head.

“Kelsey just sort of made this weird sound, like she was choking.” Emma widened her eyes and made gagging sounds. “Like she’d just tasted something really yucky like olives, but then Daddy whispered a secret to her and they kissed, so I guess she was okay.”

Dillon sat frozen for a moment, wondering what the kid might tell him next. Abruptly he jumped to his feet, tucked Emma under his arm like a very large, very talkative football and stalked toward the kitchen.

“ARE YOU SURE she’s okay out there?” Nina asked as she boxed up cake samples for Kelsey Reagan. Nina wished she could see how Dillon was handling his alone time with Emma but she didn’t have a clear view of his table, only the front door.

“Emma’s fine,” the redhead assured her. “Besides, Dillon has to get used to having his new niece around.”

Nina placed a square of German chocolate cake with coconut/pecan frosting into the box. “It’s just that your brother doesn’t seem like the type to be…comfortable around children.”

Actually, the coolly enigmatic Dillon Ward didn’t seem as if he’d be comfortable around anyone. From what she could tell, he seemed more likely to make people uncomfortable. And enjoy doing it.

Kelsey leaned back against the counter and waved Nina’s concern away, the stunning diamond on her left hand catching the light. “Dillon’s got tons of experience with little girls. He raised me, remember?”

Nina tucked in the flaps of the bakery box and taped it shut.

She didn’t know all that much about her tenant—the tenant she’d acquired with her purchase of Sweet Suggestions six months ago from her grandparents when they’d retired and moved south. She knew Dillon lived alone. Paid his rent on time. Took care of any problems in the apartment. And except for the time he spent with Allie Martin, a local bar owner, he kept to himself.

Oh, yeah. She also knew Dillon had served prison time for killing his stepfather.

A fact which Nina became aware of before most people in town—including her family and ex-husband—when Police Chief Jack Martin informed Nina and her grandparents of Dillon’s past shortly after he moved in above the bakery. Her grandparents opted to let him rent from them anyway.

After all, her devoutly Christian grandparents had told her, to forgive is divine.

A sentiment that sounded good but was hard to pull off.

But, despite Nina’s misgivings, Dillon hadn’t caused any problems and had never been anything other than polite to her or her grandparents.

The kitchen door swung open and Dillon—a giggling Emma in tow—headed straight for his sister. “This yours?”

Kelsey tilted her head. “Hmm…might be. What are you willing to give me to take her off your hands?”

Nina couldn’t believe Kelsey was teasing Dillon. He was so…hard. His work boots added two inches to his already impressive height, and the sleeves of his dark green chambray shirt were rolled up to his elbows revealing muscular forearms. His brown eyes, as usual, were guarded. And watchful. His mouth set.

She wondered if he even knew how to smile.

Of course Kelsey—with her confidence and bad-girl attitude—didn’t seem the least bit fazed. Her multiple ear piercings and short, spiky hair proclaimed her a rebel. Really, she was everything Nina “the good girl” wasn’t. And had long ago given up ever becoming.

Dillon attempted to set Emma down, but she giggled even louder and lifted her feet to keep them from touching the floor. “If you don’t want her,” he said, “maybe I’ll just take her out back. Toss her in the Dumpster.”

Kelsey shrugged and studied her cuticles. “Seems like a waste of a perfectly good kid, but if that’s what you want to do…”

Nina started to laugh, but Dillon shot her a look so she cleared her throat and struggled to keep a straight face.

After another long, intense look at his sister, Dillon turned on his heel and crossed the kitchen, Emma shrieking in delight. He stopped at the back door without opening it—thank God. Not that she believed he’d toss Emma out into a snowbank or anything, but it was brutally cold out and Emma didn’t even have her coat on.

Emma didn’t waste the opportunity, squirming around and climbing up Dillon’s back where she clung to him like a monkey. Uh-oh. This was getting out of hand. Why wasn’t Kelsey stepping in?

“Kelsey,” he said, a threat and—if Nina wasn’t mistaken—panic clear in his low voice.

Which she didn’t understand. If someone had messed with her ex-husband, Trey, this way, he would’ve lost his patience—and his temper.

“You know,” Kelsey said, tapping a finger to her chin, “my wedding’s in less than two weeks and I don’t recall receiving your RSVP. You are coming, aren’t you?”

While Nina couldn’t understand how Kelsey stood her ground, she did admire the other woman for it.

“The kid,” he muttered. Nina noticed he had one arm bent at an awkward angle behind him so Emma wouldn’t fall.

“Yeah, Emma’s a great kid.” Kelsey clapped her hands. “Oh, I know. Emma, how would you like to hang out with Uncle Dillon for a while? We’re not quite done here, are we, Nina?”

Brother and sister both stared at her. She was trapped, solidly stuck to the spot by Kelsey’s shrewd green eyes and Dillon’s hooded, flat gaze.

She hated being put in the middle almost as much as she hated confrontations. Whichever side she took would probably be the wrong side. Besides, she’d end up disappointing someone.

“Uh…no? I mean…we still have a few things to go over.”

Kelsey’s face lit up. “See? Much to do. Many, many cakes to sample and decisions to make. It could take as long as a few hours—”

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be there.”

But Kelsey didn’t budge. Just raised an eyebrow. “Promise?”

Dillon pressed his lips together. “Promise.”

Kelsey grinned and motioned for him to turn around. When he did, she pulled Emma off his back.

“It worked, Kelsey,” Emma said wiggling with excitement in Kelsey’s arms.

“It sure did. You were great.” She hugged Emma and set her down.

Nina’s jaw dropped. They’d set Dillon up. Not only that, but they’d just admitted it. In front of him. Her stomach cramped as she waited for the explosion of temper. When a man had been so neatly played, so easily boxed into a corner, he was going to lash out.

Except nothing happened. Dillon didn’t curse or threaten or call his sister names. Didn’t pick up the nearest object and throw it at the wall. He just shook his head in disgust.

He must not be as angry as she thought. Or else he had a better hold on his control than she’d realized. Which was good, seeing as how he probably wasn’t going to be too happy with her once she told him her news.

Kelsey stuffed Emma into her coat, tugged a hat over the little girl’s head and grabbed the box of cake samples for Jack. “The wedding’s at two,” she told Dillon. “Reception’s at the ski resort.”

“I got an invitation.”

She winked at him. “So you did. See you there. Thanks for these,” she said to Nina. “I’ll let you know in the morning which one we choose.”

Hand in hand, she and Emma walked out the back door. It took a full minute, staring at the closed door, for Nina to realize she was alone.

With Dillon Ward.

She had to talk to him about her decision regarding the apartment. But for the love of all that was sweet and holy, she just wasn’t certain she could deal with his potentially violent reaction to what she had to say. No matter how surprisingly calm he’d been so far.

As usual, his expression gave none of his thoughts away. She licked her lips, and didn’t miss the way his gaze dropped to her mouth. The way his jaw tightened.

Her heart fluttered and she placed her hand on her chest. She hoped she wasn’t having a heart attack or something. Wouldn’t that be perfectly embarrassing? She could see the headlines of the Serenity Springs Gazette now: Local Business Owner Scared of Her Own Shadow. Has Heart Attack Because She Was Alone With A Sexy Man. Complete story on page 12.

“Aren’t you mad?” she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

“About what?”

She picked up a dish towel and carefully folded it. “Kelsey,” she said, unable to look at him. “The way she tricked you into going to her wedding.”

“She’s sneaky. You have to watch out for her.”

Nina raised her head but she couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “Uh, well, it’s not like you have to go…”

The look in his eyes seared her. “I promised.”

“I know, but she did trick you—”

“I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”

She swallowed but her throat remained dry. The way he said it made her believe him.

Someone like Dillon Ward couldn’t be trusted. She knew that. And if she didn’t, her family warning her—repeatedly—how dangerous and unpredictable he was should be enough to convince her.

Except, every once and a while, she had her doubts. But then she’d remember how Trey always said her naivety would be her downfall.

Dillon stepped toward her and she couldn’t stop herself from backing up. He motioned to the towel twisted tightly in her hands. “That do something to you?”

Warmth climbed up her neck into her cheeks. She tossed the towel on the counter. “No. It’s just been a long day.”

He nodded as if that explanation was good enough reason for her to be acting like a complete moron. But at least he wasn’t looking at her like most people did—with pity.

“I’m sure you’re in a hurry to close up and get home, then,” he said.

“Not particularly. I mean, I can’t go home. Trey, my ex, is dropping our kids—”

“Still, I’m sure you have things to do. I know I do,” he said pointedly. “So why don’t you tell me what it is you wanted to tell me and I’ll get out of your way.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you from anything. I just wanted…that is…things have changed. In regards to your apartment. Since buying the bakery, I’ve had some time to think about what’s best for my business and with costs rising the way they are—”

“So you do want to raise the rent.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s not just about the money. Not really. I mean, it’s partly the money, but more than that, what I need—”

“Would you just spit it out?” he snapped.

“I need you to move out.”

DILLON SHOOK his head. “What?”

She stepped back, her eyes darting around the empty room. He shoved his hands into his front pockets to keep from fisting them. Yeah, he towered over her and he’d just snapped at her, but he was really getting tired of everyone in town treating him like the spawn of Satan.

“I need you to move out,” she squeaked, “by the end of the month.”

“Let me get this straight.” For some reason, he simply could not wrap his mind around the fact that this pretty little piece of fluff was giving him the boot. “You’re evicting me?”

She swallowed and nodded. “It’s just that if I want to increase my business—which I do—I have to think about expansion.”

“You’re going to expand the bakery into my apartment?”

She blushed deeper and dropped her gaze and just like that, he knew whatever she was about to tell him was a pile of crap.

Figures. You couldn’t even trust someone as sweet as a cupcake to tell you the truth.

“I want to convert the apartment into a tea room. A place I can rent out for parties or book clubs—”

“Serenity Springs has a book club?”

She frowned. “Local clubs could have meetings up there or I could serve special lunches and have tea tastings. It’ll be nice…”

Sure. For her. And everyone else in town who wanted him gone since the Serenity Springs Gazette ran that article about his five years in a maximum security prison.

But for him? Not so freaking nice.

“My lease says you have to give me thirty days and written notice.”

Nina rubbed her thumb across the base of her left ring finger. “I’m giving you thirty days. And this—” she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded-up envelope “—is the notice.”

He took the envelope from her. Noticed the unsteadiness of her hand. Great. He’d obviously scared her. He wanted to tell her to develop a backbone so the world didn’t eat her alive. But then he supposed he should stop scowling at her and giving her a hard time. Try to put her at ease, like a nice guy would.

Then again, he’d stopped being a nice guy a long time ago.

He ripped open the envelope and quickly skimmed the paper while his mind turned with questions. If she was kicking him out because of his past, did he have legal recourse? Could he prove it? And the big question: where could he go?

He doubted anyone else would rent to him. After the police had suspected him of killing a woman a few months ago and that damn article ran in the paper, he’d lost two jobs he’d hoped would pull him through the winter. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing.

He scratched his cheek. Wait a minute. What was he getting angry about? He’d be done at The Summit, a local bar he was renovating, any day now. He could blow this town. Truth be told, he should’ve been done two weeks ago but Allie Martin, the bar owner, kept giving him small jobs to do. More than likely because she knew he didn’t have any other work.

Not that he liked charity, but he did like working for Allie. It was hard not to. She was smart, funny and gorgeous. Almost too bad they were better suited as friends than lovers.

And he hadn’t had any real friends since before he’d been sent away. He didn’t want to do anything to ruin his friendship with Allie.

He wasn’t really surprised Nina was kicking him out. Ever since she’d bought the bakery from her grandparents, he’d known this day was coming. He supposed after having it not come for so many months, he’d grown complacent. Too comfortable. Too secure.