Free Hot Wired by Betty Womack

She stood with her hands on her hips, wanting to slap his lean cheeks. “A whole year of not hearing from you, and now you break into my house. I sure as hell got used to not putting up with your bull crap.”
    “I’m sorry about that, babe, but I’m desperate.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “I need a place to stay for a few days. I’ll leave before you know it.”
    His pleading eyes struck a pity nerve in her. “Every time you’re around, trouble follows. I have gotten accustomed to not hearing sirens in the driveway and cops pounding on the door. I don’t want you anywhere around me.”
    “We used to be close, Carol. I love you, and I’m in trouble.” He hung his head like he always did to soften her heart. “I know I’m a no good son-of-a-bitch who treated you bad and let you down.”
    She could hardly find the words to scald him with. He’d been the worst part of her life, and here he was, hat in hand. Damn it. “You’re a grown man, Gordon. Get yourself out of this mess.”
    “I’m really sorry for all the things I did, baby, but I’m in real trouble this time.” He raked his fingers through his long black hair. “I may go to prison this time. I mean it. Please.”
    Her heart fell to her feet. Prison. No, she couldn’t turn her back on him now.
    “Tell me it isn’t murder or rape or dope.” She couldn’t stop the shaking of her hands. “If it’s any of those things, you can get your sorry ass out of here right now.”
    “You know me better than that.” He didn’t smile when he filled her in on a few details. “The Feds are on my ass over some little deal I made with another guy they’re after. Nothing like the things you said.”
    With Gordon, that could mean any number of things. She didn’t want to know. She just wanted to get back to her new life. “Okay. I won’t be here anyway, so you can stay a few days.”
    “I don’t have a dime on me, honey.” He looked like a puppy dog in trouble. “I don’t suppose you could loan me a few dollars.”
    She dug in her handbag and pulled out her wallet. “I don’t have a lot of money, but you can have enough to buy groceries while you’re here.”
    “What about gas money?” He took the bills she held out to him. “I’ll need a car.”
    “My God, Gordon.” She gave him the rest of her cash, scowling at him. “Don’t wreck it or mess up anything in here.” What more could she say or do? The guy still seemed like family, and he needed her help. “I have to get some things, so just make yourself at home. Within reason.”
    He stuffed the money in his jeans pocket, eyeing her with a grin. “I’d say Carol has herself a new set up with all the trimmings.” He gestured to the window overlooking the driveway. “Hot car. Must take a lot of lovin’ to earn something like that.”
    She turned on him with a frown. “A, it’s none of your business and B, it’s still none of your business. One more word and you’re out of here. Got it?”
    He laughed the way she had once found irresistible. “Got it. You coming back once in awhile? To see about me?”
    She ignored his question because she was busy picking up sketch tablets and pens. In the bathroom, she found her perfume and birth control pills and quickly stuffed them into her purse. After taking a pair of jeans from the closet, she went back into the living room and found Gordon stretched out on the couch, the TV tuned in to a gangland documentary.
    “Some things never change, Gordy, and you’re one of them.”
    He smiled at her and bunched a pillow under his head. “I know you still love me, babe.”
    “Like a broken leg.” She carried the pile of supplies to the door. “And I will be checking up on you. When you least expect it.” She opened the door, pausing to add a last comment. “Lock the door.”
    He waved nonchalantly, mouthing the words, yeah, yeah. “See you soon, hot stuff.”
    She got in the car, torn between kicking Gordon out and protecting him