Free Robin in the Hood (Robbin' Hearts Series Book 1) by Diane J. Reed

rest of my trailer park days trying to outrun him.
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    “You know,” I said with every ounce of bravery I could muster, thrusting up my chin, “looks like we’re in the same business then, doesn’t it?”
    Creek cocked his head. His eyes appeared hard.
    “How’s that?”
    “Well, we’re both trying to take care of people we . . . l—lo—”
    I stumbled over the word, feeling prickles surface on my skin.
    “Love,” I finally spit out, embarrassed.
    Honestly, I’d never mentioned that term in connection with my dad in my entire life. And I wasn’t sure if I really meant it, or if I simply wished it were true.
    Because dealing with my father had always been like stepping into a hall of mirrors at a carnival. Every time I thought I was getting close to him, his reflection changed on me, and even now I wasn’t sure who the hell he was.
    “It seems to me,” I pressed on, hoping Creek hadn’t caught a whiff of my uncertainty, “that we both might be more effective if we joined forces to help our family members. You know, combined my female intuition and charm with your, um . . . street smarts? After all, I did beat you at the bank. Sometimes a soft touch works wonders! We could be the next Bonny and Clyde, like—”
    “Partners?” Creek said, incredulous.
    He wasn’t exactly wide-eyed anymore. In fact, he was—
    Laughing.
    A grin had burst on Creek’s face, as if the idea were beyond preposterous. And he rocked back on his heels with his thumbs in his front pockets as he let out a deep, throaty chuckle. His tousled hair fell loosely about his shoulders, pure gold in a shaft of light that had broken through the trees. And for the first time since we’d met, his face glowed with a warmth that was downright guaranteed to bowl most chicks over, even if it was at
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expense.
    It was enough to make a girl . . .
    Pretty much keel over and drop dead of a heart attack.
    Seriously, this guy was public enemy number one, a pure menace to women’s health. There simply ought to be a
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against anyone that beautiful running around wild and temporarily . . . unkissed.
    And I couldn’t help licking my lips, fantasizing about what it would be like to seal that kind of deal.
    When suddenly, I spotted it—
    A bold scar on his right bicep, inside a tattoo of a big, red heart.
    Like he’d scratched out someone’s name. And even more to the point: the name of a former girlfriend.
    Creek swiftly folded his arms, covering it with his large fingers so I couldn't see. A hint of red flashed on his cheeks.
    Ah, so you’ve got more than
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deep wound, I realized, feeling as evil as those she-monsters who used to torment me at Pinnacle. But I have to admit, now that I’d tasted a little of their power, it felt truly intoxicating.
    Especially when the handsomest creature in the solar system was standing right in front of me with sunshine glinting off his flaxen hair and pure, unadulterated vulnerability in his eyes.
    Creek stiffened his back and swelled his chest a little, appearing tall and tough as nails, like usual. But I knew his secret now. He had a heart that had been broken once, and might still be in pieces—and I intended to exploit each and every shard in my favor.
    “Just what do you propose we do as partners?” Creek persisted with an edge to his voice, a bit too eager to divert my attention from that scar on his arm.
    I sucked up a deep breath.
    Oh, maybe make out till next Tuesday! I wanted to say, hoping he hadn’t somehow heard my thoughts on a breeze. But really, that face and physique all in one package? Truly God does display a twisted sense of humor on us poor girls.
    I shook my head to try and regain my focus.
    “Um . . . how about rob banks?” I blurted in a quick save, hardly believing those words came out of my mouth. “I mean, think about it—after just a couple of big hits, we could be set. Right? No more money