8
AFTER MIDNIGHT
GREYSTONE
That evening, just before eleven, Greystone opened the door to Lost Souls with a burning desire to see Caroline. Playing games wasn’t his jam, so tonight, he’d come clean. That meant her blindfold was coming off. Truth was, he liked her. And he was telling her that too.
True confessions.
As Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba” pulsed through him, he made his way toward the bar where Hawk was working it like a bossman. He saw Greystone, broke into a smile, and extended his hand across the bar. Greystone shook it.
“What can I getcha?” Hawk asked.
“Got any cold water back there?”
Hawk tossed him a bottle of chilled water. “How’re things?”
“Slow. Thanks for walkin’ Langley.”
“Yeah, we found nothing.”
Greystone pulled out a five. Hawk waved him off. After a nod of acknowledgment, Greystone cracked open the lid, guzzled half the bottle. At six-three, he towered over most.Leaning his back against the bar, he swept the busy room and saw Caroline talking with some guy.
He wasn’t surprised. Her blond hair was a magnet, she was beautiful, and had a body that did not quit. For him though, she was much more than that. She was his calm in the middle of a shitstorm, she was smart, and for as long as he’d known her, the best part of his day.
He was good at reading people, so he homed in on her. First, the dude was standing too damn close. She furrowed her brow, shook her head, said something like, “I’m not interested.”
Her gaze hardened, she pursed her lips, angled her body away from him, as if shielding herself. A protectiveness came over him like a tsunami.
Go.
He launched into the crowd, but a group of women flocked around him like vultures.
“Hi,” said one. “We’re fairy godmothers.”
“What are you, handsome?” asked another.
“I’m Thor,” he replied, and the women laughed.
“Where’s your costume and hammer?” asked a third.
“Left everything on my planet,” he replied, his gaze jumping to Caroline.
She was gone, and a jolt of concern flooded him. He swept the room, but didn’t see her or the guy.
“Do you want to dance?” asked one of the women.
“I can’t.” He sent Sydney a text.
I’m here. Is she upstairs?
I’m not at the club
He eyed the woman. “Sorry, ladies, I’m out.” He made his way back to the bar, flagged Hawk down.
“Another water?” Hawk asked.
Greystone leaned over the bar. “I’m meeting someone, but I don’t know what room she’s in.”
