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“I don’t know. They were probably embarrassed that it came to this and didn’t want to go tell on each other to Dad.” Amusement lit her tone, but I failed to see what was so amusing about the conversation. It truly was an embarrassment. Under normal circumstances, I would fly home and knock a few heads together so they could get back some of the sense they lost. But unfortunately, I couldn’t leave just yet, so they would need to figure it out on their own.
“Tell Lance that I said if he’s not there when I get back, there’s going to be hell to pay. If he has a problem, he brings it to me, not go off running like a little school girl with her panties in a twist.”
“Hey, I take offense with that statement.”
I ignored her. “And tell Kuzo to call me.” I hung up without further ado, just in time to hear footsteps rounding the corner. I turned, and she jumped back, hands on her chest and eyes wide with shock.
Which immediately changed to indignation as her cheeks flamed red.
“You.”
I said nothing and simply took her in. Her eyes were more bloodshot than the last time I saw her, and underneath the makeup, I could tell the eyebags were deeper and darker. Plus, her face was pale, even though she’d tried to artificially paint some color onto her cheeks.
I guessed I was right about my earlier assessment. She looked exhausted and just about ready to drop dead from it all. I’d heard enough of the conversation with her boss to know the reason why and wondered if all this was truly worth the momentary fun. I wasn’t against the occasional party, but it looked like she was killing herself trying to have a good time. Her boss knew it, and I knew it. I just wondered if she would take his advice.
Knowing her type, probably not. And it was a damn shame because something told me if she tried just a little bit, she would be surprised by how far she could fly.
“Were you just eavesdropping on my conversation?” she asked, her tone shaky.
“Wasn’t aware you owned the airwaves.” The comment slipped out of me even though I knew the best thing to do would be to turn around and walk away.
“Haha. Very funny.” She raised an eyebrow. “Then what are you doing out here?” She crossed her arms and raised her chin to boot.
It still surprised me how daring she was when she spoke to me. She didn’t cow, and she looked me right in the eyes and asked questions in that saucy tone.
“Don’t you have a steak to fetch me?” I responded pointedly, and she blushed.
“It’ll be ready soon.”
“Holding my breath.”
She looked like she wanted to say something else, probably another smart comment, but she bit her lip. Instead, she nodded and headed back inside. But before she could leave, I caught her arm. Electricity sizzled up my body, and I saw her face twist with shock as she looked down at the point of contact. She felt it too.
Our eyes met.
“It’s a shame,” I said, not knowing entirely why I was saying it.
“Huh?”
“It’s a shame a girl like you is so determined to waste her life.”
Her face was stunned for a few seconds, and then it twisted in anger.
“A girl like me.” Her voice trembled. “You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t,” I agreed. “But he does.” I gestured back inside to indicate her boss. “So you should listen to him.”
Her lips tightened even more, and when I dropped my hand, she stormed inside, anger in her gait. I stayed outside for a few more seconds, pondering about the waitress. I thought about her conversation with the unseen man. Was she in some type of trouble? Was he feeding her for something? Drugs?
I didn’t think she was a druggie, but first impressions could be deceiving. I wouldn’t have believed a girl like that owned a nightmare of a dog, either.
I watched as the man she was talking to—a rough-looking behemoth—also emerged from behind the wall, eyeing me suspiciously before he walked away. He looked like a bruiser. Definitely not someone I would trust with a tiny little thing like her.
I told myself it was none of my business. But I watched him anyway.
* * *
“Tellme in the briefest manner possible what the fuck is going on between you and Lance,” I said as I drove.
