Page 20 of Plain Jade

“Try me.”

“I’m thinking about cleaning.” She couldn’t help but wince.

“Cleaning?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Do you feel dirty?”

This time, she did frown. She shook her head. “I don’t feel dirty, but I feel those tiles over there are going to need cleaning. I’ve … we’ve never done this.” She nibbled her bottom lip, attempting to find words that would make sense.

“Done this?”

She forced a smile to her lips and now she was nervous in case he decided to leave. “You always leave. We don’t have the … after conversation. You just leave, and I … I kind of like seeing you naked, finally, and you being in my bathtub, and I don’t know what to say.” She let out a little laugh. “I don’t even know your name.”

Silence filled the space between them. Jade had a feeling she had really stepped her foot in it, and she hated herself. Why couldn’t she just stay quiet and not make a sound? That would be a lot easier.

He’d probably been with hundreds of women, if not thousands, and they had all probably acted with a sophistication she didn’t possess.

“Braxton.”

Jade looked at him. “What?”

“That’s my name. Braxton.”

“Braxton.” She didn’t know why, but it felt like a huge step for her. “Do I get to know your last name?”

“No,” he said.

“Oh. Well, I like Braxton.” She couldn’t help but smile and she held her hand out. “I’m Jade.”

There was a lilt to his lips, and she was going to take that as a win, and that he was a little charmed by her.

“Why don’t you want me knowing your name?” she asked.

He stared at her. “Jade, I think we both know I don’t have the conventional nine-to-five job.”

“No, I didn’t think you did.” She pressed her lips together. Seeing the scars on his face, the cut knuckles, and his overall attitude, she figured he was someone different. “Do I get to know who you are?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“For your own safety.”

“My own safety.” She said the words slowly and she knew she was doing a lot of repeating what he said. “You told me not to go to the police. Not to say anything.”

He nodded.

“You took care of the guy that attacked me, didn’t you?” she asked. She had also seen a small piece in the paper a couple of weeks ago about a lone body found in an alley. Detectives had put it down to a street gang or bad drug deal, or at least that was how the media described it.

Jade had seen the location and knew exactly who it was.

“Yes.”

“Are you a murderer?” she asked.

“Yes and no. That’s all you’re going to know.”

---