Page 11 of Sweet Poison

Stunned, I watched the car pick up speed and disappear down the road.

What the fuck just happened?

My mind was blank.

Then, as if guided by pure animal instinct, I began to walk towards the town. I wasn’t looking for a way to get back to New York, I was looking for a bar called Dead Or Alive.

Chapter 5

Montana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyV_eb3p3Zw

-for a few dollars more-

“Holy cow!” Kelly whispered, her mouth hanging open with amazement.

“What is it?” Pearl asked.

“Oh my God, Oh my God. I can’t believe it.”

“Can’t believe what?” Natalie asked impatiently.

“Don’t everybody turn around at the same time to look, but you’ll never guess who just swaggered in looking all hunky and sexy,” Kelly squealed excitedly.

“I’ll look first,” Natalie said and casually turned her head. When she turned back, she was grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s the guy with the broken-down car from earlier,” she announced, looking directly at me. “We’ve found your man for tonight, Montana.”

“Hang on a minute,” Kelly protested immediately. “He’s only here because I invited him. He came for me.”

“If Montana switches off the light there’ll be no difference between you and her,” Natalie answered tartly.

“Hello! I’m sitting right here,” I reminded but no one took any notice of me.

Kelly looked sulkily at Natalie. “He wouldn’t be here if not for me.”

“Come on, Kelly. Let Montana have him. You know you can have any guy you want,” Pearl persuaded in her gentle way.

“But I’ve never had anyone as special as him. I mean, look at him. He’s one in a billion.”

“It won’t matter in the morning, will it?” Natalie asked. “He’ll just be another guy you slept with, but you’ll feel bad because you cheated Montana out of an experience she will cherish for the rest of her life.”

Kelly sighed, then looked at me mournfully. “All right. You can have him.”

“Actually, you can keep him. I don’t want him. Especially, not if it’s you he wants,” I said.

Kelly brightened. “Really?”

I shrugged and grinned at her. “Yeah, go for it.”

“No,” Natalie argued. “This night is supposed to be for you. We went to all this trouble because we wanted this night to be special for you.”

I looked at Natalie. “Thanks, Natalie. I know you mean well, but honestly, I don’t want to sleep with anyone who’s not totally into me too. No matter how gorgeous he is. Look, the night is young. I’m sure I’ll find someone else equally hunky if not better.” I knew that was a lie. Kelly was not lying when she said he was one in a billion.

“Are you sure?” Kelly asked, her eyes shining with hope and excitement.

“Totally,” I confirmed, but the word stuck in my throat like a hard rock.

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