Page 4 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Three

Annie

Counting up the till after another busy night.

“You need me to stick around?” Manny asks.

I glance over to him, then to the locked iron gate. “Um… no, you can go. Thanks, Manny.”

He stares at me, my hesitation giving him pause. “You sure?”

I laugh off my discomfort and glance back to the bills in my hand. “Well, if you can wait a minute. I’ll just be a second. Do you have somewhere you have to be?”

He gives a shy grin and shakes his head, but he’s obviously hiding something.

I suspend the counting for another second, tilting my chin. “You have a girl waiting, don’t you?”

His olive skin turns bright red and his white teeth shine in the dimmed light. “Yeah.”

On a happy laugh, I say, “Well, go then! I’m sure I’m fine. I’ll follow you and lock the door. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

His eyes darken at what we’re both thinking. I’m still freaked over what happened and if he leaves, this will be the first time I’ve walked alone to my car. But I have to do it sometime. It’s just terrifying the first time, after that it gets easier. At least I’m hoping that’s how it works.

But Manny takes the decision away from me as he shrugs and takes a barstool. “She can wait. I’ll make sure you get to your car.” He pulls out his phone to text her.

I want to object, but trepidation stops me. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll count quickly. Do you want a beer or something?”

He turns the offer down and starts playing drums to Kongos Come With My Now, playing on the iPod. Quickly, I find my place again, and begin to count: Forty. Sixty. Eighty.

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