Page 27 of Lethal Seduction

My shift finally ended about fifteen minutes ago. It’s been a really long day, and I can’t wait to go home, even if it’s to an empty apartment. I count my tip money as I walk out to the car, careful not to stray from the dull lights of the parking lot. While I work in a decent area of the city, it always freaks me out a bit to walk out to my car with a pocket full of cash. My mom’s voice rings inside my head, crowing on about people jumping me for money and a free ride inside my asshole if they manage to kidnap me in the process. Her bedtime stories are terrifying, to say the least.

I’ve been so distracted by my own thoughts all day. Will I enjoy my time with Michael, or should I pursue Jake? It’s a never-ending debate that seems to get worse as the night wears on. I tried most of the day to look for Jake, but couldn’t find him. Maybe he was busy with one of the customers. Smiling, I think about the awesome drinks he makes with the Hawaiian rum our boss imports specifically for Mrs. Thornbird. It’s all good though, I need to get home anyway. No more fantasizing about men.

Patting the roll of bills in my pocket I think,Damn, I made a lot of money tonight. From tips alone, I’ll be able to afford groceries this week. It’s such a great feeling, and I only had to endure one indecent proposal this shift. Pushing the money out of the way, I fish for my car keys out of my over-filled pocket.

“Where are you running off to?” Jake says as he rushes up behind me.

My heart races at the suddenness of his appearance. I flinch and turn in his direction, visions of my mother’s fairy tales flashing through my mind. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Oh, sorry, man.” If Jake’s disarming and seductive smile had the dexterity of fingers, my pants would already be unbuttoned and lying on the ground around my ankles. How any man can bring me from the brink of a panic attack to wanting to suck his dick in a single heartbeat is beyond me.

Jake’s wavy dark hair hangs in his face just enough to make me want to brush it out of the way before kissing his full lips. I swallow and blink away the budding fantasy. “Is everything okay?” I glance behind Jake. “No one’s chasing you, right?”

We both laugh, but this is the first time Jake has shown this much interest in me, and I’m curious—why now? He’s never chased me down in the parking lot before. Maybe my mom’s nighttime terror stories are going to come true?

“I asked Tina for a ride home, but she doesn’t get off for another thirty minutes or so.”

“And she suggested I take you home?” I cock my head to the side. That’s weird, considering Tina and I had a bet on who could land Jake in bed first.

Jake shifts his weight. “Not really. She asked me to wait for her to get off work, but it’s been a long day and I just want to go home.” He scratches the top of his head. “She was really pushy about it too. Kept doing that weird thing with her bottom lip.” He feigns a disgusted shiver.

I laugh. That’s Tina’s way of flirting. She licks and bites her bottom lip while making googly eyes at her prey. Bitch is trying to win the bet at all costs. Needless to say, it rarely works and, more often than not, lands her in the Human Resources office explaining herself.

“She’s like that,” I say. There won’t be another chance for me to be alone with Jake for the foreseeable future, so it’s my shit or get off the pot moment. Plus, the way Jake’s dimpled cheeks call to me, I couldn’t have told him no even if I’d wanted to. “Get in.”

“You’re the best. Thank you so much. My car is a piece of shit and wouldn’t start this morning.” He hands me a ten-dollar bill. “Here’s something for gas and your time.”

“Thanks,” I say, taking the money and putting it in my pocket. “Where do you live?”

“On Westland, just past the Mormon church.”

I blink a few times in silence as I try and envision where he lives. I put the key into the ignition and start her up. “I don’t have a flipping clue where that is.”

“I figured as much. You’re in luck. I’m only two miles down the road and I’m great at giving directions.”

“That’s not far at all.” I shift into drive and pull out of the parking space.

“I’d have walked, but after… you know, the murder at Who’s Your Caddy… well, it’s had me a bit spooked.”

“Same here,” I admit.

“Really?”

“Yeah, plus my apartment was broken into.”

“Dude,” Jake says. “Did the cops figure out who did it?”

“I didn’t really report it. My neighbor, of sorts, said some guy who smelled good broke in, but there wasn’t anything taken. Figured, either she was making it up or… I don’t know what I thought.”

Jake looks out the side window in silence for a few moments. “I’m really sorry, man. That’s scary.” He looks spooked, the color has drained from his face from what I can tell in the crappy lighting.

My heart melts a bit seeing Jake, usually self-confident and unflappable, look vulnerable and worried about something that concerns the regular people of the world. “I can’t believe it happened around here… murder. What are the odds?”

“Murder can happen anywhere, but you’re right… Who’s Your Caddy is just up the freeway an exit from here.” Jake turns to me and says, “Did you know the victims?”

“I don’t really know much about what happened, but any time there’s something scary happening near me I tend to freak out a bit. If you knew my mom, you’d understand.”

“From what I’ve been told, it was two guys. One was a client, older man, and a staff member. Rumor has it they were involved with each other.”

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