Page 24 of Seducer

“You okay?” Jazzy was another waitress, dedicated to her craft and a consummate professional. She had her own crosses to bear, which was one reason we got along so well.

“Fine.”

“The guy was a jerk. Just try and shake it off. Tonight is a money-making night.” She was always far too cheerful. Meanwhile, I was darkness personified. I was always looking over my shoulder, certain there were monsters lurking in close proximity.

Being robbed at gunpoint a couple of years before hadn’t helped. “I’m fine. I just hate assholes like that.”

Jazzy chuckled. “Me too. I was rooting for you to rearrange his face, but you had a little help. That was an attractive man who came to your defense.”

“How can you tell under the mask?” I grabbed the two drinks that had been waiting for me to serve for several minutes, placing them on the tray I was gripping as if a lifeline. Yet still, I was shaking like a leaf. I’d been cornered before, at least a half dozen times, but none of those incidents had bothered me as much as this one. It wasn’t what the asshole had said, but how he’d issued the words.

There hadn’t been a single slur.

“Oh, come on. Strong jaw. Tall and robust. Did you notice the three-day shadow covering his chin? Oh-so sexy. My kind of man.”

“I guess not an asshole.”

She placed six drinks on her tray, shaking her head. “Try and remember there are some good guys on this planet. Few, but there are some.”

“Did Jerry ask you anything about me?”

She shook her head. “He usually keeps to himself.”

That was usually true.

She leaned in, touching my arm. “Go take a break after serving the drinks. The jerks can wait. They’re happy with the level of entertainment. The asshole is gone, banished. At least there’s that. Take a deep breath.”

True, but something continued to nag at me, as if something from my past would come back to bite me.

There was too much at stake, a future that I’d planned for months. If all went well, this time next year I wouldn’t be dancing and I’d never need to worry about money again.

But everything had to go according to the huge scheme I’d concocted, or I’d lose everything. Damn it. Why did the asshole feel the need to carve out a snippet from my courage and self-resilience? More important, why had I allowed him to get to me? Time to shake it off.

I’d fought for everything in my life and some evil man who’d had too much to drink wasn’t going to alter my decision.

A game was about to begin and I would be the winner.

Come hell or high water.

“Maybe you’re right. I’ll do that.”

“I’m here if you need me.”

I smiled as best as I could, nonchalantly turning my head toward the fabulous man who’d captured more than just my attention.

He was still watching me. Maybe I was crazy, but the tether of electricity continued crackling, extending its reach like sharp talons.

The desire shared between us was close to becoming off the charts.

I purposely turned away, biting my lower lip until I tasted blood. What would it be like to let go for one evening, one passionate moment? Would that be so bad?

The answer should be easy. Hell, yes. But instead of shutting down the thought, I envisioned the man’s naked body as I’d done one too many times.

Maybe if I wished hard enough, my vision would come true.

And maybe one day soon I’d win the billion-dollar lottery.

Not.

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