Page 4 of Sin With Me

Chapter2

Kate

By the time evening arrived,three-quarters of my closet was laid out on the single bed in my claustrophobic room. Contemplating an appropriate outfit, I opted for a pair of black jeans and a crop top that was sheer above my breast line and up to the neck, along with long, see-through sleeves. The little stomach it showed didn’t bother me, especially since the jeans were high-waisted.

We’d decided that I would meet Lola at the Bistro. Given that we lived in a town where you could walk from one end to the other in less than fifteen minutes, at least there’d never be an issue with driving or traffic. Besides, I didn’t own a car, and at this moment, most of my belongings fit in a suitcase. If a car ever passed by, it was only because someone needed to make their way to Vegas, about two hundred miles northwest of Pace, or LA, and was trying to cut through the side roads.

When I first walked into the bar, the smell of candlewax seemed to overwhelm the place, but looking around now, it added to the Western atmosphere. A predominantly woodsy smell permeated the room. It mixed well with the aged whiskey the handful of folks seemed to be drinking. The Bistro was just the way I’d imagined it: a complete nineteenth century version of an old western building, which included candle chandeliers and a wooden staircase to the side that rose to a balcony with tables and chairs that then led to the motel rooms. Those must have had held thousands of stories. That and about a million bedbugs.

Most of the décor was wooden. Overpowering tones of brown and gold blended together in the room, making it difficult to concentrate on just one piece of furniture. A vintage cartwheel hung on one of the walls, right beside a thick-framed mirror. A bear rug hugged the floor by the fireplace and brought warmth to the space. It was difficult to imagine that the Bistro once used to be a brothel owned by mobsters — at least, those were the stories I’d heard intown.

Bert, the owner, stood behind the bar, and Jared and Daryl, wearing their typical plaid shirts, were throwing darts. I’d never seen a more deserted bar on a Saturday night in mylife.

As I scanned the room, I missed someone I thought I’d seen near the other end of the bar when I first came in. He was turned away from me when I first sat down, but was no longer there. He must have gone to the restroom.

“Is this your version of sexy?” I heard Lola’s voice from behind me. I’d been so focused on the atmosphere of the place, I didn’t see her comein.

“Yes.”

“Because that’s my version of I’ll never getlaid.”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m not looking to get laid, Lola.”

“Not in that outfit, you’re not. Whatevs.” She waved her hand. “I’m not taking the risk of my pipes rusting, so I’ll see you later. It looks like I have a date with Jack and Coke.” She gestured at Bert and ordered her drink.

“Hold on. You’re going to leave me on myown?”

“Kate, this isn’t an arena. You won’t getlost.”

“Oh. I just thought we’d spend the evening together.”

“We will, especially when I need you to hold my hair as I bow to the porcelain king lateron.”

“Oh, gross. You’re going to get wasted, aren’tyou?”

“Cha-ching!” She winked and sipped on her drink. Actually, that wasn’t a sip. She gulped that baby down like a professional hooker who swallowed every last drop and then lifted her hand for another one. I felt my eyes bulge.

“Why? Do you need a wing-woman? Because I can definitely do that. Who are we picking up?” She turned toward the two men playing darts. They were more interested in the dart board than the two single women at thebar.

I sighed.

Jared and Daryl were pretty handsome, and maybe if they shaved their thick facial hair, I could be a better judge.

“I don’t want to pick up anyone,” I replied.

“I knew it. You don’t know how to have fun,” she accused, and waved to Bert for yet another drink. He brought two glasses filled to the rim and she handed one over tome.

“You drink that down without stopping,” she ordered.

“I can’t.”

“It’s just one drink, Kate.”

I had a feeling that she wouldn’t leave me alone until I emptied the glass. I could hold my own, though. There had been plenty of parties back home where the guys from our precinct had challenged me to a few shots, and I’d won. I followed suit and gulped the whiskey and coke down to the very bottom, then shuddered. It had been a while since alcohol roamed in my veins.

“Bleh.”

“Nogood?”

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