Page 32 of Whips and Chains
I slammed the window down, just barely missing his puckered lips.
He blinked in surprise.
I smiled at him smugly and then gave him the middle finger.
He pressed his lips to the glass instead. And then winked at me.
All the smugness I’d had a minute ago at getting the upper hand melted away.
Because we both knew I couldn’t keep this up. And for the rest of the day, I would be thinking about that kiss I’d just let slip away, when all I had wanted was to let it happen.
9
VIOLET
Nyah and I finished the rest of the houses booked for that afternoon without my entourage following us around. I had no idea where they’d disappeared to after I’d shut X down, but instead of feeling relief they had done as I’d said, all I felt was disappointment.
And a low dose of fear.
I’d gotten used to at least one of them being with me at all times, even if they were just watching my apartment from the street. Without that, I suddenly felt very alone and very vulnerable.
I hated that they were right. Hated that having them watch over me had made me feel safe.
Hated I’d realized it too late.
At least I had Nyah. She was sweet and chatty, and she’d worked hard all afternoon. She was a couple of years younger than me and completely opposite in terms of appearance. Where I was tall and fair, she was shorter and dark. Her long hair was almost black, and her eyes matched. We’d talked about all sorts of things as we’d worked, none of it very deep or personal, and she hadn’t pushed me to talk about why I’d had three menfollowing me around, which I’d appreciated because I didn’t know what I’d say if she did.
She didn’t realize it, but she’d been the one thing to get me through a day I would have otherwise just spent lying in bed, crying over Toby.
I didn’t want that. Not yet. I didn’t have the luxury of falling apart, and I knew if I let myself start down that road of grief, I might never be able to pull myself out of it.
No, it was much better to focus on work.
Or the way I couldn’t stop thinking about how close I’d come to kissing X, or where all three guys had disappeared to.
I walked Nyah back to Clean Sweep and happily reported to Francine that Nyah was amazing. I knew it might cost me shifts, but it was the truth, and I wouldn’t play down how great she’d been just to save my own skin. If Francine was still harboring grudges over me losing clients, then there was nothing I could do to change her mind. None of that was Nyah’s fault.
But Francine was in a great mood, and she smiled at both of us before shooing us out the door and telling us to “go be young and have fun.”
I eyed the door suspiciously as it closed behind us. “She was oddly chirpy.”
Nyah glanced back through the glass door at Francine, who was smiling at something on her computer screen. “Maybe she has a hot date tonight.”
I smiled at the thought, Mrs. Sinterro on my mind. “I hope so. Francine can be a grump at times, but nobody deserves to grow old alone. I hope she finds someone who makes her happy.”
I suspected I was talking about myself as much as my boss.
Nyah nudged me with her elbow. “You see that place across the road? I hear it’s a secret sex club.”
I chuckled. “It is. I just started working there. Actually, I have a shift tonight.”
Nyah’s mouth dropped open. “Get the fuck out. Are the rumors true?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Holy shit. I really thought that was an urban legend.” She stared at the creepy clown mural like it was some sort of gateway to Narnia.
“You want to go? I’m sure I can get you in tonight if you want to,” I offered.
