Page 14 of Masked Indulgence
Just like we always did during the holidays, everyone ended up at the only café in town, the Dairy Queen. Shanna and I were sitting in a booth, catching up with a couple of guys I played football with in high school. They’d never left the tiny town, both working as guards at the nearbyprison.
I hadn’t even noticed anyone coming into the place, but when a hand moved across my shoulders, I looked back to find Bianca. “Hey!”
“Hi,” she purred. Wearing a maroon jacket, her dark hair pulled up into a long ponytail, she looked just like she had back in high school. “When did you get here and how long are you staying,Nixon?”
“Today, and leaving the day after tomorrow,” I answered as she came around to stand at the end of thetable.
The conversation at our table ceased as she ran her finger along my jaw. “I like the beard. It makes you lookdistinguished.”
I chuckled. “I was going for dangerous, butthanks.”
Her dark brown eyes cut to the side, looking out at the parking lot. “I was thinking about going to Charlie’s for a beer or two. Wanna takeme?”
I sat perfectly still, unsure if I truly did want to take her. It was pretty easy to see she wanted me. And after all these years, that was a pleasantsurprise.
Shanna jabbed me in the ribs as she whispered, “Are you crazy? Get the hell up and take her. I can walk home fromhere.”
There went my only excuse not to take Bianca to thebar.
The guys looked at me like I was insane for not jumping at the chance to be with one of the hottest chicks ever to grace our little hick town. But the fact was, I wasn’t jumping. And there was only one reasonwhy.
Katana.
Before I could say a word, the bell on the door jingled, and this time I noticed it. When I looked to see who it was, a tall, decently built dude was heading our way. “Shit,” Bianca hissed. She walked toward him. “There you are. I was looking foryou.”
He gave me a look before he looked back at her. “Comeon.”
She glanced back at me and shrugged. “See you guysaround.”
I’d missed my chance with her and knew it. I couldn’t say I actually cared, but Shanna seemed invested, as she waited until Bianca and her guy walked out before lighting into my ass. “Are you crazy, Nixon? You mooned over that girl all through junior high and high school. You said if she gave you half a chance you’d make her see God. Well, she just gave you a hell of lot more than half a damn chance. She was throwing herself at you, Biancastyle.”
With a shake of my head, I said, “Did you not notice that she has a man, Shanna? Damn. I’m not about to get some redneck pissed off at me over a piece ofass.”
Plus, even before he walked in, I couldn’t seem to make myself get up and do it. Katana just kept flashing through my mind like a strobe light. I had to do something to get myself over the girl who obviously wanted nothing more to do with me. She had my number, and she had nevercalled.
The fact was Katana had signed a paper that had had her promise not to contact any man she encountered at the club. But after Halloween, the Dungeon of Decorum was destroyed, destroying all that with it. Nothing could stop her from calling me if she wanted to. She wouldn’t be in trouble or get fined by theclub.
So why didn’t she evercall?
The answer was simple. She didn’t wantto.
Maybe I’d been too rough. Maybe I’d gone too far. Or maybe I hadn’t gone far enough or been rough enough. Who knew what the reasonwas.
Why should I care? I kept asking myself that question over and overagain.
There wasn’t any reason for me to care why she hadn’tcalled.
As I sat there, sipping on my chocolate shake, a thought I’d never had before popped into my head. What if she had lost mycard?
If I went back to Portland, I might be able to find her apartment building again. I had no idea what her address was, but I wasn’t opposed to knocking on every door until I foundhers.
Suddenly I had a plan, a real plan to findher.
I got up, and Shanna looked at me in surprise. “Where’re you going now,Nixon?”
“Back to Mom and Dad’s. I know it’s noisy there and chaotic with all the nieces and nephews running around, but I need to visit them. You want a ride to your parents’place?”
She got up to come with me. After shaking hands with my old friends and wishing them well, we left, and I dropped Shanna off. I couldn’t help but feel excited about what I’d be doing as soon as we got back to L.A., and my plan began to get more and more detailed as the night wenton.
