Page 19 of Average Joe

I’d never been a top-notch fibber, and Lilly was a freakin’ human lie detector. The girl could work for the CIA.

“There’s not much to tell.” I turned, pretending to take inventory of the paper cups, and decided on a half-truth. “We had a few drinks. Talked. He kissed me. I sent him home. End of story.”

Again, she captured me in an embrace, this time from behind, and rested her chin on my shoulder. “Come on. There has to be more. You gonna see him tonight?”

“I’ll be seeing him plenty.” I shifted free of her hug and turned. “But no more sexy time.”

A deep sigh. “Explain.”

I moaned, scrubbing a hand over my cheeks and putting distance between us. “He’s gorgeous. And big. Muscles the size of Rainier. An ass you can bounce a quarter off of. He’s hung”—I threw my arms out wide—“like a freakin’ horse. The guy is clumsy as shit but eager to please. Like multipleOs, if you know what I mean.”

Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “So, what’s the deal?”

Lilly was my employee but also a good friend well acquainted with my history. I hit her with my severe glare, warning that we were done with the convo. “He’s fresh out of prison.” And for the double whammy, I threw in, “And he’s my new neighbor.”

“Oh. Wow,” she whispered, arms dropping to her sides, concern settling into a crinkle between her brows.

“Yeah.Wowis about right.” Wasn’t much more to say on the matter. Bad boys were my weakness and the reason my heart was hard as a rock. I blame my sperm donor. He was gorgeous and charming and a frequent resident of many state institutions. I loved him to death, and he killed my carefree spirit.

Her gaze slid to the security monitor, then sliced back to me. “Oh, shit. Here comes Mr. Harper. Wanna hide?”

Outside, a spotless silver Escalade rolled up to the window. “No. I’ve got this.” Sad truth? Men like Mr. Harper didn’t intimidate me like they should. I snagged my sweatshirt from the closet, slipped my arms through the sleeves, and closed the zipper to my chin. His visits had nothing to do with coffee or naked skin.

Per his norm, Harper rolled to a stop nice and slow, waiting to lower his dark window until he shifted into park and knew he had my full attention. The glass rolled down, down, down, revealing his wrinkly tanned skin, over-bleached teeth, and silver beard trimmed to perfection.

“Morning, sunshine.”

Gag.“Morning.” I gave a halfhearted but sweet smile. “The usual?”

“Yeah, doll.” His leer lingered on my chest. “Looking gorgeous today. How’s business?”

“I’m sure you already know.” I offered a playful wink, keeping things light.

Harper knew everybody’s business. That’s how he slew his dragons, collected his trophies, and stayed out of prison.Johan Harper owned every strip club in the area, several bars and restaurants, a chain of laundromats, several motels, and apartment buildings spread throughout south Seattle. Those were his “legit” business dealings, anyway.

“When are you going to come and work for me?”

“Never, I’m afraid.” I turned to make his double espresso, but Lilly already had it covered, bless her heart. “Although, I do appreciate the offer,” I lied, fighting a shiver.

“We’d make a great team, you and I.”

Every time with the same back-and-forth, and the slimeball was never clear about what, exactly, he expected me to do under his employ.

“Now, Mr. Harper. You know I won’t change my mind. I’m a solitary woman. No teaming up with anybody. For any reason.” Especially men who made my skin crawl.

He made atsksound, then poured on the charm, flashing those pearly whites enough to make his dimple pop, making him almost look like somebody’s sweet grandpa. “You’re breaking my heart, girl.” He handed me a twenty.

I shooed his offering away. “Your money’s no good here.”

Lilly set the cup in front of me. I held it out to Harper.

After shoving the bill into the tip jar, he snatched the steaming drink from my fingers and winked. “See you next week.”

“See you.” I slammed the window closed and sucked in a hearty dose of oxygen.

Lilly offered a sympathetic smile. “Why are you so nice to him?”

“Can’t afford to be on that man’s bad side, my dear.” My father had made that mistake. Landed in the hospital with a broken arm and a missing toe that he’d blamed on a bike accident. Let it be said that my father never owned a bike.

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