Page 88 of Such a Good Girl

“West,” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean…but yes, maybe. I don’t know. I have no idea how to do this.”

“We’ll figure it out together. In the meantime, stop looking at social media and let’s get some lunch.”

“Okay,” she nodded, a small smile reappearing on her face.

“Kaylee, I need you to know something. Just for the record.”

“Okay…”

“I think you’re perfect, just the way you are. You’re a beautiful person, you’re kind to everyone, you’re gentle and loving. And I love being around you. But you need to know something else too — I think you’re incredibly fucking sexy. Your face, your eyes, your smile, your curves. There’s not a damned thing I’d change about your body, even if I could. So, please know that I’m massively attracted to you.”

She blushed, warming my heart. I was falling in love with this woman.

“Thank you, West, that means a lot to me,” she said, her hand warm in mine, her pretty eyes staring back at me and making me feel like I was the only man in the world.

Her phone vibrated. Reluctantly, she picked it up and read it. Her face paled, the blood draining quickly from her skin.

“Kaylee?”

“Oh, my god,” she whispered.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s been another murder,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Fuck, who was it?”

She looked up at me with wide eyes. “West, it’s Kajah.”

“Kajah? Everleigh’s friend? What the fuck?”

Her eyes filled with tears and anguish. I went around to her side of the booth and put my arms around her. “I can’t believe this shit keeps happening.”

“Me, either,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I uh — I’ve lost my appetite. Do you mind if we leave? I’d like to go home.”

“Oh, sure,” I said, nodding and gesturing to the waitress for our check, my head spinning. “I’ll check in with Everleigh, too.”

“This is awful,” Kaylee said, scrolling through her phone frantically as I paid the bill. “She was positioned the same way as the others. Discarded in an alley like a piece of trash.”

Anger now rolled off her body. It surprised me. I’d only seen her angry twice before this. When she’d taken down the customer in the Hush Hush Club, and when she’d punched the pap. I suppose murder would piss off anyone.

I dropped her off at home, and was a little disappointed when she didn’t invite me in. Instead, she ran in after a quick peck on my cheek. I sat in the car for a minute and texted Everleigh to make sure she was okay and to see if she needed me. Then I headed into the office.

Joey was there, pacing.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Did you hear there was another murder? That friend of Everleigh’s?”

I nodded. “Fucking horrible. What the fuck is wrong with people?”

“The world’s a scary place these days.”.

“I guess so,” I muttered. “Anyway, what are you doing here? Isn’t this your day off?”

“I just couldn’t sit at home,” he admitted. “I was just too antsy after hearing about it. I thought maybe you might have something you needed help with.”

“Actually, yes, you can give me your opinion.” I pulled up the photo app on my phone. “I want to buy a piece of jewelry for Kaylee, and I can’t decide between the bracelet or the necklace. What do you think?”

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