Chapter 15
I was only a couple of blocks away from Jake's street when a big gold SUV, with dark tinted windows, squealed around the nearest corner and popped the curb right in front of me.
I'd barely jumped out of the way when the passenger's side window slid down, and a frizzy haired woman in a gold halter top leaned out the open window to call out, "How much, honey?"
I drew back. "What?"
She spoke again, slower this time. "Isaid, 'How much?'" She grimaced. "Honey."
I tried to look past her. That obnoxious vehicle wasonthe sidewalk, blocking my path. But just beyond it, only two blocks away, was Jake's street, with regular cars and regular people, going about their regular business, supposedly.
I felt myself swallow. "How much for what?"
The woman's gaze travelled rudely down the length of me. "You know."
I glanced down and felt my face go suddenly hot in spite of the ever-increasing rain. Like an idiot, I was still dressed in my work getup – those ridiculous Daisy Duke shorts and that low-cut frilly white blouse.
At work, where I wasn't the only person dressed this way, the uniform was bad enough, but out here, it didn't exactly blend. Probably, I looked like a working girl alright, just not of the bartending variety.
What the hell had I been thinking?
But I knew the answer. Ihadn'tbeen thinking. I'd been too upset to think. What else was new?
The woman spoke again. "Well?" Her tone grew snippy. "How much?"
Okay, dressed like a slutty cowgirl or not, I was feeling more than a little insulted. "It's not what you think," I told her. "I'm on my way home."
"Why?" She gave a brittle laugh. "The party's just starting."
I glanced ahead, toward Jake's street. It was right there, within sprinting distance – assuming I could leap over that stupid vehicle – except I couldn’t.
But Icouldgo around it. Muttering, "I've gotta go," I turned away. Walking quickly, I crossed the narrow street, making for the opposite sidewalk.
It was raining even harder now. I wanted to run, but somehow, I knew that would be a mistake. So instead, I strode forward, keeping my eyes ahead and my senses on high alert.
I'd barely made it to the end of the block when I heard the roar of a nearby engine. On instinct, I leapt out of the way just in time to avoid getting squashed as that same vehicle, just like before, plowed onto the sidewalk and stopped just inches away from the nearest brick building, effectively blocking my path.
I whirled around, intending go back the way I'd come, but I didn't have the chance, because a new obstacle was in my way. It was a huge, slick-looking guy, dressed in all black, with a big, diamond earring that glittered even in the gloom.
Where on Earth hadhecome from? The vehicle? Had he been the one driving?
If so, he wasn't anymore. Obviously.
And didn't he care about the rain?
Next to me, the SUV's window slid down yet again, and the same woman leaned out, this time from the driver's side. She gave me a mean, little smile. "Hi. Remember me?"
My heart was pounding, and the rain was falling in buckets now. I looked from the woman to the man. It occurred to me that the guy's clothes looked awfully pricey – way too nice to be getting soaked like this.
Then again, I was dressed stupidly too.
Just great.
We had something in common. Somehow, the thought was less than comforting.
Slowly, I backed up until I felt my ass hit the side of the SUV.
In front of me, the guy smiled and moved deliberately toward me. I didn't know what he had in mind, but the possibilities weren't looking too great.
