"You have money?"
The traffic had eased and we were now in her neighborhood. In a minute, I was parked in front of her house and wondering whether I should be upset. Not that it made sense. I was used to the kind of assumption Gina just made. People looked at me and thought I was a body and not much else.
"If I didn't have some dough, he wouldn't be talking to me," I said.
"Oh." She picked up the handles of her bag and made as if to exit the car. Then her smile came back. "I didn't mean to be offensive."
"No offense taken."
By the time I stood on the passenger side of the car, Gina had one foot on the walkway. Taking her bag in one hand, I held out the other to her.
She hesitated before putting her hand into mine. "Thanks."
I squeezed her hand and stepped back to give her room. "No problem."
"Need any help?" I asked.
She shook her head and some of her hair escaped from the elastic band. "I'm okay. You should go, since you have to come back later."
"Not a problem," I said, leaning against the car. "Wear something casual."
She nodded and climbed the couple of steps to her door, opened it and turned to wave. Our eyes met and it seemed she stood there for more than a minute. When she pulled her gaze from mine, I felt as if she'd taken something from me—some vital part I'd lose for good if I wasn't careful.
I sat in the car and instead of leaving I wondered if I shouldn't back away before I got in too deep with this island girl, who was the most intriguing female I’d met in a while. She fascinated me without trying.
My life was in limbo. I wasn't sure where I'd be in another few months and what I'd be doing. Getting into anything at this point would add complications to my already unsettled existence. Added to that, Gina wouldn't be easy to walk away from if we got together in any kind of relationship.
Chapter 4
Gina
KOFI WAS THE BOSS ANDI told him so.
He brushed my thanks away, gave me an enigmatic smile and said, "You should get out more."
"I do when I have a reason."
