“Avoiding me isn’t going to help you forget about me,” he offers, as I stand from crouching down to empty the bowl of peels into the compost bin. I fight the urge to wipe the cocky expression off this man’s face.
As the bar empties, Sean stands and moves toward me, swallowing the last of his bourbon finally and fishing for his wallet inside his cut. I notice it’s simple black leather as he pulls enough bills out to pay my rent for at least three months. Chantel told me their food bill cost a fortune and that they gave her a forty percent tip.
Because he’s a criminal and is paying with blood money.And I just let him finger-fuck me until I came all over him.
Not your finest moment, Layla.
Sean pulls two hundred-dollar bills from the stack and drops them on the bar top. I look at the cash and then back up at him, and his jaw flexes. Our silence is charged with unspoken electricity.
“What thehellis that for?” I ask in an angry whisper, already thinking the worst.
Sean understands me immediately and leans in on his forearms.
“I don’t pay for women, Layla.” The sound of my name hits me square in the chest, even though it isn’t the first time I’ve heard him say it. “This is to cover my drinks from the night, and a tip for you since I held your line up earlier.”
I fold my arms over my chest. The strange thing is that, even though I know he must be a bad man, he seems … oddly trustworthy. I have no idea how, but I can feel it.
“If you’re uncomfortable you can ask your friend. We tipped her the same percentage,” he adds, that hint of amusement back in his vivid eyes.
I sigh, taking the money, and sign his receipt with my name, like we are told to do with every bill, then hand it to him along with his change.Allof his change. It’s too much of a tip and I don’t want any signals crossed here. Although I desperately need it, I also need to show him that I’m not someone who can be bought and that I’m still somewhat in control. At least, I’m trying very, very hard to be.
Chantel returns to the bar and Amber follows behind her, both of them carrying spray bottles and rags from cleaning tables. The last patrons fix to leave as I eye the door behind Sean then look back at him.
“So … then, see you never?” I tell him, not knowing what else to say. Chantel and Amber take one look at us staring each other down and freeze in their tracks.
“You’ll see me tomorrow.” He smirks. It’s a stated fact, not a question, and it unnerves me that he’s enjoying this so much.
“No,” I say instantly, shaking my head.
“No?” Sean asks with one eyebrow raised.
“That’s right.” I point between us. “We aren’t happening.”
I can see the girls back away in my periphery as Sean’s grin grows, and he pulls a stool back out, carefully taking a seat as he watches me. He spreads his arms wide and drums his fingers against the bar top in thought. I can already tell that time isn’t something he concerns himself with as he sits here like the barisn’tclosed and itisn’ttime for him to go.
“I’m serious,” I say, looking around. “This was a one-off.”
He shakes his head and stares at me for a beat.
“Nah,” he says simply.
“Nah?” I ask incredulously.
“That’s right. I find it rude that you’ve already made up your mind about me and you don’t even know me.” His gaze trails down my body then back up. “Especially after you had no problem using me.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m sorry to tell you this …” I cock my hip and place my hand on it. “Actually, maybe I’m the first one toevertell you this, but the world doesn’t revolve around you and I didn’t exactly have time to think about making a choice in that cooler.”
Sean folds his thick arms over his chest and strokes the underside of his bearded chin with his tattooed knuckles, studying me with those knowing eyes. I’m full of shit and he can tell.
“Yet you had time to push that needy little pussy into my handinsteadof pushing me away.”
I suck in a breath, glancing around to make sure no one heard him. He analyzes my response as he leans in closer, folding his hands carefully in front of him on the bar top.
“Using me to come is fine, you can do that any time you like, but I’m not gonna be your dirty secret, little dove.” He says thelast words just loud enough for Chantel to gasp audibly from the back corner, where she and Amber are finding busywork. I shoot daggers at them quickly then turn back to Sean’s menacing emerald eyes.
“This is my reputation. My job. Ineedthis job to pay my bills and get through school. I need every single cent.” Something in me breaks with the admission of my vulnerable financial state to a stranger, and my voice cracks with my last words. “And we would never work.This was a one-off,” I repeat.
He watches me as I compose myself, leaning away from him and straightening out my skirt. He stands and pushes in his stool, taking a moment to make sure it’s in line with the rest, then looks me directly in the eye.
