When Chris pretended to be her boyfriend it had bailed her out. The Pool Nazi had been put out bythat.Chris might have been hoping for a little payback, but he hadn’t said anything, hadn’t tried to collect.
Meg eyed the deserted streets.Put the handsome man and his fancy hotel suite right out of your mind.Fairy tales didn’t happen to people like her.Forget about the kiss too.Not as easy. Those lips had been soft and responsive and they’d tasted amazing. Eddie hadn’t been a bad kisser, either. She had to remember that.
Exhaustion seeped into her body but her dump was still a few blocks away. Her tired legs complained loudly as she hurried her steps. Senses heightened, her skin prickled with the feeling of someone following her. She looked around then shook it off. Miami never slept--it was probably her imagination.
As she approached her building, the footsteps sounded again. She pulled out extra energy, not wanting to become another statistic for the crime squad. Running up four flights of stairs, she tripped over a few sleeping bums.
The lights flickered in the dim hallway as usual, the ones that actually worked. Meg stuck her hand inside her bag, rifling around for her key ring. Why hadn’t she gotten it earlier as she usually did? Now was not the time for it to be lost in the bottom of her bag. Oh God, what if it had fallen out when she’d dropped it in the pool?
More sounds echoed behind her, the stairway door creaking again. Her search was frantic and she was winded from her mad dash up the stairs. Finally grasping her key, she attempted to thrust it in the lock but her shaking hands made her drop it on the filthy hall carpet.
“Damn it.” Her nerves twitched as shadows danced down the hall. Was someone there or was it the lights again? She grabbed the key from the floor, shoved it in the lock, managing to get the door opened. Rushing in, she slammed it behind her and twisted the deadbolt. The warped wood of the door supported her sagging body. Sweat trickled down her back as she stifled the whimper that threatened to burst out.
Sounds in the hallway made her glance through the peephole. Someone was definitely walking past. Not that she could tell from the tiny hole. She checked the lock again, waiting for the noise in the hallway to disappear. After several minutes of silence and apprehension, she allowed her body to relax. Tears leaked from her eyes as she collapsed on her bed. How long could she keep this up? It was no way to live.
* * * *
The door lock clicked and Chris sighed. He hadn’t meant to scare her, just make sure she’d gotten home safely. How safe she was in this place was anyone’s guess. The neighborhood was dangerous and the building was falling apart. The carpet had stains that you’d need a forensics expert to identify, and the smells…
Cigarette and pot smoke permeated every crevice as he made one last pass by her door. This stairway should be condemned, the steps crumpling and filthy. The bum on the landing wore a cap with a military insignia on it. He couldn’t just walk past. Time in a war zone could make anyone want to drop out of life. He reached in his pocket and shoved a twenty into the guy’s hand.
“Use this for food,” he ordered. After some of the things he’d seen in Afghanistan though he could understand why someone might simply lose himself in a bottle. He walked down the rest of the stairs attempting not to breathe. Memories of other places that reeked of body odor and waste came alive dragging him back. It wasn’t any place he wanted to go.
It had been a few months since he’d seen some of the guys from his unit. They talked and texted often but hadn’t had a chance to actually get together and have a cold one. Not his entire unit, but he’d gotten close to half a dozen guys. Men who were like brothers to him and who he’d trust with his life. Hell, he had trusted them with his life for over a year.
Now he had this sarcastic little imp whose sharp tongue could impale him. He kind of liked the challenge. But here’s where the trust issue came in. Whatever her background, a girl like her shouldn’t be living in a slum like this.
What business was it of his? He had to keep telling himself that as he headed back to the resort. Guilt rushed through him, thinking about his luxurious king-sized bed versus her rat infested hovel. The story Dave told him flashed through his mind. He’d make sure he got the facts on her. If she checked out, they might be able to help each other.
* * * *
The day had been too long. Meg hadn’t slept much last night after her scare walking home. Her customers had even gotten to pinch her ass more often than she usually allowed since she hadn’t had the energy to stop them. Dough boy had been ecstatic. She shrugged her long sweater onto her shoulders as she left the club and glanced up.Great.It was starting to rain. Her already dreary night just got worse.
She looked around, double-checking the area so there was no repeat of last night. Where was her white knight when she needed him? He’d been in the club tonight but hadn’t done more than nod. He chatted with Dave and flirted innocently with Tina. Innocent, because he hadn’t attempted to touch her at all. That wasn’t the case with many customers. Most of them thought the waitresses were part of the half-off appetizers.
A cab pulled up next to her and she sighed, If only she could afford one, especially on a night like tonight. She’d pulled in some good tips this evening, but Mr. Moreno had noticed and finagled most of them toward what she owed. How could she argue with that? He was already pushing her to do more. She should be glad she was simply waiting tables.
When the cab door opened, she jumped. Chris Martin stepped out, smiling at her.
“Thought you might like a ride home. It’s starting to rain and your clothes already hadonebath this week.”
She glared at him. What was his story? He hadn’t even spoken to her tonight yet here he was offering a ride. As she stood there, debating whether to trust him enough to accept, the sky opened up releasing a downpour.
“Okay, fine,” she grumbled. If she treated him bad enough, would he leave her alone? She didn’t need some guy messing up her life again. “But only because I finally got everything dried out.”
He got in after her and closed the door. She gave the address to the cab driver as she sat back. Chris smiled at her again.
“What?” she snapped. “Is my hair all frizzy?”
One corner of his lip turned up. “No, it looks good. It’s got a hint of curl. I like it.”
Doubtful.She inched away to stare out the window. His presence was overwhelming, making her uncomfortable. Not abaduncomfortable, just off kilter. Her skin tingled with awareness. Chills danced along her spine setting off something deep inside but she wasn’t sure what. He wasn’t even touching her. What would it be like if he did? For real.
Yesterday’s kiss had been brief and she’d been too preoccupied with trying to hide from the hotel manager to be able to enjoy it.Oh, no, don’t think that way, girl. It’s what got you in trouble to begin with.
“I’ll be back out in a few minutes,” Chris told the cabbie. They’d arrived at her building. That fast? The walk would have taken her forever.
She scooted out behind him. “No need to walk me up. Thanks for the ride. I would have been soaked by now.”
