“Am I interrupting?” The playful tease had Cleo pulling her hand out of Evan’s grasp, dropping her arm to her side. She forced a smile, watching Reyna walk toward them, eyeing her hand. Cleo could still feel the heat and tingle in her palm.
“I was just apologizing for the disruption,” Cleo blurted, her nerves reaching an all-time high.
“That wasn’t your fault.” Reyna narrowed her gaze. “Jeana is such a bitch.”
Yes, she is.But it didn’t change the circumstance. Cleo had still caused the chaos.
“Is Melissa still mad at me?”
Reyna cocked her head, and her eyes softened. “She won’t be when I tell her Cypher checked the cameras and caught that bitch red-handed switching the ropes. Besides, I’ve had Melissa’s client before. He’s a pig so I’m sure she was ready for the date to end. You probably helped her out.”
I certainly didn’t help myself.Cleo forced a smile.
Cleo had been friendly with most of the women who worked for Killcreek. But Reyna, in particular, had gone out of her way to be more welcoming, especially in the last six months. She’d even invited her into her room to hang out between clients.
“I need to get going,” Evan said and angled his head toward her. “It was nice meeting you, Cleo.”
She lifted her hand in an awkward wave. “You too.”
The corner of his mouth curled, and her belly flipped as she averted her eyes to the ground. She grabbed her rolling cart and started down the path. She looked over her shoulder, watching Evan walk closer to Reyna, whose arm weaved around his waist. Most “dates” ended with a walkout, but this one seemed a bitmore intimate. Cleo understood it. Claiming Evan as handsome was an understatement. Gorgeous would’ve been more accurate.
She should’ve gone straight to Reyna’s room and begun to clean, but instead she watched them. They walked across the lot to the dark green Mercedes. Cleo wasn’t surprised. This man screamed money but without the entitlement. She watched as Reyna laughed at something he said then cocked her head. Reyna looked over at Cleo and smiled, nodding immediately.
Evan wrapped his hand over her hip and brushed his lips against Reyna’s cheek before he glanced over his shoulder to where Cleo stood. She immediately retreated, pressing her back to the outer wall.Spying, really?This had put her at an all-time low in life. Cleo grabbed the cleaning cart, doing her best to stay close to the wall, and shifted it inside the room. She breathed in and smelled the faint scent of sweat and arousal. She glanced down at the tousled sheets and the pillow on the floor. They’d obviously had a good time.
She pushed the cart to the middle of the room and reached for the second shelf, grabbing a pair of latex gloves. She was just straightening when she heard footsteps. Cleo glanced over her shoulder as Reyna rushed in, smiling ear to ear. She slammed the door closed and leaned against it.
“Do you have plans for Monday night?”
Plans?Never.Cleo’s social life was non-existent unless there was a club party. Technically, she didn’t work them, but she always found herself cleaning up. It made sense. After all, it was her job. But it was rare she had anything going on Monday and Tuesday. They were her weekend with the motel closed on both days. Most people looked forward to time off. Not Cleo. Aside from working, she didn’t have anything to occupy her time. She didn’t have friends to hang out with or any place to go. It was a lonely existence. But?It beats the alternative of no existence at all.
“Um…” She raised her brows. “I have a puzzle I’m working on.”
Reyna stilled and angled her head. Her brows slowly lifted,and her lips twitched. It may not have been everyone’s idea of an exciting night, but Cleo’s options were limited.It’s still lame.Cleo felt the heat rise from her chest to her face, and she racked her brain for some way to make it sound interesting.
“It’s one thousand pieces.” Cleo blurted. “It’s very challenging.”
That was not it.Dammit!
Reyna burst out laughing, and rushed forward. “It’ll have to wait for another night ’cause you just got a better offer.”
What offer?
“You, me, Evan, and his friend. A double-date. We’ll meet them at the underground casino in Birch.” Reyna grabbed her hands. “And they’ll pay for everything. It’s gonna be a blast.”
What?No.Cleo immediately shook her head. She wasn’t about to go out on a date with a complete stranger. Forget the fact that she hadn’t been on one since she was sixteen, but she didn’t even know this man. For all she knew, Evan’s friend could’ve been a deranged lunatic wanted in seven states.
“I don’t want to go out on a date with someone I don’t know.”
“But you do know him.” Reyna smirked. “Evan will be your date.”
What?
Cleo gasped, widening her eyes, pointing to the door. “ThatEvan?”
Reyna nodded, chuckling softly. “Yeah. He said he wanted to get to know you better. Also said you’re gorgeous, which considering how you look right now…” Reyna pointed to her clothes, and Cleo glanced down. A T-shirt and sweatpants weren’t exactly appealing. “Wait ’til he sees you all done up. Let me do your makeup. And if you need an outfit, you can borrow whatever you want.”
This was moving way too fast, and Cleo blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
