Jack had already known where she worked, but the way Maya said it was as if it were a grave sin to work there.“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Maybe in your early twenties and you’re going to college, but not when you’re pushing your thirties and have no aspiration beyond that.”
When you needed cash, and no one asked a lot of questions, it was perfect.Plus, it was a job where you could be easily replaced if you took off without notice or never came back to it.It was perfect actually.“Maybe she just hasn’t figured out what she wants in life.”Living your life on the run made it impossible to plan for the future.Never knowing when you might be caught or killed.Each day could be your last.They at least had that in common.
“I fear she may never.Or if she does, it will be too late in life.”
It would be too late for her to make a career choice once he got her to confess and put her in jail for the rest of her life.
Chapter 4
“Hey, Andrea, there’s a really cute guy asking for you,” Sophie, another waitress, called, coming up to her at the bar.
Andrea looked over her shoulder, searching the crowd.It was pretty packed tonight, but then again, it was every night.Florida was a vacation capital which meant the money and booze were always flowing.It was one of the reasons she hadn’t tried to find another job.She had a healthy nest egg piled up in case she ever had to fly the coop.
It only took a moment for Andrea to see who Sophie was referring to.Michael smiled at her and waved her over.
“How do you know him?”Sophie asked.
“He’s my new neighbor.”
“Girl, I might have to move.I’d love to have a neighbor like that.I’d ask him to do all sorts of yard work for me.Maybe even be my pool guy.”
Andrea couldn’t say the feeling was mutual.Michael started waving her over in earnest.Obviously, he was not a patient man.
Andrea pushed off the bar and went over to him.
“Took you long enough.I thought I was going to die of dehydration.”
“Then you should have ordered from Sophie instead of waiting for me,” she replied dryly.
“But I like you more than Sophie.”
“Why?”slipped out before she could stop herself.“I mean—” Ugh, she was not good at interacting with people.Especially good-looking ones who were probably after one thing from her.It made her even more prickly than normal.Why did Michael keep singling her out?Was it because they were close in age, and he thought she would sleep with him or something?Why else would he show up at her work?
“No, I think you meant what you said.”Michael smiled, not appearing offended by her question.“And to answer your question, you’re more real than she is.If that makes sense.”
It did.“How did you know I worked here?Did you follow me?”
“So suspicious.”He chuckled.“No, Maya told me where you worked.”
Ah, the nosy, wonderful, and yet pain in her ass neighbor.“Why are you here, Michael?”
“I’d like to get to know you, Andrea.We’re neighbors after all.”
“That’s not necessary.”The less she knew her neighbors, the better.It had been a moment of weakness getting to know Maya, and now she couldn’t shake the woman to save her life.
“I disagree.”
“And does my opinion not matter, only yours?”
Andrea hated high-handed men who thought their word was law.She ran into quite a few here at the bar.They got a little liquid courage in them and took a woman’s no as a yes and tried to force the issue.Thankfully, the owner Lou looked out for his employees and didn’t take sexual harassment lightly.Several bouncers were stationed around the bar, always watching the staff for a signal they were taught as a sign of distress.Andrea didn’t think she’d have to use it with Michael though, but she kept one hand free from her tray just in case.
“On the contrary, I care a lot about your opinion.”
Doubtful.No one cared about what she thought or had to say.“Well, I say I don’t want us to get to know each other.”
He took her rejection in stride.He didn’t get upset, only nodded.“Shame.I really want to know you.”
