$5 a kiss on the cheek
$10 for lips—no tongues!!!
$1 gets you an air kiss
Easy-peasy.
Jean hastily flipped on theFive-minutes’ Breaksign and grimaced. “That was…”
“Brutal?”
“And trying.” She laughed, locking her cash box.
A dark-haired jock leaped up the few steps and hit the section next to me. He winked. “Let’s get this show on the road and make some money.”
With the giggling girls and several women already there, his line grew. He probably knew he’d win.
“I’d say Ray’s got this, Theo,” Jean lobbed back at him. “Did you see her tongue piercing?”
He blinked, his gaze instantly on my mouth. I smirked but kept my piercing behind my shut lips. Yeah, this booth always had a little competition between the participants to see who made the most money.
Smirking, Jean opened a compact mirror, applying peach lipstick to her swollen mouth. “I think my lips are on strike.”
I could only imagine with the forced kisses. She had my sympathies. Ah, well, guess I’d be in her place for the next three hours. But she was young. Me? I worked in a bar, and I knew how to handle the friskier ones. My mind slipped to Jack, and my stomach churned, recalling his kiss from earlier. Truth was, I didn’t want to kiss anyone…just him. The intensity I had experienced with Jack, I’d never felt with anyone before. His mouth on mine stirred a full-blown lust… Hell. This wasn’t good.
Jean picked up her cash box, gathered her things, and stuffed them into her tote, then she left with a wave.
This was for charity, I reminded myself.
I blew out a breath, got my Chapstick and some tissues out of my backpack stashed beneath the narrow counter, and straightened. With my game face on, a smile in place, I removed the sign.
* * *
Dork’s fair-haired friend leaped up the stairs and grinned at me, dropping a ten on the counter. I put the money into the cash box and kissed him on the mouth.
Pumping a hand in the air, he yahooed like a cowboy and ran down the steps.
Dork’s three friends followed for the same.
Next, Matthew strolled up. I snorted. “Not tired of the kissing yet?”
“Doing my bit of charity.” He dropped a ten, gave me a slow kiss, then a tongue swipe—gah! I shoved him off, and he laughed, brown eyes twinkling. “Doesn’t hurt to try when it comes to you.”
“Our families are supposed to be enemies,” I reminded him, putting the money away.
“Just my loser brother. See ya, Ray.” He left, I looked back at the queue—
Oh. Crap.
Jack stood a short distance away. My heart crashed against my ribs, my breath tangled in my throat. Nothing showed on his face as he made his way to me, his shades hiding his eyes.
He stopped at the counter opposite me—the counter that kept the more randy and handsy participants away. But randy was the last word I’d use on Jack. He popped his Wayfarers up to his head, his icy stare caused a shudder to sweep through me, making me feel as if I’d betrayed him or something.
“Jack, you can’t be here.” The words somehow escaped from my dry throat. “The media sees this, and you’re in the evening newspaper!”
He ignored that. “Isn’t this for charity?”
Cold, so cold. I hadn’t told him because I knew he’d find some way to stop me, like he had with Calum. But I didn’t expect this cold anger.
