I make my way up to the stage, the spotlight hitting me just as I reach the microphone. I clear my throat, gathering everyone’s attention. “Hello, everyone. I’m Kiera Hawthorne, as most of you know. Thank you for joining us on this wonderful evening for this charity auction.” I smile and look around as everyone starts clapping. If there is anything these socialites love, it's to ‘spend money for a good cause’. “This charity, Reaching for the Stars, is a local hospital that offers free treatment for rare diseases. Their goal is to offer treatment to anyone who needs it. Which I think is just wonderful. Tonight, the lovely chairman has dedicated it to my mom, Evelyn.”
Rounds of applause and cheers erupted around me. Dad looks over at me with shock and a hint of anger. I wait for the room to calm down.Just as I am about to speak, Dad’s phone pings.Right on time. I set the email to autoplay as soon as it opens, so when he clicks the message, the haunting melody plays through the speakers connected to the microphone. Dad gasps and rushes to close the email. He looks around and excuses himself. Shock ripples through the crowd. I clear my throat again, a small sound against the chaos, “I’m sorry about that disruption. As I was saying, the chairman was nice enough to dedicate tonight to Evelyn, my mother. I hope you enjoy tonight and remember who we are helping! Let the auctions begin.” Another round of cheers erupts as I walk across the stage. I look around for Dad, but I can’t see him in the mass of people.Oh well
Walking over to Lila, I give her a bright smile as I take my seat next to her. She cackles, “Well done, Hawthorne. Well done.”
Lila and I are standing by the exit, thanking our guests as the last wave of socialites leaves. When the last person is out the door, Lila turns to me, “Have you seen Wade?”
“Not since he was on stage with me. He missed the whole thing. I’m guessing he didn’t see you either, since I didn’t hear cursing half the night?” I ask as I drop into the chair.
“Nope, not one bump in.” She slides down into the chair next to me. “I am exhausted.”
“Same. I need to get home and rest. I’m helping out with the cafe's internet tomorrow.” I rest my head on her shoulder. “What are you doing after this?”
“Dax is picking me up and taking me home.” Lila’s phone goes off just as she finishes her sentence. “Speaking of the devil, he’s here. Loveyou, be safe.” She hugs me and gathers her things. “Let me know when you make it home.” Waving over her shoulder as she heads outside.
Sighing, I gather my things and head to my car. Throwing my stuff in the back, I quickly get into the front seat. Like a Villain by Bad Omen plays as soon as my vehicle starts. Throwing it in reverse, I quickly back up and put it into drive.I’m sooo ready to drop dead on my bed.
I’m in my parking spot within the next twenty minutes. I grab my keys and purse, deciding to leave the rest until tomorrow.Nothing that can’t be replaced.Rushing to the elevator, I get on and press the button for the top floor. I lean my head against the wall, resting my eyes. A ding sounds, letting me know I’ve reached my destination. Exhaustion pouring through me, I slowly open my eyes and move toward my apartment. I let myself in and lock the door behind me. Satisfied that the door is locked correctly, I drag myself to my bedroom, stripping as I walk down the hallway. Not bothering to put on pajamas, I curl into bed and let the sound of my fan lull me to sleep.
Chapter Three
“Afternoon, what can I get you?” The waitress asks, standing at the edge of the table.
She's checking me out, cute enough, wrong vibe entirely. Not that it matters. I don't date; my nights are too full of other things.Rule one, carved in stone: don't let anyone close. "Your chicken pesto panini… any good?”
“Best in the city. We’re well known for our pesto,” she flashes a honeyed smile.
Looking at her name tag, I give her a loose grin, “I’ll take that and a sweet tea with lemon. Thanks, Sarah.” She nods, scurrying off to put in my order. Booting up my laptop, I see the company software—owned by my roommate Cam and me—pop up. It’s part construction and part handyman company. We can build just about anything and fix just about anything, from technology to broken appliances to whatever someone desires. Cam handles most of the tech stuff while I do most of the other heavy lifting.
Sarah comes back with my sweet tea. “Your food should be up shortly. I saw your computer sitting out, and I apologize, but our internet is down. We have someone coming to look at it and should be here any moment.”
“Oh, that's no problem, doll. I’ll use my hotspot. Thanks, though.” Sarah nods, turning to tend to other customers. I refocus my attention on my computer and look at this week's schedule. It’s going to be a stormy week, so it’s mostly tech and small jobs that won’t take long. As I shoot Cam a message to give him a heads-up about the schedule, the bell abovethe door rings. My eyes drag up to the door in front of me, meeting the prettiest eyes, smoky grey. Her dark auburn hair has copper undertones. Her sharp features are perfectly symmetrical, giving her a natural, flawless look. Small freckles dot across her nose. Who is this woman? She tears her eyes from mine, a shade of pink creeping up her neck as she makes her way to the front. She greets Sarah and is ushered to the back. Interesting.
My laptop pings with a message from Cam acknowledging the schedule. Sarah places my food down. Politely thanking her, I start scrolling through the emails I need to address. She takes the hint that I’m not looking for conversation, setting down the check as she leaves the table. I spend the next hour or so working through these emails when a soft voice tinged with sin comes from the counter. “It’s no problem, Sarah. I’m just glad I could fix it for you.” The devilishly beautiful woman seems to be tech-savvy. “If you have any other issues, just shoot me a text, and I’ll come back.” She’s smiling as she continues making small talk with Sarah. She orders a coffee to go. I pack up my stuff, grab the check, and head toward the front. As soon as I get to the front, the woman turns at the same time, crashing into me. “Oh god! I am so sorry. I am such a klutz.” She reaches for the napkins to start wiping up the drink she spilled down my shirt.
Lifting my eyebrow as she mindlessly starts patting down my chest, a tilted grin crawls across my face. “That’s okay, darlin’, no need to pat me down. Unless you obviously want to, then, please continue.” The blush from earlier creeps right back up her neck. She opens and closes her mouth, like a fish gasping for air, her hand still resting on my chest. “Let me replace your drink, please.”
“Oh, umm,” she notices her hand is still on my chest and drops it like it’s on fire. “That’s okay. I probably don’t need any more caffeine, plus it was my fault. Guess I should be more aware of my surroundings.” A hint of trouble twinkles in her eyes.
“I insist, I shouldn’t have walked up so close behind you.” I look toward Sarah, who is sitting there watching us, “Please add another of whatever she had to my ticket.” Sarah smiles at the woman and gives me my new total.
“Well, thank you… Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” She throws away her now-empty cup as Sarah gives me my change and starts on her drink.
“Sterling.” Sarah hands her the new drink, moving to tend to new customers coming in.
“Kiera. And again, thank you for the coffee. Would you like to sit for a moment? I should at least have a proper conversation with you since you bought me a drink,” she says, giving me a half-loaded grin.Don’t get attached.
“I would love to, but I’m late for a job. Maybe next time you bump into me.”
“Oh, okay. No problem. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. Hopefully without spilling a drink on you.” She walks away, waving bye to Sarah. Making sure no one is looking, I grab her old cup from the trash can and head out the door. My curiosity about this woman will be a thorn in my side.
Shoving the front door open, I toss my stuff on the bench in the entryway and toe off my boots. “Cam,” I holler, heading toward the kitchen. No response.Where the fuck is he?“CAM!” I yell again, grabbing a beer out of the fridge before I head toward the nerd's cave. The door is closed, which is odd. I knock on the door, still no answer. I open the door. “Hey, dipshit…” His room is dark, and no one is here. I turn back down the hallway, pulling out my phone as the front door slams closed.
“Fucking stupid ass kids,” Cam mutters as he heads toward the fridge.
“You good?” I ask. Cam is not a moody one. He’s broody but has the patience of a saint; I do not. It’s what makes us a great team.
Cam grabs a beer out of the fridge, slamming it shut. “No, but yes. Stupid teenager got the worst virus I’ve seen trying to watch some porn and kept clicking on links from the ‘ladies’ that emailed him.” He takes a long swig from his beer. “Do they not have a brain? Anyway, it took me hours to get his computer right. I was half tempted to leave a note for his parents, but he tipped me a few hundred bucks to keep it quiet.” Cam plops down on the couch.
