Текст книги "Burning Ember"

Автор книги: Darby Briar

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 33 страниц)

A good poker player knows when to bluff, when to play, and to fold when the odds are stacked against them.

EMBER

I’m elbow deep in a toilet bowl, when I feel someone nudge my butt from behind. Startled, I fling water everywhere as I whirl around and come face to face with a white English bulldog. He’s old, overweight, and has a brown spot over his left eye, and drool dripping from the corners of his mouth.

“Where did you come from, little guy?” He opens his mouth, panting, and his breath hits me. I wave my hand in front of my face. “Wow, obviously somewhere they don’t have doggy breath-mints.”

A red bandana with a small circle patch on it, hangs around his neck. The patch reads, “Property of a HOC”. I check his collar. “Donut, huh?” There’s a phone number below his name, but that’s all. “Who do you belong to, Donut?” He tilts his head.

“Not a big talker. Mmmm.” I peek underneath him. “Yep, men never are.”

He steps forward and licks the skin at my hip, the small bit between my tank and my shorts. I giggle and cover the patch of skin with my hand. “Whoa . . . we just met and already you’re getting friendly.” I bend down and get face to face with him. I whisper, “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I’m not like those other girls out there.” His long tongue licks me from chin to nose as I giggle and pull away. “You definitely fit in with the guys, don’t ya?”

I face him fully, sit, and cross my legs. Thinking it’s time for a break. Cautiously, I pull him into my lap. As I start petting him, he licks my hand, eating up the affection.

Ten minutes later I get back to work, but pause here and there to give him a belly rub or a scratch behind the ear.

After I’m done, I pick him up so he doesn’t go running all over the clubhouse. Seeing Lil’ Bird and Goose at the bar, I make my way over to them. “Do you know who this little guy belongs to?”

They both turn and Lily immediately smiles ear to ear. She reaches forward and pets the dog. “Hey, Donut,” she coo’s. “Did you find yourself a hot girlfriend? Hmmm? Cap would be so proud you.”

“He’s Cap and Nick’s. Kinda the club mascot. Nick went out of town. So she asked Mav to watch him,” Goose explains.

Cap and Nick. From what Lily told me, Cap is the current president of the club. He was in a motorcycle accident not too long ago and he’s been in the hospital. They’re not sure yet if he’s going to make it. Nick, his wife and Dozer’s mother, is the mother hen around here. The queen killer bee. I haven’t met her yet but I’m sure I will. She supposedly doesn’t like Lily, and Lily thinks she’s pitted the other old ladies against her.

I raise both eyebrows. “Mav?”

Goose nods. “Yeah, don’t worry, cherry girl. Not only would Nick kick his ass if something happened to him, but Mav’s partial to dogs. He only hates women, redheaded women to be specific.”

“Oh, jeez, thanks,” I deadpan and earn a sexy smile from Lily’s old man.

“Usually, Axel watches him. Bethany’s oldest. But Bethany sent him to one of those camps for troubled youths. She’s the one I told you about who’s looking for a nanny.”

“Lil’ . . .” Goose says her name as warning. “Don’t go there. It’s his business.”

She turns fully to him, “But she needs help, Baby. And I’m her friend. I’m not just going to ignore the fact we know someone who could help her.”

Grabbing her hand, he says in a harsher tone, “Woman, if she really needed help, she could ask one of the other old ladies. But either way, it’s best if you stay out of it. You don’t need any more trouble comin’ your way.”

A hurt look comes over her face and she yanks her hand from his. “Why don’t you crash here tonight? I need a night to myself.” While still scowling at him she hooks her arm with mine and pulls me away. To me she says, “Come on. Let’s take Donut outside for a walk.”

“Lil’,” Goose says her name like a plea.

She ignores him.

As we walk toward the front door, curses fly behind us.

Outside I ask, “Will he run off if I put him down?”

She pets the dog’s back. “Honestly, I don’t think he could run even if he wanted to. Poor little thing. Too many donuts. He freaking loves those things. You know, he used to be named Zeke, but Cap changed it after he caught the little runt on top of the kitchen table demolishing a dozen donuts by himself. Cap says Dozer put him up there, but Dozer denies it.”

I put Donut on the ground and he meanders around.

“So you think Dozer doesn’t want me babysitting because he doesn’t want Bethany to know about me?”

Lily shrugs. “Probably. It’s just that I know Bethany and she isn’t going ask anyone for help. Especially the other old ladies. She’s picky about who she lets around the kids. And some of the other old Ladies are so caught up in the life, they preach it to the kids like it’s gospel. Bethany doesn’t want Axel to be in the club. Or Medda growing up and wanting to be an old lady. She’s even mentioned maybe moving away. I think if she could afford to, she would. She wants her kids sheltered from all this.”

“I don’t know if I blame her.” The words tumble out. I cover my mouth and mumble, “I’m sorry. That sounded rude. I’m not judging you. It just seems like a rough life sometimes.”

“No. I get it. You’ve only seen the ugly parts of it so far. The parties, the girls, the guys being dicks. But there are some good parts too. Like . . . my kids, when I have them, will never want for anything. They’ll have family and support. No one would ever fuck with them. And we both know from experience that life on the outside isn’t all sunshine and gumdrops.”

Isn’t that the truth?

“What makes you think Bethany will want me around her kids?”

“Because you’re different. You didn’t grow up in the life. You’re kind and sweet. Honest. Trust me. She’ll love you.”

I kneel down to pick up a small stick. I wiggle it in front of Donut. Excitement flashes in his eyes. But when I throw it fifteen or so feet, his head is the only part of him that moves. He looks at it for a second and then sits.

Lily and I burst out laughing.

“Try that with food and it just might work,” she says.

A whistle pierces the air. Donut waddles off and we follow him. We turn the corner at the back of the clubhouse, and right away, I spot Mav bent over the animal, his hands rubbing Donut’s belly. Mav murmurs to him, but I can’t make out what he says.

Grabbing the hose and turning on the water, he offers Donut a drink. Slobber and water go everywhere—over Mav’s jeans, the ground, his black boots. He laughs low. He’s smiling down at the dog and patting his back. “Atta boy,” he says.

Warmth floods through my chest making it swell with feeling.

An elbow jabs into my side. Startled, I look over at Lily. She whispers, “Close your mouth before he sees you drooling.”

I snap my mouth shut.

But when I look back up, I find tawny eyes roaming up my body, and then focusing on my face. The almost kiss we shared last night flashes through my mind. I drop my eyes to Donut and fight the heat trying to flood into my cheeks.

“Hey, Mav,” Lily sing-songs, “any word on Cap?”

He wipes his wet hands on his jeans. “He’s still out. Nick went to get his mama . . . just in case. The doctors are tryin’ to bring him around though.”

“He’ll pull though.”

“Yeah, he will.”

“Is everyone still comin’ over Wednesday?” she asks.

“Far as I know.” With that being said, he pats his leg and Donut follows him back into the clubhouse.

“Wow, how did I not see that comin’?” she says after he’s out of earshot.

“What?” I ask.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She shoulder bumps me.

“I don’t.”

“Mmmm hmmm. Let’s just say, now I know why you’re not picking up the hints Dozer’s been dropping for you. Pumpkin like’s her men a bit darker.”

“No it’s . . . I’m not . . .” I take a deep breath to calm down and say, “He doesn’t even like me.”

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Or however in the hell that goes.”

“Shakespeare? Lily, really?”

She laughs. “Pretty impressive for a girl who never finished high school, right?”

I nod and mentally chart it down as something else we have in common.

“Now stop brushing me off. What the hell’s going on with Mav?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” She wiggles her eyebrows. “Or nothing yet?”

“Nothing. Nothing.”

“Right. It looked like nothing. I’ve known Mav for two years, and he’s never once look at a girl the way he was lookin’ at you.”

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Dozer walking across the yard toward me. “You hidin’ out?” he asks. I’m leaning back on a picnic table catching some rays.

“No. Taking a break. Why? You need something?”

He shakes his head. “No, wanted to let you know tonight’s poker night and we’ll be orderin’ pizza so you don’t have to cook.”

I stand and brush off my butt. Dozer watches. When he sees he’s been caught, he smirks and shrugs.

“You play? Poker?”

“Yeah. I can play cards.”

He chuckles. “Play or play good?”

“Well, when you grow up without video games or a TV like the rest of your friends, you have to find other productive ways to entertain yourself.”

He lets out a laugh. “Alone . . . with you . . . I could find a lot of productive ways to entertain myself.” Then he looks around and finding no one outside, he pulls me in close. “No video games or TV necessary.”

I get a little nervous when Dozer becomes flirty like this. I worry that maybe I’ve played my part a little too well. He likes me. He’s interested in me physically, but there’s no spark with him. Not like there is with Mav. With Mav, I merely see or feel him near and my body reacts like tinder while the rest of the world falls away.

Griz raps his knuckles on the table next to me. “Your call, sweetheart. You in or you out?”

I chew on my lip and furrow my brows. “I’m in. I think. One sec.”

Griz leans over and peeks at my hand.

“Hey now.” I pull my cards in close to my chest.

Chuckling, he says, “Just trying to help you out.”

“Pay attention to your own cards, old man.” Dozer’s sitting on my left, his arm behind my chair. He pushes Griz back into his own chair on my right. “If she needs help, she knows where to find it.”

When the guys first asked me to play, it was a joke. They thought they’d hustle me out of the money I’ve made this week doing laundry—one hundred and two dollars. Not much to them but it’s a lot to me. Dozer’s been encouraging me to hustle the shit out of them in return. Over the last hour, that’s exactly what I’ve done, and I’ve raked in a good pile of chips too.

All from beginners luck, of course.

“I’m going to go for it,” I say aloud.

When I raise the bet, Taz curses under his breath.

He’s sitting directly across from me, holding a joint and every time he takes a hit, my attention falls on his knuckles. They’re cut up and swollen like he’s been in a fight. That along with the comments some of the guys have made, solidifies my hunch that he’s a boxer of some sort. I’ve also concluded he holds a special rank in the club. He doesn’t wear a patch like Mav’s SAA patch, or Griz’s Secretary patch, or even Goose’s Road Captain patch, but he gets a certain level of respect from the members of the club. They both revere him and are wary of him at the same time.

Well, except Dozer who doesn’t care for him at all.

And Mav who seems to be the only one he’s friendly with.

The temperature in the room abruptly rises. Like a heat wave, its warmth washes over me. Eyes flicker past me and a couple of the guys at the table pop their chins.

Speak of the Devil . . .

I swear I can feel him enter the room the instant he does like some sixth sense. With effort, I ignore the chills prickling over my skin.

Lita circles the table, replenishing drinks and taking away empties. She sets down the second fuzzy navel in front of me. It’s mostly orange juice with a bit of peach schnapps, or so I’m told. I tried to stick to water, but Taz kept insisting that if I was going to play with the big boys, I needed to drink with them too.

Taz snorts when I lift my glass to my lips.

“What?” I ask.

“Might as well be drinkin’ Kool-Aid,” he sneers with a shake of his head.

“Would you like to see my dinner make a reappearance all over this nice poker table?”

“Fuck no.”

“Then I suggest you don’t give me shit about my drink and I won’t give you shit about yours.”

I realize my mistake a moment too late as silence falls over the table. Or at least it does until Taz mouth twitches. “You know, I like girls with big mouths, little stray. They’re fuckin’ wild in bed. And I get to experiment with all the different ways it takes to shut them up.”

His smirk gives me hope I won’t dig myself in a deeper hole by playing around when I say, “Then consider me a mute from now on.”

With that, the boys break out laughing and the game progresses like before. More alcohol flows and we banter back and forth. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t half-focused on that tingle of awareness I feel all along my spine and the man responsible for putting it there.

When the pot gets up to four hundred dollars, I start to get nervous. My palms grow sweaty. Griz adds fifty to his bet and it’s enough to have me searching out real guidance from Dozer. Leaning over I whisper in his ear, “Are you sure this is okay?”

He gives me a slight nod, which doesn’t make me feel any better.

I hesitate as I take my fingers off my chips. Maybe I should fold. Let someone else win this hand. That’s too much money.

Mav makes a noise behind me. Turning, I find him watching me and frowning.

Unease swirls in my belly. Does he know what I’m doing? Is he going to out me in front of everyone? Will the guys want to beat me to a bloody pulp for taking their money?

I begin to feel ill. Really ill. Maybe it’s the alcohol.

Then I hear his stool squeak as if he’s getting up. Which causes my back to go ramrod straight. Dozer catches my movement and spares a glance at Mav who must be standing directly behind me.

“It’s okay,” Dozer whispers back into my ear.

No. No. It’s not okay.

Questions start to whisper across my brain. Little by little my paranoia grows. In no time, the crazy plan to steal their money in a nice innocent game of poker sounds like a bad idea. Some of these guys are ex-cons, and I’m sure Taz is mentally unstable. And I’ve finally managed to get Taz to lay off on tormenting me. Do I want to go back to the way things were before I found Boop?

No, I don’t. We have a truce. I’d like to keep it that way.

Not to mention Luce has been looking for any reason to throw me out. This could be it. I’m lying, cheating, and stealing.

I toss my cards to Rigor, the dealer.

I’ll lose. Lose it all back to them. Then no harm done, right?

When I get a crappy hand, I play it to its death. When I get good cards, I trade them in or fold. And when I can, I push a big chunk of change in to lose. I keep just enough to pay Dozer back for buying me into the game. He didn’t want me using any of my money to gamble with. At the time, it sounded sweet and generous, but not anymore. Because now I’m wondering, if I had lost it, how would he have expected repayment? Dollar for dollar or in favors?

Em, settle down.

A hand taps Griz on the shoulder. “Scoot over.” Griz moves to Goose’s vacated seat and Mav slips into the seat on my right. His leg brushes mine and he leaves it there. His thigh to my thigh.

I bite the inside of my cheek and try to focus on the pain instead of the heat coming off his body.

With a surprised look on his face, Griz asks Mav, “You want in?” I don’t see Mav’s response. But Griz replies, “Didn’t think so. Too ‘fraid we’ll take all your green?”

“Nah. I’ve already taken my fair share of bad bets ‘s all.” Mav steals a glance at me and warmth flushes up my neck.

Jade saunters up to the table. She eyes the guys. Her gaze flickers over Dozer and goes around the table. The green monster inside me only peaks its head up when her eyes land on Mav and stay on him just a second longer than the rest. I beat it down. He’s not mine. I have no reason to feel jealous. But relief soars through me when she sidles over to Griz instead. She plops down on the older ginger’s lap, and circles her arms around his neck.

Mav turns his head and looks at me. His eyes burn holes into my face. He knows! He knows! He’s going to call me out in front of everyone.

I shoot up and out of my chair. All eyes snap up to me. “Um, I need to use the restroom.” I push my remaining money over to Dozer. “Here, you take over for me.”

Dozer slaps his hand on top of mine and pushes it back. “I’ll save it for you. You can continue to kick their asses when you get back.”

“I’m pretty tired—”

“What’s wrong, little stray, Kool-Aid makin’ you sleepy, or are the big boys harder to beat than you thought?”

I open my mouth to give a smartass retort, but Dozer beats me to it. “Go, babe. Then come back and teach these boys a lesson.”

I feel Mav’s heated gaze on my back as I walk through the main room. The party’s in high gear. It’s close to eleven on a Tuesday, so it’ll probably wind down in a few hours.

Before I can push on the bathroom door, it’s yanked open and a girl I’ve seen a few times, a hang-around, comes out. She sizes me up, wipes her nose, and saunters past me to get back to the party.

I groan loudly as I enter and see the state of the bathroom. Toilet paper is strung all around the wet floor. Used paper towels left there like someone halfheartedly tried to clean it up. Thankfully, it’s only clear liquid. I clean that first before I notice the mirrors. Not only are they splashed with water and hairspray, but also they have a million fingerprints all over them. Why anyone needs to touch the damn mirror as they fix their hair or make-up is beyond my knowledge.

Grumbling and cursing under my breath—something I’m doing more and more of late—I straighten the mess, knowing full well that if I don’t, I’ll just have to clean up tomorrow.

It’s a good while before I return to the poker table. When I do, I see Lily at the end of the bar talking to Rigor. All the guys are now at the table even Bodie and Goose. Mav is speaking to them.

I hear him say, “Henry Manfield. Came in through the tip line a few days ago. All Rodriquez would say is the guy witnessed a shooter in a dark sedan take down two motorists. Then the gunman got out, walked up to the two bodies, and shot the male three more times. It matches up with the police report and ballistics. I’ve got Whiz digging for everything he can get on this Henry guy. Addresses, family, friends. He’s skipped town and he’s not using his credit cards. Most likely, he got wind of who Cap is and decided to disappear. We need to track him down and get him to talk before anyone else does.”

“Agreed.” Dozer’s the first to speak up. The men join in.

Dozer notices me and gives me a sly smile. “You fall in?”

Mav turns around but I keep my eyes on Dozer so I don’t get worked back up. All the guys relax and I can tell by their body language the conversation is over. I’m not sure though if it’s because of my presence or because Mav was finished speaking to them.

“Someone got the floor in the bathroom all wet. I cleaned it up.”

Bodie exits my seat and gestures to me to take it. I hesitate. I really don’t want to sit between Dozer and Mav. However, that does seem to be where I’m always finding myself these days. Between the two of them. Oh God, I must be drunk. Because an image of me between them runs through my mind and, dear heaven, that is not something my mind or body could handle.

“Tell me you washed your hands,” Bodie quips. He takes up a seat across from me and next to Taz.

I hold my hands up. “Nope, I thought you could lick them clean.”

Jade scrunches up her nose. Dozer and Griz find that hilarious. I take my seat and Mav’s leg yet again falls against mine. Only this time his hand is resting on it and his fingers brush against my thigh, effectively awaking every inch of my body.

“There’s plenty of you I’d like to lick clean, ginger, but not your hands,” is Bodie’s reply.

Mav growls.

Bodie’s eyes shift to Mav, and then he clarifies. “After the party, of course.”

“How’re Blaire and the kids? They doin’ okay? Didn’t you just come from there like ten damn minutes ago?” Taz throws out.

“Butt the fuck out of my business.”

“I would, if you’d stop actin’ like a horny teen that can’t think of nothin’ but dippin’ your wick in anything within five feet of you.”

“Like you fuckin’ don’t?”

“I—”

Mav points at them both. “Knock it the fuck off.” Taz and Bodie trade glares but don’t say another word.

“You back in or what, little stray?” Taz snaps a second later while he rolls his shoulders and pops his chin in my direction. I’m about to say no thanks, but Dozer nudges me. Twice.

“Okay, but I’m getting tired. I’m going to call it a night pretty soon.”

The game resumes and talk turns to the party.

“Cajun called. Said him and Kite and their crew will be down for the party,” Dozer tells Mav.

“I want every HOC here. That way if the GBs don’t like what our decision is, we’re ready.” Mav’s arm comes around the back of my chair. Whether he means to or not he’s touching my shoulder blades. “We’re goin’ all out. Invite the girls from the club and have Lily, Rigor, and Nick stock up on all the food, liquor, and beer we’re gonna need.”

They discuss a few more details about the party as the poker game continues. Bodie plays a couple of hands, but then stands. While meeting Taz’s gaze, he calls the twins over, puts his arms over their shoulders, and escorts them down the hallway.”

“Haven’t seen Davis around. Ortega wisen up and fire his ass?” Griz asks Mav.

“No, but he’s been warned if he comes within two hundred feet of the clubhouse, he will be. Ortega stuck him with a rookie too. The kid’s reporting his whereabouts twenty-four-seven. So he’ll be out of our hair for a while.”

I let out a long, pent up breath I don’t remember holding.

Davis is gone.

I can leave.

Although, if I do, Davis might make me a more wanted woman than I already am.

“You’re up, Babe.” Dozer waves his hand in front of my face. I come out of my daze, but only long enough to fold. My head’s no longer on the game. I need to go up to Dozer’s room. I need time to think.

Faking a yawn, I say, “Honestly, I can barely keep my eyes open. I’m going to go to bed.” I push my remaining chips to Dozer. “This should cover what I owe you. Please, keep the rest.” Dozer frowns but I think he catches on to my pleading tone, because he pulls them over to him without another word.

I get to my feet, but before I can leave, a warm hand curls around my fingers.

“Wait.”

The strength in Mav’s grip sends my tummy a flutter, and from where we’re joined, little pinpricks of electricity shoot up my arm. He peers at our hands for a moment and then his maple eyes meet mine.

“Yeah?”

He doesn’t say anything for what seems like eternity. “The old ladies are comin’ in to discuss details for the party tomorrow. Make sure you and the other girls make yourselves scarce when they get here.”

My chest tightens. So he considers me one of them. A clubpiece. I nod and he lets my hand go.

“You not walkin’ her to your room?” he questions Dozer.

Dozer shrugs. “It’s a couple of stairs, man. What trouble she gonna get into?”

Mav’s silent. However, his scowl says it all. He still doesn’t trust me. “That’s not the deal.” Mav stands and grates out, “I’ll take her.”

“No.” Dozer lets out frustrated huff. “I’ll do it. Watch my stash.” He grabs my hand. “Come on, Babe.” Then proceeds to drag me down the hall and up the stairs.

It sounds like an orgy’s in full effect on the second floor. Bodie’s door is open and he and the twins are doing their best to bring down the house, maybe even on purpose.

Dozer unlocks his door and pushes it open. I thought he’d simply say goodnight close the door and go back to the game, but instead he pulls me over to the bed and sits down beside me. Right away, my nerves go into hyper drive. What is he doing?

“Why’d you throw the game? Because of Mav?”

I sigh, relieved when he just wants to talk. “How’d you guess?”

He shrugs. “You got all twitchy and stopped playing, like your head wasn’t in it.”

I’m not going to deny it. “He’s looking for any reason to toss me out on the street. I wasn’t about to hand him one on a silver platter.”

“You didn’t have to do that. Bluffin’ your way through a card game isn’t gonna get you tossed.” Dozer pulls me onto his lap. He’s touching me more than usual. Getting braver maybe. I don’t like that he can easily move me around like I’m a rag doll. It scares me.

I sweep my hair out of my face. “I wasn’t sure what he’d do. I thought it might be safer to just throw the game. Next time, I’ll just play straight up.”

Dozer’s hand rests on my thigh. I want to brush it off or stand up to remove it, but I force myself not to react. I must not be a very good actor tonight though, because he says, “Easy, babe. It’s just me and you.”

His fingers start caressing small circles into my skin. His eyes, normally a gray-blue color, are darker tonight. They’re dilated and he smells like weed. He didn’t smoke any while I was at the table, but he could’ve taken a hit or two while I was in the bathroom.

A question is residing in his gaze. One I think I know the answer to. He wants to kiss me. And he wants to know if he should. If I want him to.

How can I say no to him when he’s done so much for me? He’s the reason I’m not on the street right now giving out sexual favors for money. Or part of the reason. I swallow the lump in my throat and rest my hand on his chest.

“You’ve been really good to me Dozer. I won’t ever forget that,” I tell him.

He eyes me curiously. “You goin’ somewhere, babe?”

I shake my head. Although it is a possibility, I haven’t made up my mind yet.

Am I leaving now that I can? Or will I stick it out until the party? Until I fulfill my end of the deal and Mav fulfills his? I need more time to think it through. I’ll be staying tonight, but I’m not too sure what tomorrow will look like.

“I really want to kiss you.”

“What about Mav?”

“Mav doesn’t need to know.”

As my brain scrambles for an excuse, he says, “Don’t know that I’ve ever waited this long to kiss a girl. It seems like I’ve been waitin’ forever to get this close to you without someone watchin’ us.”

Then he leans forward and his lips land on mine. His arm circles my back, while the other comes up to cup my neck and bring my face closer to his. His tongue sweeps out and probes my lips. He tastes like beer and his mouth is so much larger than mine, it’s overwhelming.

His grip tightens around me.

My instinct tells me to run. Escape.

Instead, I count the seconds until I can politely pull away.

What do I say when he tries to do more than this? He’s been drinking . . . more than usual. What if he doesn’t handle my rejection well? What if he doesn’t want to stop after the one kiss? Dread pools at the bottom of my stomach.

“Babe,” he speaks against my lips. “Relax, it’s just a kiss.”

“I know. I just don’t have anywhere else to go if he finds out. Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

“You didn’t. And I’m not gonna let him kick you out. Actually, I was thinkin’ tomorrow I’d tell Mav to start lookin’ for someone else for Edge.” His eyes meet mine. “I don’t want you with anyone else, like that.”

My jaw drops.

He chuckles softly and lifts me from his lap. He really is very handsome. I wish I could feel something, anything for him.

Standing over me now, he bends down, kisses the top of my head and says, “Think about it. We could be good together.”

Then as he locks the door, he says, “Night, babe. Sleep good.”