Page 66 of Unbidden

“Yep. The extra income doesn’t hurt either.”

Reed reaches out again, this time taking my hand. I dumbly glance down and stare at our joined hands. The glint from his Rolex against his tanned skin is somehow oddly attractive to me.

Maybe my hormones are out of whack.

“We won’t keep you long, then. We just need a quick bite to eat, and then we’ll get out of here so you can close. Call me if you need a ride.”

Usually with a statement like that, I would assume he was making fun of me again, but as I look into his eyes, I find he’s sincere.

“Thanks, but V is picking me up.”

He runs his thumb across the back of my hand. “Good. I’ll have a Coke and that burger you suggested last time. It was fucking delicious.”

A round of “Me too” rings out.

The rest of their meal is uneventful, thankfully. They don’t go out of their way to be jerks like the last time they came in, nor do they leave a mess. When I take them the check, Reed hands me a hundred-dollar bill and tells me to keep the change, no matter how much I protest. In the end, he wins, as usual.

Once they leave, I get to work finishing up my closing chores while Rosie serves the last two tables. Once the remaining customers are gone, we close the gate heading into the mall and lock the front door.

“What a night,” Rosie huffs, sitting down to put her feet up.

“Doesn’t it always seem like your feet hurt worse on a slow night?” I inquire as I will the throbbing in my own to go away.

“It’s because while you’re on your feet less, you also stay in constant movement, so you don’t notice it until you stop moving. It gets worse as you get older.”

“Thanks for the positive outlook on my future. A pair of feet that never quit aching.”

She laughs as she gathers her purse. “Do you need help closing up?”

“No way. I got this. Go home to your kids. Tell them I said hello. See you tomorrow?” I follow her to the mall entrance as I lift the gate for her to exit.

“See you tomorrow, sugar. Be safe headed home.”

“You too.”

I watch her walk down to the food court exit. Her husband always picks her up there since it has more streetlights and gives Rosie a warm place to wait if he’s running late. She turns and waves before she heads out the door.

I go to close the gate again, but pounding feet on the tile make me pause. I look up and see four masked men running my way. I scramble to close the gate, but one of the men makes it under before I get the chance.

I inhale sharply as the second man steps closer to me while the third and fourth slips through. I open my mouth to scream, but the second man clamps his hand over my lips.

“We have to go.Now.”I recognize the voice but can’t figure out why.

The man in front of me leans close. “Where’s the back door?”

My eyes land on a sparkling Rolex on the man’s arm that looks suspiciously like Reed’s. The sound of his voice causes me to shiver, my body reacting as it always does. It’s not until I meet his deep green eyes holding a flicker of mischief that I let my body relax.

Reed takes his hand from my mouth.

“Through the kitchen. You’ll see it.”

The other three, one which I realize now sounds like Keaton, take off through the kitchen. Reed lingers a moment, brushing his hand down my face.

“Can you keep a secret?”

I don’t get a chance to answer before more pounding feet sound down the tile. Reed slips through the kitchen, just in time for Art, the security guard on duty, to miss him.

Art stops next to me, bent over, trying to catch his breath. “Did… you—”

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