Page 5 of Liquid Courage
“What?” Vivian tried not to laugh. “You’re serious?”
That was a half-smile, half-frown on Kat’s lovely face. “I don’t joke about that sort of thing. Would put me on par with the likes of that asshole who was so rude to you.”
Vivian sat up on the bench and readjusted her purse in her lap. “Well, I… don’t know how to respond to that.”
Kat chuckled. “Never mind, then. Bit forward of me, wasn’t it?”
“You barely know me.”
“You barely knew that woman you were with tonight. But I know how she plays, so you were definitely expecting something to happen. Just saying.”
“Yeah, withher.”
“Not trying to say you owe me.” Kat fiddled with her phone. “Offer’s out there, though.”
Vivian tensed. “Why?”
“Why not?”
A car drove by. Why not, indeed?
Whatever possessed her to get up and tell Kat that they were going somewhere together was completely lost on Vivian. Yet there she was, wandering away with a woman she had just met – in abar.Even Shari had chatted with her for a few days. Granted, all of that chatting turned out to be complete bullshit…
“Where are we going?” Vivian spun around as the bus drove by. There went her last chance to escape. Now she was committed to following Kat’s plan. “I thought you were taking the bus back to your place.”
“I live around here.” Kat pointed to a side street. “I was thinking of taking the bus to go see someone else, but this is fine too.”
Vivian stopped beneath a streetlamp. It took Kat a few seconds to realize that she was no longer being followed.
“Go see someone else?”
Kat went on her way.
The street grew darker the longer they walked. The lights of the city gave way to the dullness of inner-city living. Although there was no other sign of life, Vivian couldn’t help but feel that this was the perfect opportunity for a mugging. She stopped again and looked at Kat, imagining this woman stealing her purse.
That image quickly changed into something else. A fantasy. Kat slamming Vivian against the wall and…
“You coming?” Kat opened a door hidden in the shadows of the alley. “It’s another hour until the next bus. You may as well wait here before it gets too cold.”
Vivian went up the stairs behind the door and encountered a loft overlooking the grime of the alley below. Hardly glamorous, but it was probably quiet and cheap. Perfect for a bartender’s lifestyle.
Kat shut the door, locked it, and remained in the shadows while Vivian attempted to get a grip. She wouldn’t be able to think until this was over. Lucky for her, Kat came over and did the thinking for her.
