Page 9 of Golden Touch
“Omigod, yes!” my cousin squealed. “You’re my idol.”
Without even a glance in his direction, I took in my cousin’s bright smile. “It’s just that you’re married,” I pointed out. “This seems like a big adventure to you, when it’s really just dangerous.”
She’d rolled her eyes. “It’s not dangerous at all. The guy knows half the people in this place, including the bartender. And look—he’s closing out his bill with a credit card, which means anyone could track him down. He’s obviously a member of this community.”
She made a few good points. “Well, fine. But if he murders me, avenge my death.”
She slid off her stool. “My work here is done. Have a blast. Thanks for meeting me here tonight. It makes me happy when you’re happy.”
I put my hands on her shoulders. “You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m going to be okay.”
“Sure, but there’s a difference between okay and great.” Her pretty eyes searched my face. “I appreciate you. But I don’t want you spending the rest of your life paying for one silly mistake.” She’d kissed me on the cheek. “Call me tomorrow. I want details.”
Then she left.
I closed out our tab and watched the two men across the bar give each other a back-slapping hug.
My hot new friend glanced over at me. He held up a finger inthe universal sign for give me a moment. Then he pointed himself toward the corner of the bar where the bathrooms are.
I watched him go, and even as his very fine ass receded into the crowd, I started to feel very foolish. What was I thinking? The world is full of hot men.
My ex had been hot, and I’d met him in a bar much like this one.
Well, maybe not so much like this one. It had been a seedier place southwest of here with a sticky floor and a rougher crowd.
But he made me feel like a real princess at first. They all do. That’s how this works. He’d been smart, great in the sack, and he did the whole roses-and-dinners thing for a couple months after we met. I thought that meant he loved me.
Then he started finding fault with everything I did.
And then the violent outbursts started…
As I slid off my stool in Speakeasy, I realized I was about to repeat the cycle. I’m old enough to know that the shiny glow of male attention doesn’t last. Not with the guys I’m attracted to, anyway.
Sure, some of them keep up the pretense longer than others, but if you play with fire, you’re going to get burned. After spending months trying to extract myself from Razor, with only mixed results, I still had the scorch marks.
So before he returned from the men’s, I made the smart choice—the only possible choice—and grabbed my purse and jacket and headed for the front door. I’d trotted across the gravel parking lot and jumped into my crappy car. The one I couldn’t afford to replace, because I had to leave everything of value behind when I left Razor. Including my bank account.
I’d gone home to my little hidden apartment behind the brewery, thinking that was that. Or so I’d thought.
Sitting at my desk, I let out a loud groan. I’ve pressed the panic button twice on Nash Giltmaker. He’s going to think I’m unstable.
Given the circumstances, it will be hard to argue otherwise. And when he fires me, I’ll have no safe place to go.
CHAPTER 5
NASH
After visiting my sister, I walk out of the hospital and dial my elusive little brother.
For once in his life, he answers immediately. “How is Leila?” He’s several states away, and probably feeling even more helpless than I am.
“She’s going to be okay,” I tell him. “She has some kind of pregnancy-related, high-blood-pressure condition. They’re taking good care of her, but they might have to induce labor.”
“Leila has high blood pressure? She’s too young for that.”
“I told you—it’s a pregnancy thing. Have you ever heard of preeclampsia?”
“Fuck no,” he grumbles. “What do I know about pregnant women? A whole lot of nothing. As it should be.”
