Page 3 of Proposition 2

3. Cadence

Icouldn’t catch a break.

It had been a shit night at work. Our extra waitress had called in, leaving me and Shannon to handle the Friday night rush by ourselves. Not only were we slammed, but we seemed to have every asshole customer in the county come in at once. The new assistant cook screwed up at least one plate for each table, and no one tipped well.

It felt like a complete waste of time, and I was drained.

Just when I thought I could escape to my bed and be done with the day, a bang and a rattle left me coasting to the shoulder of the road with no power.

My eyes squeezed shut as I sucked in a shaky breath. I would not start sobbing on the side of the road like some pathetic woman who couldn’t handle a simple problem. If I started, I may not stop.

Popping the hood, I climbed out of the car and made my way to the front. The hot smoke hit me in the face causing me to flinch back, coughing so hard I let go of the hood and it slammed back into place.

Returning to the driver’s seat, I leaned over the console to dig a napkin out of the glovebox. My eyes and nose burned, and I told myself the tears wetting my cheeks were from the smoke. Not the gaping maw of helplessness trying to swallow me whole.

Headlights flashed through the windows as another car turned onto the old road I was sitting on. I fought with the choice of whether to let them pass or try to flag them down, but as the lights aimed right at me and stopped behind my car, the choice was taken from my hands. I was hoping it was one of my neighbors who recognized my car, but it was later than any of them were usually out.

Opening the door again, I shielded my eyes as I stepped out, squinting against the brightness. In lieu of a neighbor, I’d have settled for an officer, but the person that stepped into the light between our cars was the last person I expected, or wanted, to see at this moment.

Leo.

My mouth went dry even as my core clenched at the rush of memories his smirk inspired. I knew exactly what that wicked mouth could do, and the glint in his eyes said he was thinking of the same things.

I jerked to a stop and dropped my arm, jaw snapping shut as I tried to figure out what he could be doing on this road, at this time of night.

“Hello, Cadence. I missed you last night.”

The purr in his voice sent a shiver straight through my body, nipples pebbling under my shirt. The man could read a children’s story out loud and make it sound sinful.

“Leo.”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. My tongue was glued to the top of my mouth, words refusing to form as my eyes drank him in. The casual tousle of his dark hair. The shadow of a beard I could see on his chin.

The headlights behind him silhouetted his form, his suit molded to his lean body in a way the big merchandisers could never accomplish with their bargain suits. The reflection of the light off the back of my car lit him enough to be able to see his expression, but still left him in enough shadows to lend a menacing air.

“What are you doing here?”

My tongue finally remembered how to work, the question blurting from me far breathier than I’d have liked. It felt like the air around me was too thin and I was gasping to pull in enough.

“I’d hoped to catch you at work so we could talk. Looks like you’re having car trouble.”

“No.”

His brows raised at my abrupt response.

“You’re not having car trouble?”

His tone turned slightly mocking, but my brain was still having trouble accepting Leo was this close to my house. Looking for me.

“Well, yes. But no, we can’t talk. I’m not interested. You can go now.”

My heart was racing, and I started to feel lightheaded. I’d had enough for one day, and I’d rather walk home in the dark than stand there staring at Leo for another moment. It was only a few miles.

And he was too tempting.

Spinning on my heel, I leaned into the Toyota to grab my purse and keys. The car wasn’t going anywhere and calling a tow truck could wait until morning when there wasn’t a stupidly sexy mob boss trying to lure me into his clutches.

I started walking even though I could hear Leo calling my name. I didn’t make it more than a few feet from my car before his hand on my arm jerked me to a stop.

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