Behind Your Back by Chelsea M. Cameron Page A

with a grin. That’s the other thing about his hacker buddies. They get off on making new programs and breaking codes. A lot of them just do it for the joy of it.
    After the guys leave, I head back to bed. Sensing I might need comfort, Leo climbs into bed with me and curls up on my chest. I pet him with both hands until the pain fades and sleep finally takes me.
     

     
    I don’t get any more messages from John Smith and I breathe a tiny sigh of relief that Cash’s methods are working.
    On Saturday night, I put on a black shirt, a pair of designer jeans and loafers. I take extra care with my hair and make sure I don’t miss any part of my face when I shave. Cash has been giving me updates of her location and as of ten minutes ago, she was inside, probably enjoying a drink or two with her friends. In fact, I hope she’s a little inebriated. That will make my job even easier.
    I take one of the sports cars we own for special occasions. A red Ferrari that drives like a dream. It’s like sex, this car; a woman who does everything you want even before you know you want it.
    I arrive at the bar and park near the front. Row is on duty tonight and just a few yards away in case anyone gets ideas so I’m not worried about the car being stolen.
    A few people gasp or yell their appreciation as I exit the car. It’s a car, not an amusement park, although I might be able to make decent money giving rides for a fee. I shake my head at that notion and give the bouncer at the front door a nod.
    Carefully I scan the room. It’s filled with typical bar fare: the regulars who are camped out on stools and harassing the bartender, groups of coworkers blowing off steam after another long weekend and then there is the girls’ night out crowd. The last classification is what I’m concerned about. Something tells me Saige will be with a group.
    It might be dark in here, and a little smoky, but I’d see her red hair anywhere. I’m lucky she has such an obvious trait. I see a woman with red hair, but hers is more carrot than Saige’s, which is a darker auburn.
    Going to the bar, I order a beer and find a stool. A man sitting next to me gives me a friendly nod. He has the look of someone who’s spent his fair share of time here. Hunched over, baseball cap pulled down, doesn’t make eye contact with anyone but the bartender when he wants another drink.
    I message Cash and he confirms that she is here. Probably in the bathroom. Women seem to go in packs, and there’s probably a line. I can wait. I’ve got nothing else to do tonight but to make initial contact. Catch her eye. Get her interested.
    After waiting another half hour, and doing a sweep of the place, I can’t find her. Maybe she’s dyed her hair. So I look not for her hair, but for her eyes and her figure.
    Nothing. Either she’s passed out in the bathroom, or she’s not here. I message Cash and ask if he’s absolutely positively sure she’s here and he says he is. Well, fuck.
    I must just not be seeing her. I scan again, making sure I search each and every face. There are a few girls that could be her, but aren’t.
    Where is she?
    Something catches my eye and I glance to my left, but it’s just another girl who isn’t Saige.
    I accidently meet eyes with a brunette who gives me a smile and slinks over.
    “Hey, gorgeous. You alone tonight?” Her hand slides up my chest, but don’t object.
    “Maybe,” I say. Relationships are a game, and sometimes, I just want to play. I give her a half-smile and she moves even closer.
    “Want some company?” she says in a husky voice that somehow carries over the noise of the people around us.
    “Are you offering?” I say and she bites her lip and nods. Anatomically, she’s what you’d want. The right curves in the right places. She’s also got a sweet heart-shaped face and pretty blue eyes. But I look at her and feel… nothing. That’s not exactly true. I can’t deny that my pants tighten when I think about having her