again.
Payback.
Payback? What did that mean?
For what? I typed. He responded immediately.
Being a tease.
I smirked.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Thirty seconds passed, in which I started to wonder if I’d said something stupid and blown it. When my phone buzzed, I quickly read the new message.
You’re doing it again.
I chewed my bottom lip, debating what to say next.
So do something about it.
I bounced on my heels, hoping I hadn’t taken it too far and come off as slutty.
I plan to.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. What was I doing? I barely knew anything about Alec. Intuition said he was dangerous, but not unsafe. A little flirting was probably harmless, but I did have a cop for a father.
You should know I never kiss on the first date, I typed.
Would my words end this, whatever
this
was?
We’ll see.
I laughed, then cupped my hand over my mouth. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to wrap this up.
Got to go.
I want to see you. A second later another text came through. Tonight.
I frowned. Tonight I had a session with June Esposito, a sixty-year-old woman with chronic pain caused by lupus. If she hadn’t been the sweetest woman in the world, I would have considered canceling.
I have a session. After?
Just say where and when.
I shot off the name of a Cuban restaurant near Mrs. Esposito’s house that I knew was open late and told him I would be there at eight thirty. I could hardly stand waiting that long. It had been a long time since I was this excited about a date. Mentally I was already sorting through my closet trying to pick something to wear. And it was a good thing I worked at a salon—I’d recently waxed.
Not that I planned on bringing him home tonight. I had my standards.
But if anyone could make me break the rules, it was him.
*
“He did not.” Amy was doubled over with laughter while I relayed what had happened with Melvin to her and Derrick. “Was he hung like a horse? The skinny ones always are.”
“
Ew
. And yes. Dammit.” I hid my face shamefully in my hands.
Derrick put an arm over my shoulder. “Sorry you were scandalized.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll put a note in the system and send him a letter,” he said. “He won’t be permitted back on the premises. I do need you to fill out an incident report.”
“Sure,” I said, dropping my arms. “Of course.”
As Derrick went to retrieve the paperwork, I asked Amy if she’d seen Melvin leave.
“No,” she shook her head. “He must have gone through the back. My eleven thirty canceled, so I was helping out up front.”
The back of the building led to an alley that led back to the main street on the opposite side of the tattoo parlor. The thought of Melvin, nerdy and dejected, back there with the inked-up smokers and the stray chickens that roamed the Ybor streets made me feel a little guilty.
“He’ll be all right,” Amy said, reading my mind.
I leaned closer. “Alec texted. We’re going out tonight.”
Her brows lifted. “That was quick.”
I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “What can I say? I’m on fire today.”
She jabbed me in the ribs before her face turned serious. “What are you wearing? You shaved, right? Are your toenails done?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Yes. And I think they’re okay. Julie just did them a couple weeks ago.”
“Come on.” Amy took my hand, dragging me toward the pedicure chairs. “We’ve got work to do.”
*
By the time I’d reached June Esposito’s house in North Tampa my legs were smooth, my hair was redone with soft curls, and my toes were dark red to match my lipstick. I wore black leggings and my customary black cotton shirt to the appointment, but had brought a hip-hugging emerald tank to change into afterward.
I parked the red Kia in the driveway and carried my bulky supplies to the front door of the small ranch-style home. Mrs. Esposito, a frail Mexican woman, answered on the third knock, hobbling back to give me space
Payback.
Payback? What did that mean?
For what? I typed. He responded immediately.
Being a tease.
I smirked.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Thirty seconds passed, in which I started to wonder if I’d said something stupid and blown it. When my phone buzzed, I quickly read the new message.
You’re doing it again.
I chewed my bottom lip, debating what to say next.
So do something about it.
I bounced on my heels, hoping I hadn’t taken it too far and come off as slutty.
I plan to.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. What was I doing? I barely knew anything about Alec. Intuition said he was dangerous, but not unsafe. A little flirting was probably harmless, but I did have a cop for a father.
You should know I never kiss on the first date, I typed.
Would my words end this, whatever
this
was?
We’ll see.
I laughed, then cupped my hand over my mouth. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to wrap this up.
Got to go.
I want to see you. A second later another text came through. Tonight.
I frowned. Tonight I had a session with June Esposito, a sixty-year-old woman with chronic pain caused by lupus. If she hadn’t been the sweetest woman in the world, I would have considered canceling.
I have a session. After?
Just say where and when.
I shot off the name of a Cuban restaurant near Mrs. Esposito’s house that I knew was open late and told him I would be there at eight thirty. I could hardly stand waiting that long. It had been a long time since I was this excited about a date. Mentally I was already sorting through my closet trying to pick something to wear. And it was a good thing I worked at a salon—I’d recently waxed.
Not that I planned on bringing him home tonight. I had my standards.
But if anyone could make me break the rules, it was him.
*
“He did not.” Amy was doubled over with laughter while I relayed what had happened with Melvin to her and Derrick. “Was he hung like a horse? The skinny ones always are.”
“
Ew
. And yes. Dammit.” I hid my face shamefully in my hands.
Derrick put an arm over my shoulder. “Sorry you were scandalized.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll put a note in the system and send him a letter,” he said. “He won’t be permitted back on the premises. I do need you to fill out an incident report.”
“Sure,” I said, dropping my arms. “Of course.”
As Derrick went to retrieve the paperwork, I asked Amy if she’d seen Melvin leave.
“No,” she shook her head. “He must have gone through the back. My eleven thirty canceled, so I was helping out up front.”
The back of the building led to an alley that led back to the main street on the opposite side of the tattoo parlor. The thought of Melvin, nerdy and dejected, back there with the inked-up smokers and the stray chickens that roamed the Ybor streets made me feel a little guilty.
“He’ll be all right,” Amy said, reading my mind.
I leaned closer. “Alec texted. We’re going out tonight.”
Her brows lifted. “That was quick.”
I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “What can I say? I’m on fire today.”
She jabbed me in the ribs before her face turned serious. “What are you wearing? You shaved, right? Are your toenails done?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Yes. And I think they’re okay. Julie just did them a couple weeks ago.”
“Come on.” Amy took my hand, dragging me toward the pedicure chairs. “We’ve got work to do.”
*
By the time I’d reached June Esposito’s house in North Tampa my legs were smooth, my hair was redone with soft curls, and my toes were dark red to match my lipstick. I wore black leggings and my customary black cotton shirt to the appointment, but had brought a hip-hugging emerald tank to change into afterward.
I parked the red Kia in the driveway and carried my bulky supplies to the front door of the small ranch-style home. Mrs. Esposito, a frail Mexican woman, answered on the third knock, hobbling back to give me space
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