Chapter 13

Once I’d staggered, eyelids drooping, into my tiny apartment, a tired groan left me as I tossed the envelope from Boyd and Elaine to my kitchen counter. After it landed with a thump along with my jangling keys, I dragged my bag to the cramped bedroom and sorted laundry. The flight had been longer than planned—weather, and a missed connection, but at least I was home. Home? As I scanned the room, I sighed. Yeh, home, I guessed. Another happy client in the rearview. And one more scheduled for next week.

Back to the grind. As I sniggered at the unplanned pun, I wandered into the kitchen and gulped about a thousand glasses of water. As I ran my fingers through my greasy hair, I wavered between showering or listening to the message machine. With a sigh, I flicked my pager on and then gazed at the little faux-woodgrain plastic box beside it.

Its bright orange-red LEDs blinked “12.”

After another long exhale, as I hovered my finger over “Play” and pulled a pad and pen closer, I tapped the button.

The first two were from mom. As usual, she asked how I was doing. As a routine, I told no one, including her, that I was traveling until after I’d returned. Back in the Army, we’d called it OPSEC—Operational Security. Now, in the business, it was just being discrete. I scratched a reminder to return her calls.

Another pair of messages were from my landlady, reminding me rent had been due the past Monday. That was on me; I had the money. With the surprising bonus amount Alyssa had given me and now Boyd’s payment, I should be comfortable for a while. Speaking of ... That envelope seemed awfully fat. After lifting it from the counter, I tore open the envelope.

Holy crap!

My heart stammered as I flicked my tongue around my dry lips. Shock one, while Boyd was always the one who paid me—it was more than double my rate. The second surprise was the folded envelope within the stack of hundreds.

“From your Elaine,” was handwritten in flowery cursive lettering. A pair of red lipstick marks sealed it. Inside was as much as Boyd had left. My knees trembled. She’d never paid me before. Oh, and think about it. That was before ATMs. Nor did we visit a bank on the island. She’d brought that much cash with her. Yeh, Tommy was the last to know—again.

Things were going to be different with them; assuming Boyd agreed to us continuing. There was always that risk. With a smile, I remembered making love to Elaine our last night together. My ... My slutty little, part-time—girlfriend—was so very much worth the risk. Then the ache hit. Deep in my chest. Elaine was not my part-time girlfriend. And, as I cursed under my breath, I shook my head.

No, she was much more. She was, indeed, my Elaine. And yet, she was so fucking far away. When my mind began its all-too-familiar spin upwards into madness, I grunted and lashed out to smack the machine’s blinking button.

The next message was from Alyssa. That at least brought a tight grin to my face. Her voice was low—probably snatching a few seconds away from her posse. Also, it was slurred.

“Hi, uh, Tommy. After—after we, uh, talked. Um, I really need to see you again. Please. Oh, uh, this is, um, Alyssa. In Los Angeles.” There was a long inhale; she was taking a drag of something—betting it wasn’t tobacco. “We, uh ... Well, you, um ... Please, Tommy. Call me. My number is...”

By then, my initial grin had vaporized. What the hell? First, we had a schedule. And second, she never called me. We only spoke via intermediaries—for her safety. Discretion, remember? Oh, and she’d certainly never sounded so nervous when talking to me.

My fingers trembled as I hit “Play” several more times. Even as I jotted the names and numbers of new prospective client meetings, I kept flashing back to LA. What had changed?

When I tapped the button once more, at the shaky low voice, my entire body froze. Alyssa, Los Angeles, and even Elaine—everything in the world blotted away at that anxious male voice. A voice I recognized.

“Hello. Is ... Is, uh, this, um, Tommy? Ah, hope you, um, get this. This is, uh, Sean. From uh ... We met with you in, um, San Antonio. And uh, in Dallas you, uh ... With uh, Karen. You and she ... Well, uh, you probably don’t remember, but ... She’d ... Um, we’d like to ... Uh, again, if, um, you’re available. Uh, if you get this, please call me back. It’s uh...”

As Sean sputtered out his number, my trembling fingers struggled to scribble on my little notepad. Oh fuck, he had called! Now what? Would I? I shouldn’t. But her stunning, gorgeous eyes had haunted me the whole damned time. Once more. Just to see how she’d react. And what Sean would do. If I got a weird vibe, I’d punch out.

“Yeh, that’ll work,” I mumbled before straightening and draining another glass of water.

Still shaking, I wrote two more messages from clients before tapping the last message.

“Hi, Tommy. This is Karen. I know you probably don’t remember me, but...” There was a loud gulp and silence dragged for several seconds before her low, but steady, voice returned. “I was with you in Dallas. My boyfriend, Sean ... He, um ... He says he called and left you a message. Would you ... Would you please call him back? And, uh ... Um, don’t tell him I called—okay?” There was another long silence with nothing but rapid breathing before she hung up.

“Oh,” was all that left my lips before I crumpled to the couch to gawk at the wall. Still in my hand, the pen trembled in midair.

Oh, indeed.

My heart pounded.

So, yeh. A week later, after rescheduling my original client, I was once more in Dallas. This time standing in a dark suit and black tie. And as nervous as a kid on prom night, wrenching my hands as I stared through the shimmering glass walls at the vanishing sun’s last orange-purple sliver in the haze. Around me, the luxury hotel’s marble-tiled lobby buzzed with activity; guests checking in, bellman wheeling carts of luggage and people talking. More than one well-dressed woman flung sidelong glances at me as they sauntered past, gripping spouses tighter or flashing a grin, or both.

All the while, I dragged my heels and toes around the swirling gray-white tile patterns, watching the entrance, the passing guests, or the lobby restaurant where I’d made reservations. The owner was a buddy. Not a client, just a good friend I’d known since moving to Texas. His family had lived next to me at my first off-base housing. Anyway, not important, but my mind wandered near and far as I waited.

By the time the appointed hour approached, I’d almost worn out my elbow by flicking my sleeve clear of my watch for the zillionth time when click-clacking heels echoed across the lobby. Now, think about it, all evening plenty of high heels had sauntered into and through that lobby, but at those particular rhythmic sounds, I raised my head to look.

My heart simply gave up and stopped. To this day, I actually believe I died at that point. Cold sweats all over. Beyond the nearing angelic vision, the entire room wavered and blurred.

Sashaying atop blood-red, T-strapped stilettos, on Sean’s arm, Karen was wrapped, and I mean wrapped, in a backless, shoulder-less red satin dress that hugged every enticing curve. In those heels, she was almost as tall as her boyfriend. The petite, dark-haired woman’s crimson swaying hips held me mesmerized. As she strolled closer, a neutral expression on her face, my eyes dropped to its mid-thigh hem sliding up and down her toned, black-stockinged thighs.

Wandering upwards past her sleek, flat stomach and narrow waist, I paused at the large keyhole revealing the firm underside of her buxom cleavage. To either side of the keyhole, the dress was taut over each gravity-defying globe before gathering into a ridged band of material around her neck. Though it wasn’t cold in there, I gulped at the sharp points atop each impressive breast.

At the sudden glint when a chandelier caught it, my glance flicked between her wobbling mounds. Centered within the gap and flat to her tanned chest was a diamond-encrusted golden heart. It was hanging from an elegant, flattened gold chain that swayed under her dress as she click-clacked closer.

A gift from Sean? Okay, she’s sending a message. Okay. Just a client. No problem. Karen only wanted another quick fuck and to show off for her honey. No problem. That would work. Yep.

Except, when I reached her face, now flushing crimson after my roaming inspection, her glossy red lips formed the merest sliver of a grin, and her deep, dark pools gleamed.

What the...? That was Elaine’s gleam. That “I have a secret. One I want to share only with you” expression.

“Hi, Uh ... Tommy.”

At his low, wavering voice, for the first time I paid attention to her lanky boyfriend vacillating as he loomed next to her. In a tailored gray suit, his silver and blue striped tie askew, Sean’s eyes widened when I held out my hand.

“Hey there, Sean.” After flashing him a smile as we shook, I widened my grin at Karen before shifting my hand to her.

When her soft, red-nailed fingers glided into my palm, a tingle of electricity flooded my frame; her deep pools glinted and her mouth shimmered as a similar tremor vibrated through her. How I didn’t keel over as my chest thumped, I don’t know. But I slid my hand free, tore my eyes from her and flicked my tongue over my suddenly dry lips.

“Hello, Karen. You look, uh, stunning.”

“I, uh, noticed—” She stabbed deep into my heart by emitting a tiny giggle. As I struggled for air, she flashed a wider smile—”that, you, um, approve.”

Unlike Elaine, who loved to play, and bless her genes, could get away with appearing younger. At that giggle, I’d forgotten how young Karen was. Almost thirty, I’d seen the world. And done plenty of dumb things. When I spared a glance at her boyfriend, a tremor ran through him as he shifted his feet. Both appeared more youthful than I remembered. Why was this coming to me now? A last ditch effort to turn myself away? To leave them and find somebody more appropriate. You know—single. After shaking my head and focusing, I forced a grin.

“So, um, I figured after last time, we could use a meal to discuss some things,” I said. After a gulp, I hesitated; heat flared along my neck. Why was this so damned difficult? I added. “Just to see, um, where everyone...” I paused to look at his girlfriend. “Stood, uh, since we, uh, —met—last time.”

As Sean nodded, a slight tremor running along his jaw, Karen remained silent and motionless, her eyes on me. All the while, my inside voice was mumbling. This wasn’t about checking if they wanted to continue. It was about me. Did I want to do this? Only fuck her, take the money and leave her behind. Again.

“Yeh, good idea, Tommy. I think—” Sean’s voice broke me out of my whirling thoughts.

“I’m hungry.” Cutting him off, Karen smiled at me.

As my heart hammered, I gestured to the restaurant entrance. Sean flicked his eyes to her, then to me before following when she tugged him towards the stained-glass dark wooden door. All the windows facing the lobby were dark red, blue and orange stained glass and the entire eatery was faced with the same dark wood. It exuded “expensive food inside.” Neither batted an eyelash as they headed through the door I held open for them.

Once inside, though Sean hugged her closer, Karen sent me sidelong glances until the hostess, in a tight off the shoulder black dress, flashed me a grin, nodded, and guided them between tables. Just as I’d directed, she led the couple to the most secluded, cozy half-moon booth. Sited along the distant wall, it offered a view onto the darkened street below, but was backed by a dusky wooden half-wall over which peeked tall foliage. All in all, the most romantic, and discrete, dining spot in the restaurant.

After leaving our menus, the hostess turned from them to pass me.

“Thanks, Daphne.”

“Any time, for you, Tommy.” Her long silvery nails drifted over my jaw.

As I returned her smile before she walked away, I caught Karen’s sharp intake and the swift roll of her glossy lips. Oblivious, Sean slipped onto the curved crimson leather bench seat, leaving his girlfriend standing. When I turned and gestured for her to sit, she flicked her eyes to Sean, already seated, and the open side of the booth. She could force him to move to the middle, separating herself from me. Or she could slide all the way inside to place herself between us.

Karen’s eyes flashed as she swallowed and settled herself on the open seat before sliding to the middle. Test one—complete. Just as I glided down behind her, our server approached. She wore a short black skirt and white blouse so taut over her chest, there were gaps between buttons. When the lean, young bleached blonde sauntered closer, those gaps provided a delightful view of her rose-colored bra. As soon as she caught my raised eyebrow, the skin of her cheeks flushed pink.

Karen spotted the silent exchange; her nails scratched ever so lightly across the menu. Sean, his head buried in the menu, didn’t catch anything.

“Hi—” Before the server could greet us, I made a point of leaning closer and eyeballing her nametape, and the lovely white-clad, quivering mound atop which it was pinned—”Amy.”

After a long swallow, Amy twirled a strand of yellow-white hair in one hand while a little black notepad trembled in her other. As my smile widened, Amy reddened, and Karen’s eyes narrowed.

“I’d like a scotch, double, neat, please.”

“Yes, Tommy.”

When Amy said my name without me mentioning it, Karen’s teeth clenched. With her lips pursed tight, she hesitated before providing her drink order, while Sean only glanced at Amy before ordering. Test two—complete. There was definitely something more going on with Karen. So now what, Tommy the Idiot?

When Amy returned with our drinks, both Karen and I noticed the upper buttons were now undone on her blouse. The cute blonde’s eyes glinted when they caught mine, while Karen’s fingers squeaked as she clutched her wine glass. After we ordered our meals, I was even more obvious as I tracked Amy’s disappearing frame before returning to glance at the couple. Karen’s face was red, Sean’s was pale. A tremor rippled through both, for different reasons, as I scanned them.

“Okay, Sean. What do you think?” I said, before taking a long sip and swirling the exquisite whiskey in my mouth. I did, and still do, enjoy fine whiskies, perhaps more than my doctor approves.

“So, um ... Well, we’ve, uh, always wanted to ... Um, try new things.” As he stammered, Karen, still pinking around the cheekbones, glanced from him to me over the rim of her wineglass.

“Things?”

“You know.” Sean stopped to gulp his wine before continuing. “Uh, we wanted to find somebody...”

“Right, like Tammy and Don?” I added when his words faltered while he looked at Karen. None of this was new, but I needed to hear how he explained since I’d been with them. What would change in the telling?

“Well, yes, but we couldn’t. I ... She ... We weren’t comfortable.”

“Got it. Not into performing in a crowd? That’s understandable.” At my gentle tone, he nodded, but Karen’s eyebrow raised as her eyes flicked to him. Interesting. “So you picked me?”