“Hey doll, just in town for some R and R for a few weeks. Then off to Canada I go to work in my dad’s company.”
She pouted, but leaned over the counter giving him a bird’s eye view of all she had to offer. It wasn’t much, but he acted pleased anyhow. She was definitely no Ronnie in that department. A boob job would do wonders for her figure, and maybe some lessons on applying the right amount of make-up.
Gary pretended to be interested because he wanted some information. He hoped she had some. “Yeah, I’m in town until this Ronnie thing blows over.” He went straight to the point. “I never should have gotten back with that trouble maker,” he added for good measure.
He watched her reaction, knew she had been upset their little fling had been so brief. He also saw something like fear pass over her features, and his interest piqued.
“Yeah, I could have told you that,” she laughed uneasily when he raised his eyebrows suspiciously. “In fact I think I did mention miss goody two shoes wasn’t so innocent.”
He nodded and leaned on the counter, getting closer. “Yeah, you were right.” He gave her his infamous smile. “Can you believe the bitch tried to call me? Wanted me to be a character witness for her! I’m not going down with that ship. I don’t care how big her tilts are,” he joked. He purposefully glanced at Cassie’s cleavage again faking interest.
When he glanced up to look at her again he saw that fear. He needed to see if she knew something. She was just acting too strangely. “Maybe you and I can hook up while I’m here Cassie,” he threw her the bone first, wagged his eyebrows at her suggestively, then pounced. “My folks want me to keep my nose clean while I’m here, and they found me a place in the company up north until this shit blows over, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun as long as we are discreet.”
She was still acting nervous, but was definitely interested. She licked her lips. “Oh, sure babe. Sounds great. I’d love to. I’m not working tomorrow night,” she informed him, smiling and glancing over his shoulder briefly.
Fuck! Someone was coming. He should have asked to talk in the office. He began to sweat, but didn’t turn around hoping whomever was getting off the elevator wasn’t Ronnie and the bounty hunter.
“Mmm, sounds good. I’ll call you.” He said the words softly so as not be overheard, hoping it had come off sexily instead. When he saw her face relax, he looked behind and saw an older man stepping out of the elevator; he let out his breath. He needed to make this quick. He needed info. He turned back to Cassie. “You know, when I got that call from Ronnie, it kind of scared me. It looked like a local call.”
Cassie again appeared suddenly nervous. “Well,” she started. She didn’t want to ruin her chances with hooking up with hometown hero, Gary Campbell, but she thought she had seen his ex. She hadn’t been sure.
“What?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“Um, I did see this girl, who kind of looked like Ronnie come in about two hours ago with some guy, but she was blonder so I wasn’t sure.”
Bingo, he thought. He smiled to encourage her to go on.
“Yeah, but she was holding the guys hand, and so, I didn’t think nothing of it.”
Holding his hand? What he fuck? Gary needed to think. What did that mean? Was she holding it, or was he leading her in here? His heart hammered in his chest. He needed to get out of here.
“You sure?” he asked.
“Well, um, yeah, that’s what it looked like,” she answered, but she seemed uneasy.
“Listen Cass, I’ll call about tomorrow. I got your cell,” he murmured, already turning before she could reply.
“Okay, call me,” she cooed after him, but he was already through the sliding glass doors before she finished her sentence. Then a few minutes later, Cassie saw Ronnie again. And this time she was sure it was her. Her, but blonder. And this time, the dude hadn’t been as nice. Strange. When Gary called, she’d tell him maybe she’d been wrong. Ronnie didn’t look happy to be with him.
***
In his car, Gary sat thinking. He pulled out his cell, and checked flights from Bangor. The dude said he would get her on the next flight. But they’d missed that one. They’d have to leave soon, if they hoped to make the next one. He decided again to take a chance and wait to see if they left the hotel soon. He resumed his stake out on the rental car.
But, the hand holding had thrown him. Did Cassie really see her or had she said that to make him doubt Ronnie more? Why the fuck would she be holding his hand if the guy was a bounty hunter bringing her in? Yes, maybe Cassie just said it to make him worried, and make herself look better in his eyes. Women did shit like that. She hadn’t even been sure it was Ronnie although he was. His nerves were at an all-time high. He didn’t know how much longer he could take this shit. He had royally fucked up. Why had he agreed to bring all those drugs from Jamaica? God damned Brimeyers, his drug connections, they’d pressured him, said it would be an easy score. He pounded the steering wheel in frustration. Sweat began to accumulate on his brow, and under his arms. This situation was getting more and more fucked up by the minute. He was about to start the car and just head home, pack and get the fuck out, when he saw the lobby doors begin to open. His heart lurched in his chest.