I ignored him. “A freelancer in what, Jimmy?”
Dean sighed. “Listen, Jimmy sometimes does jobs for me.”
I looked up at him. “Like what?”
He shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
I wiggled my finger at him. “Uh-huh, I do want to know. I need to know.”
Dean sighed again and ran his fingers through his hair. “He sometimes collects money from people.”
I huffed. “And then the rest, I suppose...”, His silence told me everything.
“So, you’re like a debt collector? Someone who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty when he needs to?” Tara looked at Jimmy expectantly.
“Tara, you can’t ask him that.”
She looked at me quizzically. “Why not? There’s no need to sugarcoat things. I’m not naïve.”
I shrugged. I suppose she was right.
She looked back at Jimmy and he smiled. “I suppose you could say that.”
Tara’s eyes narrowed in a heated stare. “Mmmm… That’s kinda hot.”
Jimmy beamed and my eyes widened. “Tara Becksworth, what has gotten into you?”
Tara giggled and smiled at me. “I think it may be the rum. Or it could be Jimmy Taylor. Certainly one of the two. Maybe even both.”
I shook my head. “My god, it’s like watching two people have sex with their clothes on.”
Tara wiggled her finger at me. “Don’t you become all high and mighty with me, Miss ‘I let a strange man into my apartment for years’.”
Jimmy laughed. “She’s got you there.”
I shrugged. I suppose she did. I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by it all, though. My face felt hot with the shame of it.
“Don’t listen to them, Rosey. I got you.” Dean placed his arm around my shoulder and kissed my head.
“Ah, we’re only playing,” Jimmy protested. He then looked at our surroundings. “I think you’re right, though. I don’t think staying here is a good idea. Shall we get a cab and go somewhere?”
I had this sudden uneasy feeling in my stomach. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think maybe I should go home.”
Tara looked at me. “Why?”
I briefly looked towards Dean, then back again. “I don’t think staying out much longer is a good idea.” I flicked my eyes towards Dean and I think she got the message.
“Okay, I hear ya.” She came over to me and gave me a hug. Whispering in my ear, she said “Don’t forget to follow your heart.” She pulled back, looking at me. I nodded with a smile. She then turned and walked toward Jimmy, linking her arm in his. “Jimmy, I know this cool bar a bit closer to where I live. Do you fancy a drink with me?”
Jimmy smiled down at her. “How could I refuse an offer like that?”
He looked at Dean and Dean nodded before speaking, “I’ll make sure Tyler gets home safe.”
Tara looked at me, asking if that was okay. I nodded. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Dean. Make sure you look after her for me. She’s precious.”
Dean smiled. “You don’t have to tell me that.”
Tara smiled and yanked at Jimmy’s arm to follow her. They soon disappeared, leaving Dean and me alone in the alley. Suddenly, I felt suffocated.
“I need to get home.”
Dean jumped in front of me. “Wait. I need to speak with you.”
I sighed. “What else is there to say? I thought I made myself clear. You’re not the person I once knew.” I suddenly knew that now more than ever. I wasn’t stupid enough to not realize Dean was a dangerous man, but hearing it tonight kind of cemented something deep inside me. I had Jeremy to think about, and he was always going to be my priority. His safety was paramount.
“And I keep telling you that I am. My feelings for you have never changed.”
It was hard keeping my shit together around him. The moment we were alone, everything else just faded away. I couldn’t let him in, though. I needed to fight this.
“Listen, Dean, I’m tired, a little bit drunk, my hand is throbbing, and my shoes are killing me. I just want to go home.”
Dean reached out to grab my hand. “Here. Let me look.”
I snatched it back. “No, Dean. I. Want. To. Go. Home.” I couldn’t be alone with him like this. Everything was washing over me again. His presence, his smell, his hypnotic blue eyes… If he even touched me once, I’d cave.
I forced myself to look at him and what I saw killed me. He looked so lost and sad.
With a deep breath, he sighed. “Okay, but we’ll catch a cab to your house. I need to make sure you get home safely. I won’t take no for an answer.”