Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I’m fine.” I don’t move. I like the way he’s touching me, and I hate myself for it. “I’m really fine.”
“You should be careful. It can’t be easy walking in those shoes.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
He reaches up and fixes my headband. “You look incredible tonight. I’m glad Allison convinced you.”
“Conlan.” His name comes out as a harsh whisper. I hate this—I hate how much I want him, but also how afraid I am to let myself get involved.
“It’s okay,” he says, and he doesn’t sound upset. Instead, he’s smiling at me, staring like he adores me. But that makes no sense. I’m trying to break his heart, only he doesn’t seem to care. “I’m not going anywhere. You can work at the diner, you can live in your house, but I’ll still be around. You’ll get your daily tips. You’ll see that black truck. And you’ll know it’s me, making sure you’re safe and taken care of.”
“That’s so creepy,” I whisper.
“I know. But I figure, you already know what I am. You heard the worst of me already. So why not do whatever the fuck I want? If I mean it, if I really mean it and I don’t plan on ever giving up, why not show you? You can leave, Isabel, but I’m not going anywhere.”
I disentangle myself for him. “Why do you have to be so crazy?” I say, and I’m blinking away tears.
“Can’t help myself, I guess. You can blame my brother though. He made me realize I might as well be myself.”
“Adler?”
“Erick, actually. He’s around here somewhere.”
“I’d like to meet him. I mean, one day, maybe.”
“I’d like that too.”
I turn away, back toward the hotel. “I’m going to find Allison and say goodnight.”
“Do you need a ride home?”
“No. I’ll get a cab.”
“Okay then. I’ll make sure you get there safely.”
“Conlan—” I should tell him not to follow me. I should demand that he keeps his distance. I could threaten him with the police, or a restraining order, or anything at all. Instead, I only shake my head and walk away.
Allison doesn’t seem to mind that I’m leaving early. She kisses both cheeks. “I’ll be home soon,” she promises as she walks off into her element.
The cab smells like smoke. The driver grunts at me and barely says three words.
And when I turn around to look at the road behind us, I spot a black truck driving at a respectful distance, and I know that’s Conlan keeping his promise.
Chapter 40
Isabel
“You can drop the act,” I say the next day when my big-tipping regular customer comes in. “I know Conlan sent you.”
He shrugs as if it doesn’t matter. “That’s true, but I honestly do like the food.”
“Want your usual?”
“Please. He sent me with two hundred today. You guys talk last night?”
“We did.” I shake my head, grinning to myself. “What’s your name, anyway?”
“Marlon. I’m one of Damon’s guys, you know what I mean? Anyway, don’t mind me.” He takes out his paper and unfolds it. “I’m just the money, that’s all.”
“All right, Marlon. Thanks, I guess.” I head off to put in his order, not sure what the hell to make of him. But sure enough, when he’s done eating, there’s a two-hundred-dollar tip waiting for me on the table.
The other girls whistle at me, making jokes, and this time I smile and tease them back, not sure where this extra confidence is coming from.
Only I can still feel Conlan’s hands on my body when he pulled me away from the pool.
That night, when Allison gets home from the Lincoln, we convene on the couch with a glass of wine each. “Well, how did it go after I left?” I ask her.
She beams at me. “Lisa was thrilled. I guess the party made a good amount of profit and the hotel got a write-up on a few blogs and in the entertainment section of the paper. Basically, it was everything she had hoped for and more.”
“That’s fantastic,” I say, genuinely happy for her. “You worked hard on that. I have to admit, it looked amazing.”
“How come you ran off so early? Couldn’t handle showing off all that cleavage? You’ve got nice boobs, you know.”
I laugh at her. “No, I mean, I know my boobs are great, I just couldn’t stick around.”
Her eyebrows raise. “Does it have anything to do with your moonlit, poolside conversation with Conlan Costa?”
I sigh. “How did you know?”
“I have spies all over that freaking hotel. You should’ve figured that out by now.”
Of course she does. Nineteen years old and already running the place. “It was weird, okay? It was also good.”
“I’m told you nearly fell in the pool and he saved your life.”
“He didn’t save my life. I can swim.”
“Saved your dress, anyway. God, imagine how hot you would’ve looked soaking wet.”