The guy ignored me and said, “I was disappointed you never told me you were changing clubs.”
Seriously, I cracked my knuckles and stepped forward, “move along.”
I could feel the heat of Serenity’s body as she stepped closer to me and I wondered if she even realized she’d done it.
The guy’s eyes met mine and without another word, he turned to go. Serenity and I, stood motionless as he made his way to an old pick-up truck. After about a minute, his headlights blazed across the parking lot. He hit the gas harder than he needed to and his tires screeched before he got out to the street.
“You okay,” I asked, turning toward her and checking her face. She looked tense but otherwise fine.
“Thank you. He wouldn’t stop talking. I ended up staying later than I planned and the lot was pretty empty when I got out here,” she said, still clutching her bag.
“Has he bothered you before? Sounded like he knew you?”
“I never remembered him from Sailors, but one night my car broke down on I9 and he stopped. It gave me the creeps just because it was so late and I was alone.”
“Did he try anything?” My body tensed waiting for her answer. She’d been biting her lip. I wanted to hug her but figured that would be about as welcome as a bull in a China shop.
“No, my friends came about a minute later and he went on his way.”
“Good,” I said, “come inside with me for a few minutes. I’m following you home.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I’ll be fine,” she said, shaking her head.
“It wasn’t up for debate, darlin’.”
“Could you not call me that please?”
“Fuck, what you got against darlin’?”
“It feels smarmy,” she cringed.
Who used words like smarmy? But I said, “you never would tell me your real name.”
“It’s Sutton.”
“Well, Sutton, darlin’ isn’t an insult. I call ladies that as a term of endearment.”
“Exactly. “Ladies,” she emphasized in air quotes.”
“Oh, so you think it isn’t genuine, is that it?”
“Yeah, I mean how can it be if every girl you talk to is a darlin’. I hear all the bikers saying it. Customers too.”
“Noted,” I grinned and waved my hand forward so she’d walk ahead of me into the club. I was surprised and pleased she relaxed her arms and put her bag over her shoulder. Her perfume floated toward me as she walked closer. It was something subtle and pretty but damned if I knew what kind it was.
When we got back to the office, I locked it, and we proceeded to check out the rest of the club to ensure everything was locked and the lights were off. How the hell had it gotten so late without me noticing? I’d have to remind everyone no one was to leave alone. Safety first.
Standing out in the parking lot, I motioned to my bike. “How about I give you a ride home? I can always pick you up for your shift tomorrow.”
“That’s nice of you, but I have classes in the afternoon.”
“Classes?”
Sutton smiled and damn if my heart didn’t stop for a second. Has she never smiled at me before? I think I would have remembered something that beautiful; it lit up her whole face.
“I’m in grad school for Physical Therapy.”
Everything about her attitude crystallized at that moment. “Cool. I’ll follow you. When you get inside safely, I’ll roll.”