15. Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
Tallahassee
Tonight, I’m one of three bartenders working downstairs. As a popular sports bar, it’s always rowdy and boisterous, regardless of the day or time.
Nearing the end of my shift, Darren arrives and slides onto a barstool to wait for me. He’s taking me to dinner and then, as promised, he’s going to teach me how to bowl.
“Hello, gorgeous,” he greets me when I reach him.
I will not swoon. I will not swoon. I will not swoon.
“Hey. Get you anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“I need to wrap up a couple of customers, change my clothes, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Take your time. I’m not in a hurry.”
I finish up with my current customers, brief the bartender coming on duty, and make my way back to Darren. “Two minutes.”
He nods, and after grabbing my clothes from my locker, I make my way to the bathroom.
The event changed me. Made me wary. Darker. For three years I’ve lived like a monk. No dating. No risks. After everything that happened to me, I did an excellent job of carving out my emotions. Except for suspicion and wariness, I don’t notice men.
All that changed when I met Darren.
He makes me feel safe.
With Darren, I’m like the old Tallahassee. The one who was quick to laugh. Who was open and carefree and knew how to have fun.
From the first moment I saw him, my body reacted to him on a primal level. The man makes my hormones dance; all those pent-up feelings exploded, twisting and spinning like a Texas tornado.
He somehow managed to bring me back to life again.
I don’t want to lose that.
I miss sex. There have been nights when I wished I could drop my guard long enough to trust someone with my body, but I couldn’t. I’d never be able to forget what happened the last time I trusted a man.
I’m twenty-six years old. Am I supposed to be alone and celibate the rest of my life?
But this man with his steady hazel eyes, is kind and protective.
The way he looks at me without judgment is my kryptonite.
I feel connected to him in a way I never have with anyone else.
When he’s near me, I’m hyperaware of his presence.
He’s got me wondering, dreaming, and feeling things I swore I buried long ago.
I wonder if the way I’m constantly thinking about him is my subconscious trying to tell me it’s time to take a risk and trust someone again.
After changing out of my uniform, I stare at myself in the mirror and give my reflection a stern look. “Get a friggin’ grip on yourself, woman.”
When I step out of the bathroom, my mouth drops open on a gasp.
“Vincent?” I whisper, horrified that the man who devastated my life is standing in front of me.
“There you are,” he says with a smarmy smirk. “How ya been, Tallahassee?”
The air punches out of my lungs, a familiar coil of uneasiness tightens itself in my belly. My first instinct is to run away; to escape. But there’s a reason he’s here, and my gut says I need to find out why.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been looking for you. Long time no see.”
When he steps forward and tries to touch me, I bat his hand away.
His smile is…oily. “You’re looking good. Miss me, baby?”
“I’m not your fucking baby,” I hiss.
“Don’t you think it’s funny?” he continues.
“Funny?” My voice is soft and broken.
“You were so straightlaced. Little Miss Vanilla, but no one questioned any of the depraved, twisted things I claimed you enjoyed. If they only knew I made it all up.”
I shake my head. “No, Vincent, I don’t find that funny.”
“Unfortunately for you, I’m going to need more cash.
” He lifts his hand, cutting me off before I can speak.
“Your protests are useless. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll tell the press where to find you.
” There’s that slimy smile again. “Not only that, but I’ve had three years to come up with a slew of new sexual scenarios to share about you and your deviant behavior. ”
An icy foreboding surges through me. “You know if you do this, it’ll destroy my life again.”
“What can I say?” His tone is smug. “You, my darling Tallahassee, are a cash cow.”
“But it’s all lies!” I protest.
He shrugs, showing no sign of remorse. “People believed me last time. No matter what juicy new things I come up with, no one will doubt me now. Face it, Tallahassee, true or fabricated, smut sells. I’ll be in touch with details.”
With a smile I want to slap right off his face, he pivots and struts away.
My skin starts to feel clammy. My heart refuses to stop thundering and my stomach lurches. I blink, trying to clear my blurry vision, but it doesn’t work. I’m unsteady and dizzy.
I’m having a panic attack.
I tell myself to breathe, that I’m okay. But my brain isn’t listening, and I can’t convince my heartbeat to slow down. I feel myself spiraling. The panic is winning, and I can’t control it.
My vision is too fuzzy. My breath too jagged. A tear slips out of my eye and rolls down my cheek.
Find Darren, my brain whispers through the fog of panic and terror.
I brace one hand on the wall to keep myself upright and force my shaky legs to move.
Find Darren.
Step by step, vision blurry with tears, I shuffle down the hall toward the bar.
Find Darren…