Chapter 18
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
LOOT
Like the absolute fucking creep I am, I watch her as she walks out of the strip club.
Alex came back to the clubhouse last night, and I cornered him before he could sneak away with Fantasy.
I don’t ask what they do, and thankfully, they don’t tell, but they’re both into one another, so whatever floats their boats is good with me.
Alex was forthcoming with the information, well, with what I asked. There was more he wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t bother asking. I want her to tell me, after I’ve fucked her… twice.
Very specific, I know.
So now, I’m sitting on my bike, hidden from her view.
Juliette Rowland, here from somewhere in SoCal, by way of Vegas.
I haven’t had a chance to look her up, check out her background, but there is a story there.
Not only did Alex keep some shit from me about her, but she is hiding a hell of a lot more than anyone probably knows, even Alex.
Juliette walks over to her car, waving at Elodie as she climbs into her own. I watch as Elodie leaves. Juliette opens her car door, but she doesn’t sink down into the seat. Her gaze searches the surrounding area, and when her eyes stop exactly where I’m hiding, I wonder if she can see me.
I know she can’t, but the way she looks, the way she watches has me questioning my abilities. The way she searches, the way her eyes scan, she’s looking for someone, and it’s not me.
My senses tingle. She’s a little too aware. She’s not just making sure her surroundings are safe. She’s looking for danger, anticipating someone actually watching her. She’s looking over her shoulder for a specific reason.
Even if she senses me watching her, she doesn’t show it. She sits down in the Dirty Little Secrets Cleaning Service car and starts the engine. I watch as she pulls out of the parking lot, and a few moments later, I do the same to follow at a distance where she won’t notice me.
I’m not sure where I expect her to go, but it isn’t to take the longest way possible back to her motel room.
Alex also told me where she was staying.
I don’t know why, but I expected her to have a place in town, maybe an apartment, not living at the motel.
It makes perfect sense that she’s at the motel until she gets settled, but I thought she’d have her own space, no rhyme or reason why.
When she pulls into the motel parking lot, I guide my bike to the spot at the end of the row.
She knows I’m there. I’m not trying to hide it, at least not anymore.
I need to know why she’s so careful, why she is so wary of her surroundings.
There is no way it’s just because she’s a woman on her own.
There is more to this story.
Once my bike is parked, I take my phone out of my pocket and glance at the time. I don’t have much time before I need to pick Cade up from his baseball practice at school.
He’s thrown himself into his new school. He’s not only tried out and made the baseball team, but he’s also joined a couple of clubs. I didn’t even know elementary school had a baseball team, but here we are.
I couldn’t be happier for him, or prouder.
He is making friends, getting involved, and a million times better than the kid I was at his age, grades, attitude, and everything else.
He’s the version of myself that I wish I were back then.
Even though at the time, I would have never been that. If that makes any sense at all.
Shaking off thoughts of Cade, I throw my leg over my bike and shove my phone back in my pocket. She’s standing at her door, her key in hand. Walking toward her, I watch as her body stiffens and her spine straightens. She braces herself.
“Juliette.”
Slowly, she turns, her eyes finding mine, and her lips part. She didn’t expect to see me. I know she didn’t, because as soon as she blinks, her shoulders drop and she relaxes almost instantly.
Yeah, I’m going to get to the bottom of this shit. And fast. I watch as she takes a step back, pressing against the door, before she presses her lips together, her eyes wide as she stares at me.
Instead of just mirroring her stare, I move closer to her, closing the distance between us. Lifting my arm, I place my palm against the warm door, wishing we were inside her cool room, but I’m not going to push anything, at least not until I know what the fuck has her as jumpy as a jackrabbit.