Chapter Two #2
“What’s your story?” she says, sweetly.
I just growl and don’t reply.
“I should call someone about my car. I guess I need to get it towed.” She’s looking at the ceiling again, blinking back tears.
“Already did it,” I say.
Her face jerks down. “When?”
“I texted a guy when you were getting the x-rays. It’s all taken care of.”
“How much is it going to be?”
“To fix the car or just to tow it?”
She groans. Worry spreads over her face.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“How would I not worry about it?” she says, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t have a car. I don’t have a way to fix the car. I’m not even sure I have enough money to get it towed.”
She’s doing the rapid blinking thing again, and I’m praying she doesn’t cry.
“Calm down, Ginger. It will all work out.”
“Did you just tell me to calm down?” she hisses.
“Yes, because that’s what you need to do.
She scoffs. “You can’t tell a woman to calm down.”
“You can if that’s what she needs to do.”
“Of all people to rescue me,” she mutters under her breath.
“What was that?”
“Oh, I was just talking to my fairy godmother; thanking her for the rescue.”
“Well, this isn’t what I was wanting to do today either,’ I whisper-yell back. She’s shooting daggers out of her eyes right now.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious. I thought you were enjoying my company.”
Sadie approaches with our plates, and we both clamp our mouth shut tight. She just sets the plates down in front of us and backs away silently like she might trigger an explosion if she makes any noise.
Ginger angrily dips a French fry into her ketchup like she’s trying to murder it.
“What’s your real name?” I ask. Why I’m talking I have no idea, but it’s fucking bothering me that’s she’s hiding something.
“Ginger,” she says.
“Bullshit.”
She shrugs. “What’s your real name, or is it Grumpy?”
I just sneer.
“Oh it is, Grumpy,” she says. “Your parents had some real foresight. It suits you though.”
I don’t respond.
“What’s that short for anyway? Grumpasaurus? Grumpalumpagus? Grumpottamus?”
I narrow my eyes.
“I know Grumpy McGrumpface.”
I snort. That’s actually pretty funny.
“Is it like Voldemort? Am I not allowed to say it out loud?”
“Something like that,” I mutter as I cram several French fries in my mouth all at once. I check my watch again.
“Just leave,” she hisses. “If you don’t want to be here, don’t. It’s rude to keep checking your watch every five seconds.”
“It’s rude to call a stranger Grumpy McGrumpface,” I snap.
She snickers, and I honestly have a hard time not cracking a smile even though she’s pissing me off.
“Well, I don’t know your name, so...”
“I don’t know yours either,” I interrupt. Our eyes lock until the door opens, and there’s commotion by the front. I turn my head around to see Hawk coming inside.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
That’s the last thing I need right now. Maybe he won’t see us.
Ginger’s taking a long hard look at Hawk like it’s the first time she’s seen a man. Oh hell no, not on my watch.
Some sort of merciful deity is looking down on me because Hawk gets a call, and he’s out the door as fast as he arrived.
Well, that’s something.
I exhale dramatically, and she tilts her head and looks at me like I have six eyeballs.
She returns her gaze to the doorway. Her eyes linger for far too long, and I feel too many emotions bubble to the surface all at once.
I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.
I need to remove myself from this woman’s presence as soon as possible.
I don’t make good decisions in the presence of women who make me feel too many emotions all at once.
“Where are you staying?” I ask as I wave at Sadie for the check. The sooner I get her to her rental, the sooner I can return to my life.
“Be right there, Kip,” she calls.
“Kip,” Ginger says, her eyebrow arched. As soon as my name floats out of her mouth tingles run down my goddamn spine. I like the way it sounds. Christ, I really like it.
“Oh, I have a rental.” She pulls a piece of paper out of her bag and hands it to me. “If you could just drive me there, I’ll be out of your hair and...what’s wrong?”
I’m pinching the bridge of my nose. Why? Why the fuck is this happening?
“What is it?” she says again.
“This place doesn’t exist.”
“What? Of course it does. I’ve been messaging with the owner. I’ve paid for two months.”
Now my anger is bubbling over.
“Come with me, Ginger.” I stand up and grab her good arm.
“We haven’t paid,” she squeaks.
I pull a fifty out of my wallet and throw it on the table. “Okay, follow me.”
She does a double take.
“I’ll pay you back.” She stumbles after me.
“No you won’t,” I say as we exit the restaurant.
She stops walking right outside the entrance. Everyone in the restaurant is watching us through the windows. Fucking hell.
“Yes, I will.”
“No, cupcake, you won’t,” I say. “Now come on.”
I’m marching her down the sidewalk. Dammit, I’m going to do what I really didn’t want to do. I’m taking her to Hawk. He’ll take care of this. I’ll hand her over and go back to my simple, pleasant, drama free life.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
I don’t answer.
“Hey Grumpasaurus, you’re hurting me.”
I freeze and immediately drop her wrist.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she says, rubbing her wrist. “Your grip was a little tight.”
My heart is pounding. “Ginger, let me see.”
“You didn’t really hurt me.” She pulls her arm close to her body.
“You sure?” I’m trying to see if I left a mark. Goddamn it. I wasn’t trying to hurt her.
“It’s fine, but I’d like to know where I’m going. Is this the part where you murder me?”
“In the middle of the day in front of all of these witnesses?”
“I didn’t say you were going to get away with it.”
“I’m taking you to the police station.”
She’s the one who freezes now. Panic spreads across her face. Those blinky eyes return.
“What?” she says, lashes furiously blinking.
“The police station,” I say. “You know, law enforcement.”
“Why would you do that?” She’s backing away from me.
“That rental. It’s a scam. It’s not the first time they’ve scammed someone with that same house. We need to report it.”
“No,” she says. Her voice is firm, but also painfully fragile. “I...I can’t.”
“Can’t?”
“I don’t want to give them my name.”
I blow a rush of air out of my lungs and run my hands through my hair. What the fuck have I stumbled into?
She’s still backing away from me, and I’m afraid she’s about to make a run for it.
“Are you in trouble?” I say, stepping toward her. My voice is low.
She shakes her head.
“Ginger, don’t lie to me.” I’m about to grab her wrist again.
“I’m not...I’m not in trouble.”
“But you’re running from someone?” I ask.
“Not exactly...sort of. It’s not what you think.”
“Well, enlighten me.” I step closer to her.
“I can’t,” she says. She’s got these ridiculous watery puppy dog eyes now, and my chest tightens so much it hurts. Fuck me. I’m going to regret stopping and helping her. Correction: I already regret stopping and helping her.
“Please...please.” She’s begging now. This is worse. I liked it better when I wanted to tear her limb from limb. “I can’t go to the police.”
“Fine,” I say, taking her by the arm again - this time more gently.
“Where are we going now?”
“I know a place you can stay.”