Chapter 6 Tate #2
I sighed. “All right, we have a few hours left before we’ll be breaking it down. If you spot Ethan and his crew, let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
The look of relief on Molly’s face told me just how much of a nuisance the kid had been.
The rest of the night was less exciting and I was too busy to breathe, let alone think about Amber until after we broke down the tents around midnight.
It had been a mild evening and the teens and early twenties set were having too much fun in the maze for me to enforce the ten o’clock closing time.
Hearing people laugh as they left, talking about the jump scares made it all worth it.
I’d hired a few theater kids from a nearby college for the maze. They all came down from the maze wearing partial costumes.
Valerie, one of my usual employees, came out of the trailer with a case of beer. “I think we all earned a beer.”
“God, yes.” Molly ran over and took one of the bottles.
“You guys did amazing tonight. You’re the reason it was such a success. I ordered a bunch of food for everyone from Heavenly Bite so make sure you get something to eat before you leave.”
“Do you want a beer, Tate?”
Valerie stood a little too close, her Daphne costume making me think about Amber once more. She had a frosty beer in each hand.
I’d been in her sights since she came looking for a job. She was a damn good employee, but she was definitely angling for more. Unfortunately since I’d come into my money, many women had.
“Thanks.” I took the beer and shifted subtly away from her, tucking my mask under my arm. “Thanks for all your help tonight.”
“Of course.” She tapped a red nail against the double D on my chest. “You know we—”
“Tate?”
Valerie’s face darkened as she stepped back. “What do you want, Molly?”
Molly gave her a sweet smile that could burn a hole through her forehead. “I need to talk to Tate about something. Could you excuse us?”
She huffed out a sigh. “You know he doesn’t have to work every minute of the day, right?”
“Excuse us, Valerie.” My voice firm.
She stalked away, her red hair flying behind her.
“She’s getting bolder.” Molly took a sip from her beer.
“Thanks for the save.”
“No problem. I did want to talk to you.”
“Of course you did.”
She laughed. “Not about work for once. I saw you talking to someone earlier.”
My belly kicked as I spotted an orange sweater by the path. “Amber,” I said under my breath.
“Amber?” She frowned. “Who’s Amber?”
Unsure if Amber wanted me to out her, I could have kicked myself. “Nothing. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
I grabbed another beer from the case as I made my way away from the mini party to where she was sitting on the fence, her feet swinging. She gave me a big smile when I held it out to her.
“Oh, man. I haven’t had a Stella in a thousand years.” She took it from me and cracked the top and took a sip. Her lips were wet when she finished and I wanted to move in closer.
The fact that I wanted to so badly made my feet stick firmly a foot away. “What are you doing back?”
“Saw the lights were still on. I couldn’t sleep.”
“You still have your costume on.”
She took another sip. “You do too.”
“Did you know Velma was my favorite character on Scooby Doo?”
“Is that so?” She drained the bottle.
“Yes.”
“I looked up your Matt Murdock. I must say, you fill out the suit a bit more than he does.”
“Is that a good thing?” I moved in a little closer, unable to help myself.
She lifted her foot to touch my leg. “You are well aware of your appeal, Tate Reynolds.”
“These days there are dollar signs in women’s eyes. It’s hard to discern interest or...”
“Someone who sees you as a meal ticket? I know the feeling well.” She hopped down and pressed the empty bottle to my midsection. “Want to take one last trip through the maze with me, Tate?”
I swallowed hard.
I should say no.
I had responsibilities to my people who were all congregated near the trailer. Music was playing and laughter floated over to us.
“Yes.”
She took off up the hill toward the maze, those long legs eating up ground. I set both of our bottles on the fence and took off after her. She threw a grin over her shoulder and picked up speed.
The thrill of the chase thickened my blood. I gripped my mask tighter as I lengthened my stride and caught up to her.
Just before I got too close she darted through the mouth of the maze.
I panted with exertion and the first bit of excitement I’d felt in a damn long time.
I fitted my mask over my head and followed her inside.
The fog machine had been turned off, but so had the string lights, leaving it quiet and dark.
Just the occasional glow from one of the animatronics giving me a clue to where I was going.
I followed the sound of her breath.
The narrowed vision of my mask added to the anticipation.
I rounded the bend, the sound of footsteps leading me deeper into the maze.
My heart pounded in my ears as I tried to calm my system so I could use my other senses. The hint of her perfume told me I was on the right path. Spicy and warm, it urged me closer.
I made another turn and swallowed an oath as I nearly ran into one of the zombies.
Her laughter had me backtracking, then I paused to get my bearings. “Amber,” I said on a low voice.
I caught her quick intake in breath and realized where I was in the maze. I’d help put it together after all. I took two rights and a left and caught the whisper of her clothing.
I reached for her and caught the edge of her sweater.
She wiggled out of my hold with a throaty laugh and dipped to the right.
I knew that if I backtracked and took a different route, I could cut her off. I ducked around a low hanging spider and down a narrow makeshift hallway then blocked off her escape.
She yelped and crashed into me.
I caught her arms. “Do you like a chase?”
Her breath was coming fast. “I didn’t realize I did until just now.”
I dropped my hold to her hips. “Want to run again?”
She licked her lips, her glasses gone from earlier. “Would you chase me?”
“Fuck yes.”
She bit her lower lip, then twisted out of my grasp and backed her way down the hall.
I strode forward, slow and purposeful. I tipped my head in the way I remembered the character did to fill his senses.
It had the desired effect. Amber’s eyes widened and her mouth parted.
I’d always been the good guy.
The responsible guy.
I kind of liked being her dangerous guy.