Dangerous Lies

by A P Foote

  “Thank you.” Okay, now I am really nervous. Who does that? Chivalry died a long time ago in this town and I never thought I would experience it firsthand.

  He closes the door behind me, the palm of his hand coming to rest on my lower back. I shiver at the small gesture, the dominating representation he’s exploiting that people bitch about, but the gesture isn’t lost on me.

  Approaching the glass doors Cass holds the right side open that reads ‘Enter.’ I walk in expecting this place to look just as run down on the inside as it does out, but I’m pleasantly surprised. This place is pretty cute; the wood floors are cleaned and polished with the scent of cedar burning from them, pictures of first responders neatly line the maroon walls, and the smells coming from the kitchen are to die for. The aroma of cinnamon rolls filters throughout the room, the delicious smell making my mouth water.

  “This is nice huh?” Cass gently grips my elbow, guiding me to a far corner away from the windows.

  “It is; I wasn’t expecting it.” He gestures to the black leather booth. I take the seat opposite him, having my back openly displayed to the door, not exactly an arrangement I like to be in. I fold my hands in front of me and lean against the table. “So, what is it you would like to discuss?”

  Cass’s broad upper body leans back against the booth, nervously flipping the napkin over in his hands. “How would you feel if I were to work for you full time? That is, if you’d have me.”

  He gets to the point, doesn’t he? “Well, how about you tell me a little about yourself? I mean you already know more about me and my personal life than I do about your professional capabilities.”

  He chuckles under his breath leaning forward onto the table, his Romanesque pecks gracing the tabletop. “Okay, my father was an engineer, my mother a third-grade teacher. I have a younger brother who was spoiled beyond comprehension—”

  “Fast forward.” I mimic a wheel with my finger.

  “All right, I put myself through community college working in a bar out in Cali. I held that job down for six years before…” His eyes fall.

  “Before what?”

  He clears his throat and looks back at me. “Before I finally became a paramedic.”

  Paramedic? If he thinks I’m buying that he’s crazy. No one goes to college for six years to be a paramedic. He swallows hard under my scrutiny; he’s nervous about something. I’ll go with it, for now.

  “Okay so if I do a background check on you nothing will come back?” I tap the bamboo tabletop.

  “Squeaky clean.”

  He’s such a liar, but the one thing I do know is that everyone does things for a reason. He intrigues me. I want to see what he’s up to and I can’t resist that perfect Cheshire smile and those sapphire blue eyes.

  “All right, you’re in. But there are rules.” The cushion behind me is amazingly comfy when my back hits it. I might come here more often just to sit in this booth. Damn.

  Cass nods waiting for me to finish. “Stay out of the office, no drinking on my clock, and don’t screw the regulars.”

  His hand hovers above the tabletop. “Done.”

  Oh, we’re touching now? Lovely. I take his hand in mine sealing the deal. We are way past the allotted time a handshake normally takes but neither of us seem to want to let go. His touch is comforting, warm and safe. Something I haven’t felt in a while.

  Reluctantly I let him go, but he on the other hand seems more hesitant, not releasing his grip all the way so my hand has to slide against his fingers on its retreat.

  “So,” I reach for the red, white, and blue menu and open it, and Cass does the same, “what’s good to eat here?”

  “I. Am. Stuffed.” Huffing, I pat my stomach for dramatic effect, cheesing at Cass.

  “Well, you did eat a giant Philly and a large order of fries by yourself.” Cass throws his napkin on the remnants of the beef carcass, grabs his coke, taking a big gulp. I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down, dreaming of what it would be like for him to drink me. I never would have thought a bobbing throat could be a turn on, but it does.

  “And you had a raw Ribeye.”

  “Hey! It wasn’t raw, it was medium rare. I’m appalled!” he jokes slapping his chest, the muscles under his shirt flexing with the impact.

  We laugh together and it’s soberly refreshing. I don’t remember when I actually had a good time at lunch. Last time I went out with Clyde it ended in an altercation between him and the bus boy, all because he thought the guy was looking down my shirt when he cleared our table.

  Our waiter stops at our table, he’s had a sour look on his face every time he’s dealt with us this whole afternoon. I noticed when it was only us that he showed displeasure to. Every other table he’s approached, he would laugh and cut up with its occupants, but not us.

  “Your bill’s been taken care of.” He sucks his teeth, sauntering away, disgusted with us being his customers.

  I glare at the waiter even after he walks away. “What an odd guy. Did he say our food was paid for?”

  Cass peers over his shoulder and turns back to me, shrugging. “Yeah, he did. That was a pretty nice thing for someone to do, but yes the whole time he’s acted like we’re a burden.”

  “I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed, should I leave him a killer tip? Make him feel like shit,” I whisper leaning over the table.

  Cass grins from ear to ear. “Whoa, let’s not get to severe with his punishment.”

  “I’m all for handing someone their ass.” The onset of pain starts in my jaw from fucking smiling; I guess it’s not used to so much excitement.

  Something outside catches Cass’s eye. His smile falters when he looks back at me.

  “What is it?”

  “Looks like you have some visitors.” I follow his line of sight scoping out the window to see what he’s talking about. And he’s sure as shit right about that. Not only are Rat and Cabe waiting outside, fucking Clyde showed up.

  “We’d better go.”

  “You sure you want to?” His expression is concerned, sincere, and I almost want to tell him no but if I don’t, Clyde will make this worse by causing a scene. Come to think of it he would normally storm the gates to “rescue” me, so I don’t get why they haven’t come inside. They’ve had no problems in the past busting down the locals’ doors to get what they want.

  Sliding from the booth takes more effort than I’ll ever admit. Clyde’s bullshit is exhausting, and Cass is too nice of a guy to have to deal with the problems I have. I need to tell him. “The new guy out there?”

  He sneaks a peek. “What about him?”

  My tongue darts between my lips; I’ve developed a sudden case of dry mouth. “He’s my ex-boyfriend. I just wanted you to know what you’re walking into.”

  This is it, he’s gonna tell me to piss off, or the classic it’s not you it’s me line… What am I freaking out about? We aren’t dating and he has no obligation to hang around—

  He leans into me, the sweet peppermint lacing his breath wafts my face, and I nonchalantly breath it in silently begging for more. His tongue clicks across his teeth. “I don’t scare that easily.”

  “Bay Lake is a different breed of crazy. You have the typical clinically insane crazy located down the block on eighty second, the I’m pregnant with your baby even though we’ve never had sex crazy, and then… there’s them. The Berserkers of Bay Lake, ruthless one percenters who take what they want when they want.” Cass has to know what he’s getting himself into, and this has nothing to do with a personal relationship, but if he’s going to work for me, he needs to be prepared. Mitch wasn’t and he learned the hard way. Now the only time he’ll really look at me is when the bar’s closed.

  Cass steps around me, heading straight for the door. Crazy bastard, he’s still not got a clue. Dread settles in the pit of my stomach, and the only reason my legs are moving is to keep his perfect ass in sight.

  The door chimes announcing our departure. The cool afternoon bre
eze is refreshing against my warm skin, though the anxiety and anticipation still have my palms sweating. I’m already on edge and a little overheated even with the approaching winter.

  Wooden planks creak under Cass’s leather boots, the splintering wood mocking us with each daunting step, and when Clyde doesn’t smile as we approach that adds another notch in my nervousness.

  “What’s going on, Kat?” Clyde’s accusing tone concerns me, not just for Cass but me too.

  “Just having lunch with a friend.” My sneakers crunch the gravel as I hop off the last step. “Clyde, this is Cass, Cass… Clyde.” I gesture between the two men. They’re close in height, really fucking tall, and they both look menacing as hell between the tattoos and muscle they have stacked.

  “Pleasure.” Cass reaches out in a friendly gesture. Clyde just stares at him like he could be diseased, and how dare he try and touch him. Cass waves the white flag, dropping his hand back to his side.

  “Yeah, sure. Kat, don’t you think you should be getting ready for work?”

  There he is, the egotistical, demanding, daddy figure he tries oh so hard to be. Internally I’m screaming. The frustration is unbearable when someone who doesn’t really give a shit about you acts like they do by controlling everything in your life.

  “Can you get off my car? We were actually headed for the bar, got some business to take care of. Cass?” I direct him to the passenger side, and he takes my pointed hint. The quicker we can get out of this situation the better.

  Clyde stands up straight, his jeans squeaking against the paint, I cringe. His fucking buttons better not have left a mark. Just keep going, Kat, don’t start anything out in public.

  Reaching for the handle my fingers barely graze the chrome when Clyde’s hand wraps around my wrist, and the squeezing warning is felt in my core. He lowers his head, lips grazing my ear, the softness tickling the baby fine hair; chills streak my spine.

  “Don’t push me, Kat.” His voice is calm, too calm, when he says it. He spins me around by my wrist, stepping into my body. “I’ll be back tonight, finish what I started last night.”

  Fucker. He said that shit on purpose. He knows Cass is still standing there and he said it loud enough for him to hear.

  Before I can react Clyde swoops in, his lips crashing into mine. My body tenses frozen like a dear trapped in headlights.

  He really just did that.

  I forcefully push against his chest, and when the car door slams, he finally decides to let up. “Don’t fucking do that again and stay away from me.”

  With one last push he steps back, licking his lips, stripping me with his eyes. I’d be lying if I said how he treats me doesn’t turn me on, but that’s not what I need or want. I’ve been there, done that with him and I won’t do it again.

  Practically jumping into the driver’s seat, I turn the ignition over. The Mustang roars to life calming my wrecked nerves. I’m honestly shocked Cass didn’t just run away back there. I’m almost certain though, whatever attraction he had to me is long gone now.

  “So, what do you need help with at the bar this early that I can do?”

  Is he serious?

  I glance at Cass as I would the rearview. “You’re sticking around? After that?”

  “I told you, I don’t scare easily.” He reaches into his front pocket, pulling out his phone. A few screen taps later he’s shoving it back into its hiding place. I contemplate telling him what that whole situation was about back there, but he beats me to the punch.

  “Wanna talk about it?”

  I guess I need to add mind reader to the list of things perfect about him.

  “No. Yes.” I thumb the steering wheel. “Later?”

  “Whatever you need.” He squeezes my shoulder, a comforting a gesture I very much appreciate.

  We make it into the bar’s parking lot by two-thirty. I don’t open the doors for a couple more hours, giving me a chance to get some paperwork taken care of. I can have Cass set everything up for later tonight, so everything runs smooth.

  “Will you run inventory for me before you set up?”

  Cass grabs the door after I unlock it, holding it open for me. “Absolutely, you’re the boss.”

  Clyde

  She thinks she can fool me? I saw the way she looked at that guy. Happy, excited, enthralled. She used to look at me that way, and I’ll be damned if that guy takes her away from me. Never going to happen, over his dead body. And what the hell was she doing at the Fed’s den? The one useful thing her dad taught her was to stay away. Granted, she has no idea it’s a façade.

  “Pres?” Nix interrupts my pacing. It’s the only thing keeping me from riding over to the bar, ripping Cass’s throat out, and teaching my precious Kat a lesson.

  “What is it?” I growl. My shoulders heave with every ferocious beat of my cold heart.

  Nix backs up allowing Ratty and Cabe through. They’re carrying a beaten and bloodied Jim. I never liked the guy, and when he tried assaulting Kat he was expelled and beaten half to death. The only reason I didn’t decapitate the chooch was because Kat felt sorry for him. My Italian roots and upbringing don’t leave any room for sympathy. She told him he could work off his debt to her at the bar. I don’t know who would let the guy who tried doing horrendous things to you work for them, but okay. So, what happened?

  The guys grunt, tossing the hefty man on a chair in the corner. Nix closes the door behind him. Resting my hand on his head, I nearly sneer when a whimper bubbles from his mouth. “P-p-please!”

  I asses his wounds; he wasn’t jumped or in a bar fight. These wounds are clean and strategic, so someone tortured him. “What happened?”

  “N-n-new guy.”

  He can’t be talking about pretty boy. “Cass?”

  Jim’s eyes widen in fear, and panic takes him over as he tries to fight his way past me. My hand presses against his chest, shoving him back in the chair. I strike him across the face, blood smearing my hand. I wipe it off on his pant leg. “Chill out!”

  “Sorry,” he cries, lulling his head from side to side.

  I place each hand on the arm rest of the chair, dipping my head for him to get a better look at me. “What about him?”

  Kat

  “Hey, Cass?” I call into the other room with no response. “Cass?”

  Where is he? The chair swivels, my feet propelling me out from under the desk. I hate having to track people down, especially employees. I set off in search for him; he isn’t behind the bar, nor in the cooler or the bathroom either.

  Walking into the kitchen I notice the back door propped open. Why would he be out there?

  My palm slides against the rough metal door, giving it a little push. Cass has his back toward me and he’s not alone. He’s talking with another man. Same height as him, same stance as him, and the same fucking face. His doppelganger just lacks the facial hair. I can’t believe he didn’t tell me that he has a twin! He did mention having a brother but not a twin. Okay, I’ve thought twin way too much.

  Not Cass catches me watching him. He plasters a big smile on, flashing that wickedly handsome grin my way, throwing his hand up in the air, waving it around like he needs to be on eighty-second street. “Hey! You must be Kat; I’m Dalton.”

  The overly excited man side steps around Cass bopping his way over to me. Great, even being obnoxious this man is just as hot as Cass, what the hell is going on around here?

  He bounces up the steps until he’s standing on the same one as me. His boots bump into my sneakers. “Woah, nice to meet you? Cass never mentioned his brother was a twin.”

  “Ah, well that’s Cass, always leaving me out of his… crazy stories.”

  “Um, well, why don’t you come in?” I motion toward the door, holding it open for them.

  Cass stands at the bottom of the stairs, annoyance and aggravation creasing his eyes. “So, are you staying in town long? Or just passing through?”

  “I haven’t decided yet, usually I’d say passing through,
but I think I could find a reason to stay.” Dalton breezes past me to one of the many open chairs around the bar.

  Cass walks by leaning in so only I can hear. “He’s not staying, he never does.”

  Okaaaay, why would I care either way?

  I close the door behind Cass, locking it from the inside. I tuck the key inside my bra, hidden away from the world. Cass sits next to his brother and begins talking quietly, and I act busy walking behind the bar to check the bottles.

  Attempting to listen in I get sidetracked and drop a liter of goose. The opaque bottle hits the wooden floor smashing into a billion pieces, gushing its contents fucking everywhere. Okay, maybe not a billion but the damn thing made a huge mess. “Shit.”