Street Safe

by W. Lynn Chantale

  A few more frantic strokes and he stilled. They collapsed in a tangle of limbs, panting. Street eased from her body. He padded the bathroom and returned a moment later with a washcloth. Tenderly he cleansed her. The warm towel soothed away the lingering soreness.

  He then stretched out beside her, curving a forearm around her waist. She snuggled into him.

  “Did I hurt you?” Concern filtered through his husky voice as he studied her.

  “No.” She smiled. “It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced.”

  He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her close for a kiss. “Good, ‘cause I want to make love to you again and again.”

  ****

  Late that night or maybe early in the morning muted buzzing jostled Na’arah from her slumber. If sleeping with Street was going to be a regular occurrence she’d have to find an alternative to condoms. After their fourth time the rubbers were beginning to chafe.

  She pried open bleary eyes and glanced around the darkened room. Street snored gently on her left, a possessive arm around her waist, while his hand cupped her vagina.

  What had awakened her? The sound repeated and her gaze fell on her purse. Her phone. She untangled from his embrace and eased from the bed. On the way, she scooped up the black discarded dress shirt and stuffed her arms through the sleeves.

  She squinted at the luminous red numbers on the digital clock, then rubbed her eyes. Hopefully she’d remembered to bring her contact case. She retrieved her purse and fished out her phone. Several missed calls scrolled across the screen, thankfully none were from her sister or the sheriff, but there was one which gave her pause. Another look inside her bag turned up the plastic case for her contacts. She disappeared into the bathroom, dialing the number.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get your call before,” she said when the line was answered.

  “Still on your date or is it officially a sleepover?”

  “Yeah.”

  His throaty chuckle brought heat to her cheeks. Thank goodness she was on the phone and not facing him.

  “What do you want, Derrick?”

  “I just needed to talk.”

  Apprehension tightened her belly. Maybe he went back to the casino. “About?”

  “I got a huge contract today. The news was waiting for me at the office. If I hadn’t listened to you, I don’t think it would’ve been waiting for me.”

  “We make our own fate, Der.”

  “Yeah and when I pissed away money, it seemed nothing went right. And another thing, during the next two festivals, I’m offering carriage rides as part of the Hack House tours.”

  She grinned. Old fashioned carriage rides were something she’d heard her sister talk about, so to hear that they were finally coming to fruition was just great. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “Yeah, I thought I’d let you know, especially with all the hours you put in listening to me whine and cuss about my problems. You deserved to hear the good stuff.”

  Bedsprings creaked, while the sheets rustled through the open door. “I’m glad.”

  “Well, I’ll let you get back to your date. When you recover, I’ll buy you a drink.”

  She giggled and hung up the phone. With a smile she dropped her phone in her purse, washed her hands and quickly removed her contacts. By the time she left the bathroom, Street was propped against the headboard, watching her.

  “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” She dropped her purse in the chair.

  “Going somewhere?”

  “I needed to take my contacts out and return a phone call.” She shrugged out of her borrowed shirt. “But I’m definitely here for the rest of the night.” She crawled on the bed and back in his arms.

  “This late?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.” She straddled his thighs, placing her hands on either side of his face. Stubble tickled her palms. “Nothing major.”

  He squeezed her butt. “That’s good, let me finish what I started.”

  Chapter Six

  “And where were you last night?” Zee demanded when she entered the spa. She shoved a foam cup of coffee toward her sister.

  Na’arah stifled a wide yawn and gratefully accepted the caffeine. “A date.” She waved a hand toward a vacant chair and Zee sprawled in the cushions. The only reason Na’arah was in on Sunday was to make sure things went smoothly when she opened the shop on Monday as the owner.

  “Really?”

  She nodded.

  “All night?”

  “Yes.”

  Zee tilted her head and studied her sister, she widened her eyes. “You went out with the bartender.”

  Na’arah giggled. “Yes.”

  “Seriously? After what you told me?”

  “He apologized and took me to dinner.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “What?”

  “You are too easy. Dinner?”

  Na’arah bumped her sister’s shoulder with her own. “It was a really nice restaurant and he apologized.”

  “You must really like this guy.”

  She sipped her coffee. “Yeah.”

  “At least tell me you used protection?”

  Na’arah inhaled her coffee instead of swallowing it and ended up choking on the dark liquid. She forgot how blunt her sister could be.

  “Seriously, Arah. Have I taught you nothing?”

  Coughing spasm subsiding, she dabbed at the liquid dribbling down her chin. “Yes, we used protection. Although if this keeps up I’ll need to refill my birth control.”

  Zee sat up straight. “What kind? Pills? Shot? That ring thing?”

  “What? Why?” She sensed an urgency she hadn’t before.

  “There was a recall on a bunch of pills, from two different companies. So if you’re taking the Pill, I hope you used a condom or a diaphragm or else you better go to plan B.”

  “No worries.”

  Zee visibly relaxed, her shoulders sagging. “Good. Your bartender doesn’t seem to be interested in more than scratching an itch.”

  Na’arah pursed her lips. “Really? And you base this off...?”

  “You worked for the man’s uncle. I’m sure you don’t expect any type of chivalry?”

  “Zee, Rue is nothing like Auggie.”

  “Keep telling yourself that. All men are the same.”

  “No, sis, they’re not. You keep picking the same type of men. Why don’t you try something new for a change and have a conversation with one before you stick your tongue down his throat.”

  “Like you would know.”

  Na’arah met her sister’s frosty glare. “Miles is intelligent. Why not give him a chance?”

  “Ha!” she scoffed. “The man is bossy as hell.”

  She sipped her coffee.

  “And he shows up on my job whenever he damn well pleases. Not all of my customers feel comfortable when they see a gun and uniform harassing their tattoo artist.”

  “Um hmm.”

  “And he insists on making sure I don’t have any weapons. I’ve resorted to walking around with a rattail comb and a bottle of cayenne pepper.”

  Na’arah smothered a giggle.

  “Miles is the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. Just because I nicked him with a blade, he’s all bent out of shape. He should grow a pair and quit bitchin’ about a little scratch.”

  Now she did laugh. “Zee. Do you hear yourself? You sound like you’re half in love with him.”

  Her sister narrowed her eyes. “What a despicable thing to say and I thought we were sisters.”

  “We will be sisters forever, my dear.” She studied the younger woman a moment. Since she walked in the shop, not once had Zee really looked her in the eye. “Seriously, is everything okay?”

  Zee bobbed her head up and down sending the hoop earrings chiming against one another. “Yeah. Do you think you could help with some of the renovations at Hack House? We need volunteers to paint and stuff.”

  “Sure, whatever you need.”

>   Zee leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Na’arah in a quick hug. “Good. I gotta run. I have a lunch date.”

  “Lock the door on your way out,” she called after her. Her sister waved in response, the chime of the door heralding her exit.

  Na’arah sat back drumming her fingers on the desk. A date for lunch didn’t sound like a bad idea. She reached for the phone as a knock reverberated through the shop. The chair creaked and popped when she pushed away from the desk.

  As she neared the entryway to the main floor, she caught a glimpse of broad shoulders and a bald head. She grinned while warm pleasure stole through her veins. She was going to call him and see if he was free. Seeing him in person was even better.

  She twisted the lock and opened the door. “Hey you.”

  Street cradled her face and touched his lips to hers. She rested her palms against his chest and welcomed the zips and tingles coursing through her veins.

  “Hey yourself,” he said when he broke the kiss. He swept the pad of his thumb against the delicate skin beneath her eye. “Did I keep you up too late?”

  She grasped his wrist. “I suppose you did have a hand in my lack of sleep.”

  “How about a late lunch?” He searched her face. “And I could make it up to you?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Is two good for you?”

  She rose on tiptoe and swept her lips to his. “Perfect. That gives me time to finish up here, then go home and change.” She smoothed a hand down the front of her smock.

  “Wear jeans. We’ll take a ride on my bike.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  ****

  Sunlight glared off the hood of a late model sedan. Street adjusted his sunglasses and parked his motorcycle in front of the spa. A picnic basket was already secured to the back of his bike, all he needed now was his pretty lady to fill the backseat.

  He was a little early to pick her up, but he didn’t mind waiting. Although there were other things he could do while he waited for her. Last night had been truly incredible and something he could get used to. He removed his helmet and straightened the bandana beneath, then continued across the sidewalk to the entrance of the spa.

  Pale blue gauzy curtains fluttered in the large display window. He could just make out the register and counter through the glare of the sun. He twisted the knob on the door and stepped across the threshold.

  Not much had changed, other than the curtains and the magazines. He pushed his sunglasses on the top of his head. No, she’d added a few bookshelves. He stepped farther into the shop, the door whispered closed behind him.

  “Na’arah?” he called. A soft moan drifted from the back of the shop. He hoped she wasn’t hurt. On guard, Street inched toward the rear of the building. Gentle squeaks punctuated the air along with occasional grunts.

  He followed the noises to a room on the end. All the other doors were open, except one, it stood ajar. Two bodies could be seen through the three inch wide gap.

  “Oh yeah,” a husky masculine voice said.

  Street stopped short. He recognized the voice. Auggie was out already? Street moved closer to the door. Lightly tanned skin and a warm brown arm came into view. He froze. No! The air left his lungs in a whoosh, while betrayal burned a hole in his gut. After everything they’d shared. He spun on his heel and stalked from the shop, slamming the door on the climatic crescendo.

  He hopped on his bike and brought it to life with a roar. This would be the last time she would have an opportunity to hurt him.

  ****

  Twenty minutes later Na’arah sauntered into the bar. She’d waited, on the sidewalk in front of her shop for Street, but he’d never showed. Now she wanted to know why he stood her up.

  A quick glance toward the bar showed a good-looking young man with short black hair in an earnest conversation with Derrick. She lifted a hand in greeting and continued toward the back.

  The door to Street’s office was closed. She raised her arm and rapped on the door with her fist.

  “C’min.”

  She twisted the knob and pushed open the door. Street sat at the scarred desk, his head bowed over a spreadsheet. A blue highlighter was clutched in one fist, while he slid a ruler down the page with his other hand. He didn’t even look up.

  “I thought we had a date.”

  When he lifted his gaze, she shuddered beneath his dark scowl.

  “Rue?”

  He stood and advanced so fast, she stumbled backward into the door. Heart pounding, she studied him. His hands were clenched at his sides and she couldn’t quite stop from flinching from his scathing glare. She firmed her spine, but her hands trembled. She clasped them behind her back to keep him from seeing.

  “Why are you here?”

  She tilted her head to the side. What happened in the last few hours? And why was he so upset with her? “We—we had a date. You said to meet you in front of the spa. I showed, you didn’t.”

  “I was there!” he said with a growl.

  Huh? “Well if you were there, why didn’t you wait for me?”

  He stepped closer, towering over her small frame, but she refused to let him intimidate her.

  “You really expected me to wait for you after I saw you with Auggie?” he demanded.

  “I was never with Auggie!”

  “I saw you. This afternoon when I came to pick you up.” His eyes glittered with anger. “If you thought I was going to stick around for that you’re sadly mistaken.”

  Na’arah chewed her lower lip. She was in the shop. The only time she’d seen Auggie was a few moments ago. Zee! Damn her sister. Na’arah clutched his sleeve and he snatched his arm away.

  “Get out of my office.”

  “I can explain.”

  “I don’t want an explanation, I just want you gone.”

  She studied him a moment. His full lips had thinned to a hard line and his jaw was clenched tight. He truly believed she’d been with Auggie. Her temper flared. “You’re not even going to hear me out?”

  An icy glare was her reply.

  Her heart clenched and she nodded. “Fine.” Silence stretched between them. With one last look over her shoulder she stomped from the office. The door slammed behind her and she winced.

  Hot tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked to clear her vision. She wouldn’t give him the luxury of tears. She stalked to the front of the bar. Auggie stepped in her path.

  “Hey Arah, I’m out!” He grinned. “We should do lunch to celebrate you officially taking over the spa.”

  She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Her palm stung from the contact. “Stay away from me.”

  He rubbed his cheek. “What?”

  With a huff, she shook her head and stalked out the front door.

  ****

  Street stared at the closed door. Had she really expected him to believe her? He replayed the events of the last day or so. The phone call. That’s probably the date she was setting up when they were together. He should’ve known a woman like her wouldn’t want a man like him, wounded, limping, broken Still it cut deep and jagged like a rusty dull blade.

  He spun away from the door only to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. Disgusted with the faded scar he picked up the electric pencil sharpener and hurled it at the reflective glass. It shattered and fell to the floor.

  The door opened. “Are you okay?”

  Street jerked the man up by his lapels. “All the women at your disposal and you couldn’t leave her alone?”

  Auggie’s eyes widened and he grabbed the hands holding him upright. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  He shook his uncle. “You always do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Just get out of my office and stay away from me.” Street released Auggie and he fell to the floor with a grunt.

  Realization dawned. “Is this about Na’arah?”

  “Get. Out.”

  Auggie shook his head and held out
a hand palm up. “Street. You got this all wrong.”

  Unwilling to listen, Street shoved the other man out the office and slammed the door. He didn’t want to hear anymore lies or explanations. He was through with his uncle and women.

  Chapter Seven

  A few days later Na’arah did her best to ignore the weighty stare Auggie leveled on her from the entrance of the back room. He leaned against the doorjamb, thumbs hooked in the belt loops of his well-worn jeans.

  “Remind me not to piss you off again.” There was a teasing note in his voice as well as humor in his sparkling blue eyes. “You pack a wallop.”

  “I’m not speaking to you, Auggie.” She resumed shoving folders haphazardly in a drawer. Since she’d fired Kyle, she had to reshuffle the schedule and that meant working with Auggie on a daily basis until she could hire another massage therapist.

  He pushed off the door and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Talk to me.”

  She shrugged him off. “Don’t.”

  “What happened?”

  This was utterly ridiculous. Ever since she walked out of the bar on Sunday, she couldn’t quite stop the heaviness from weighing her heart. How could she have formed a connection to the bartender in so short a time? She shook her head.

  “Does this have anything to do with my nephew?” Auggie planted a hip on the corner of the wooden desk. “He hasn’t spoken to me in days and will not pour me a drink. I have to get Beau to give me anything stronger than water in a dirty glass.”

  A smile teased her lips. “Serves you right.”

  “I, at least, like to know why I can’t get alcohol and a pretty girl slaps me without the benefit of oil and dinner.”

  She tossed him a glare.

  “Did you two have a fight?”

  “And it’s all your fault.”

  She stood and moved to a shelf. There was a stack of resumes she wanted to go through before she left for the day. Maybe a call to a temp agency would expedite things.

  “My fault? What did I do?”

  “Had sex in one of the spa rooms. Really?”

  “Oh.”

  She stared at him. “Oh. That’s all you have to say?”