“Damn...” I muttered. I was told who she was; I just wasn’t told that she was so drop dead sexy. I wanted to rip that jacket off her and lean her across the hood of my car.
Snap out of it, Theo. This is not why you are here. I thought.
I had to remember. I was there for a reason and imagining what she looked like without clothes on wasn’t that.
I slipped my phone into my back pocket and followed her into the store. I was sure to keep my distance and make it look like I was looking for something. I had no idea how people even ate half that shit. What the hell are cCheese puffs?
I set the bag back down and rounded the corner. She was holding up two boxes of something. They each had cartoon looking characters on them.
The only good thing about the assignment was that the target was her.
I PARKED DOWN THE STREET from her house and waited. She was bringing in bags with her sister. I flipped the file that contained both their photos in my passenger’s seat open..
This was supposed to be easy, but so far, it’s seemed like it was just a cluster of shit.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket causing me to reach back there like I was digging in my ass.
“Hello?” I grunted into the phone.
“How’s it going?”
“Boring, but fine.”
“Have you met her yet?”
“No. What do you want me to do? Knock on her door and be like, ‘Hey. I was driving by and thought I would introduce myself.’?”
“No. Don’t be stupid. And don’t mess this up either.”
I sighed. “I’m not going to mess this up. Just relax and don’t get your panties in a twist.”
“This isn’t funny, Theo.”
“Dude. I know. Chill. I’ll call you later with an update.”
I hung up the phone and tossed it into the passenger’s seat.
I pulled away from the curb and headed back into town. Clearly, I was going to be there for a bit. I pulled into the inn that was on the edge of town.
“Can I help you?” the woman behind the counter asked.
“Do you have a room available?”
She nodded. “Of course. How long are planning to stay?”
“I’m actually not sure. Can I just reconfirm each morning?”
She looked at me like I was some serial killer.
“Sometimes when I travel, I stay in small inns and if I really like them, I end up extending my stay for a bit.”
“Okay. Room six.” She handed me a key and pointed up the stairs.
“Thank you.” I tossed my bag over my shoulder and shuffled up the stairs.
Room six. Perfect number if you add two more sixes to it.
I walked in and was surprised. It didn’t look like a normal inn. More modern than most, but still had that goody two shoes feel to it that make me want to puke.
I tossed my bag onto the chair in the corner and pulled out the file on Kassandra.
“What are you doing?”
I spun around and nearly fell over.
“What the hell man?” I groaned.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking into a room because I’m going to be here for a bit.”
“But shouldn’t you be at her house?”
“And I will. Can you let me do this my way?”
“Is your way going to take us a year?”
“No.” I huffed.
“Fine. I need some sort of answers soon or else he’s going to start getting bitchy.”
I nodded and waved him gone.
I shoved the file back into my bag and was out the door.
It was my first time being trusted with something like this. I was determined to do it my way.
Back out the door and to my car. It was going to be a long couple of days. Where was I going to go? I couldn’t exactly go sit outside her house. But I could go into town and get the run down on everything. I mean, her mother lived there. She grew up there. People must know her.
I pulled open the door and drove into town. This was one of those places that you would see on television. A small town where everyone is friendly. Hell, if someone coughed the entire town would hear it, probably.
At least there was a bar and grill. I walked in and went right over to the bar.
“What can I get you?” the woman behind the bar asked.
“Bourbon. And what’s your special?”
“The burger.”
“Alright, I’ll take that.”
“You got it.” She bounced off toward the other end of the bar and hit a few buttons on her computer.
The entire place got quiet for a moment. I turned and saw her walking in with her sister.
She dragged her sister over to a table and sat down.
“Who’s that?” I casually asked pointing to Kassandra.
“Oh. That’s Kass and Lela. Their mom was a regular.”
“Was?”
The woman nodded as she set my drink down in front of me.
“She passed recently. The girls are just back to take care of her affairs.”
I nodded. “Their drinks are on me.”
I looked sideways over my shoulder at them. One way or another I was going to get in front of her and meet her.
I could already see the tattoo peeking out from her tank top when she took off her jacket. It was already happening. Shit.
I listened closely as the waitress took their drinks over to them.
“Compliments of the man at the bar.”
I looked down at my nearly empty drink. I could feel her presence next to me.
“Thanks for the drinks, Mister...I don’t know who you are.”
“Theo Webb.”
“Mr. Webb. Thank you for the drinks.”
“And you are?” I asked turning around completely.
“Kassandra Mayfield.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too. Are you eating alone?” she questioned.
I nodded.
“Enjoy your dinner.” She smiled walking back over to her table.
“You too.” I muttered taking in the last bit of my drink.
“Bartender!” I said holding up my glass. If I wasn’t going to get anywhere with her tonight, I was at least going to get some drinks in me.
For the next hour I listened to them laugh, and I strained to listen to some of the stuff they whispered about.
I noticed they were getting ready to leave, so I took that chance to thank the bartender and head outside.
It would look a lot less creepy if I left first rather than waiting for them to leave and following them out the door.
“Oh, it’s you.” Kass smiled turning to face me as she and her sister stepped outside.
“It is.”
“This is the man who bought our drinks,” she said.
She didn’t sound drunk or even the slightest bit tipsy.
“Thank you,” her sister Lela said.
I started toward the side of the building where my car was.
“Are you following us?” Lela asked.
“I parked here too. I mean unless this parking lot is only for women or residents of the town.”
Kass shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Lela; it’s fine. Relax,” she whispered the last part.
I strolled over to my car and pretended to be fiddling with my keys. As stupid as it was, I wanted to make sure they at least got into their car okay.