Ten Tiny Breaths (15 page)

I follow Storm’s black-clad form to the door.
Just before she knocks, she turns and smiles, like she can read my
mind. “They’re genuinely good guys, Kacey. I know it’s hard to
believe, but it’s true. Cain’s been nothing but amazing with me. He
lets me bartend, he set the stage and equipment up for me to do my
act once in a while, and that’s all. No rounds, no lap dances, no
private stuff. The bouncers collect my tips from my show so I don’t
have to crawl around on the ground, collecting it myself. They’ll
take care of you. You’ll see.”

***

When Trent shows up at half past eleven and
takes a seat at the bar, my brain instantly scatters. The fact that
I slept in his bed last night, and had dinner with him earlier
doesn’t help me relax around him. I think it’s actually made me
more nervous.
One … two … three …Ugh!
As usual, my mother’s
advice doesn’t help.

I stroll over, trying to regulate my heart
rate as I take in his beautiful features. They really are
beautiful. He could grace the cover of any magazine. And that mouth
… I bite my lip, trying not to get all flustered. “Triple scotch on
the rocks?” I quirk my brow.

He flashes those disarming dimples at me.
“Hold the scotch and add some soda to the rocks, and you’ve got a
deal.”

I smile as I throw together his drink, and
slide it toward him, our fingertips brushing for a millisecond.
With a nervous glance over at Nate, I see his focus elsewhere, and
I sigh in relief.

“Don’t worry, I know the rules at these
places.”

“Frequent much?” I ask dryly.

He shakes his head with a wry grin. “Standard
protocol. Some places are more strict than others, but they’re all
the same. I have no interest in getting kicked out again. Once was
enough.”

I feel a twinge of guilt over that, knowing
it was my fault. Trent’s wink dissolves it instantly. I want to
stay and talk to him but there’s a gaggle of customers waiting. I’m
forced to leave him with a disappointed shrug. I spend the next
hour pouring drinks for customers while my nerves prickle under
Trent’s undivided attention.

“Too bad it’s so busy here,” he says when I
get back to where he’s sitting.

“Yeah well, some of us have to work to
survive,” I quip and I realize I have no clue what he does. I know
nothing about him.

“And when are you off next?” he asks
casually, sliding a coaster around under his index finger.

“Monday.”

Trent gets to his feet and throws a twenty on
the counter. “So you’re free Monday night, say around five?”

“Maybe.”

His grin widens. “Great.” With a wink, he
turns around. I watch him leave the bar, frustration that he’s gone
weighing me down.

Storm leans in. “What was that about?”

I shrug, the lingering feel of his eyes still
on my body. “I’m not sure. I think he just asked me on a date.” A
rush of adrenaline bursts through me. That sure as hell better be
what he just did or I’m going to lose my shit tomorrow.

Storm gives my shoulder an affectionate
squeeze, and I don’t flinch. I smile at her. I smile at the guy
across the bar, waiting for his drink. Heck, I even give Nate a
goofy wide grin. I’m not sure, but I think I catch the corner of
his mouth twitch upward for a second.

***

I feel like a lightning bolt struck me the
second I wake up Monday morning. Not because I had another
nightmare.

Because I didn’t.

That never happens. In the last four years,
that has
never
happened. I don’t know what to make of it,
but I feel … free.

And then I remember that I have a date
tonight with Trent. All else is forgotten.

***

“Nice nails,” Livie notices two seconds after
stepping through the door. She drops her backpack on the couch, her
eyes widening with surprise for just a second. I spread my fingers
out in front of me, admiring the black polish. “Where’d you get
that done?” Her voice is slightly higher than normal and she’s
trying not to make a big deal, I can tell.

But it is a big deal.

Today, I let a complete stranger touch my
hands. And I didn’t flinch.

It’s like Trent has broken my curse.

“A spa down the street. They have a
two-for-one manicure special on Thursdays. We should go together
next time.”

“Uh huh, and what’s the occasion?” Livie
strolls toward the cupboard to grab a glass, pacing her steps as if
she’s a bridesmaid walking down a church aisle. I want to laugh.
She’s trying so hard not to freak out.

“Oh, nothing.” I wait until she tips the
Brita to her glass “I’m going out with Trent tonight.”

Her head shoots up to meet me and she misses
the cup, spilling water all over the floor. “Like … on a date?”

I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Maybe. I guess
you could …”

Livie’s irises flash with delight. “Where are
you guys going?”

I shrug. “Probably the beach. Isn’t that what
people do on first dates?” I have no idea. It’s been so long since
I’ve done anything remotely date-like.

There’s a long pause as Livie’s thoughts
wander somewhere, likely trying to process this new Kacey, the one
who goes on dates and gets manicures. And cares. “You know, we
don’t know much about Trent, do we?” Her head tilts to the side
curiously. “What does he do for a living?”

I shrug. “No idea.”

A darkness passes over Livie’s pretty face. I
wait patiently for her to bite her lip for all of two seconds
before she blurts out, “what if he’s a psychopath who tries to
stuff kittens in ATMs?”

“A hot psychopath,” I correct her and she
scowls at me. “Come on, Livie. I didn’t get you away from Darla
soon enough.”

“Maybe you should find out more about Trent
before agreeing to go out with him.”

“I didn’t agree to go out with him.”

“What?” She pauses. “Well then …”

I cut her off. “We know nothing about each
other. More importantly, he knows nothing about me. Just the way I
like it.”

Her lips press together tightly.

“Oh, Livie, stop acting like the mature one
here.”

“Someone needs to.” She stoops to wipe the
water with a dish towel. “I’ll be at Storm’s for dinner. Can you at
least phone her later to let us know he didn’t stuff
you
into an ATM? And we need to get cell phones if you’re going to
start going out with strange men.”

I chuckle and nod.

She stops and appraises me again with a small
smile. “It’s nice to see you like this … again. What time do you
think you’ll be home?”

I wink.

“Oh, Kacey.” she mutters, tossing the dish
towel into the sink.

***

By the time five rolls around, I’m pacing in
my living room like a caged bear, counting to ten under my breath,
over and over. Waves of excitement, nervousness, and fear chuck my
insides back and forth, until I’m sure I’ll toss the contents of my
lunch onto the hideous carpet.

Right on cue, a soft knock sounds on the
door. I open it to find Trent standing outside in jeans and a blue
and white checkered shirt and aviator sunglasses, leaning against
the door frame with one arm above his head. My entire body breaks
out in a light sweat.

“Nice door,” he says, sliding off his
sunglasses. I catch myself staring into those gorgeous blue irises
a tad too long before I make a sound.

He’s being playful. I like playful. “Thanks.
It’s new. We had to replace it after a crazed maniac busted
through.” I smirk, proud of myself for managing that, even in
Trent’s intensely hot presence.

He laughs as he reaches in to hook his index
finger around mine. Electricity streams through my limbs with that
small amount of contact. He pulls me out into the open, into his
chest, so that he towers over me, and I have to tilt my head back
to meet his face. “I heard about that. Terrible situation. Did they
finally catch that madman?” he murmurs, smirking.

I pause to inhale. He smells likes the ocean
and the woods. And raw desire. “The last I heard he was lurking
around a gentleman’s establishment. Clearly he has deep-seeded
issues. I think they’re closing in.” I add breathlessly, “I think
they’ll catch him tonight.”

Trent’s head tips back and he laughs. “Maybe
they will.” He drapes his arm around my shoulder as he leads me out
toward the parking lot. “That color looks incredible on you,” he
says, gazing down at my emerald green shirt, . “Compliments your
hair nicely.”

“Thanks.” I smile, silently praising myself
for buying it today, for the very reason that I know it looks nice
against my dark red hair and ivory skin. People think I dye my hair
to make it so dark and rich, but I don’t. That’s one way in which
I’m lucky, I guess.

Trent leads me to a red and orange Harley in
the parking lot. “Have you ever ridden on one of these?” He holds
out a helmet.
So Trent’s a bike guy.
Inspecting the thing,
I’m not sure how I feel about that. I think he may have just
climbed a few notches in the hot bad boy department.

I shake my head as I look down at the bike
with hesitation. “Not a lot of protection between me and three tons
of moving metal when I’m on this,” I say.
Who am I kidding?
I’m not safe riding
in
three tons of metal. I’ve learned
that firsthand.

A gentle fingertip pushes my chin up until
I’m looking at Trent’s earnest eyes. “I’ll keep you safe, Kacey.
Just hold on to me. Tight.” I let him place the helmet on my head
and gently fasten the strap around my chin, his deft fingers
brushing my skin in a way that sends shivers through my body. A
ghost of a smile passes his lips. “Or are you too scared?”

Now he’s challenging me. Like he knows I’ll
react to that. I can’t help but react. I’m like one of those idiots
in the movies who slams on their gas pedal and attempts to sail
over a two hundred foot gap in the road because someone said the
word
dare
. My dad got hours of entertainment at my expense
for that reason.

“I’m not scared of anything,” I lie smoothly.
I climb on behind Trent and shimmy up until my thighs hug either
side of his hips. Heat explodes through the lower half of my body,
but I do my best to ignore it, wrapping my arms around his
torso.

“Nothing, at all? Not even a bit nervous?”
his brow quirks as he glances over his shoulder at me. “It’s okay.
You can admit it. Most girls are nervous about riding on
bikes.”

A flash of jealousy sparks inside of me at
the thought of him with another girl. I quickly quell it. “Do I
seem like most girls?” My hands slide around his chest, running
along the contours of his body, my fingers slipping through the
seam of his shirt to graze the smooth ridges of his muscles
underneath. For added effect, I lean forward and press my teeth
against his shoulder.

Trent’s chest rises with a quick inhale as
his hands lift to grab mine and pull them out, placing them with a
pat on the outside of his shirt. “Okay, you win. But don’t do that
while I’m driving or we’ll end up in a ditch.” He looks over his
shoulder again, adding in a soft, solemn tone, “I’m serious, Kacey.
I can’t handle it.”

Another burst of warmth erupts through my
thighs but I take his warning to heart and lace my fingers around
each other at his waist, pressing my body against his. “Where’re we
going?”

The low rumble of Trent’s bike is the only
answer I get and then we’re moving.

Without thought, I hug his body tight as we
weave in and out of traffic. Trent turns out to be a cautious
driver, giving everyone a wide berth, following all the laws. I
like that. I feel safe with him. And that scares the shit out of
me. It makes me want to jump off this moving bike and run home to
hide under my covers because he’s just too damn perfect. I squeeze
him tightly instead.

It’s not until Trent turns onto the
interstate and heads south that I realize we’re not going to the
beach. He’s taking me away, somewhere far.

In so many ways, I think he already has.

***

“You know my sister thinks you like to shove
kittens in ATMs,” I say as Trent cuts the engine in an Everglades
National Park parking lot. “You know, like from
American
Psycho
.”

His forehead creases. “Really? I thought she
liked me.”

“Oh, she does, I can tell.” I make sure my
voice sounds casual as I slide off the bike and take off my helmet.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t be crazy.”

“Huh. ” Trent’s long leg swings around the
seat. “How old is Livie again?”

“Fifteen.”

“She’s smart, that one.” I catch the sly
smile as he grabs a little cooler bag from a compartment on the
bike. “Come on. Let me lead you into the dark, secluded wilderness
over there.” He jerks his head toward a bunch of hiking signs,
flashing me a set of dark eyes and deep dimples. The signs come
with warnings of wildlife dangers. I can’t help but wonder if they
should also have warnings of idiot girls who follow guys they
hardly know into the swamp.

The sun is beginning to sink toward the
horizon as we walk down the paved pathway. The trail looks well
maintained but it’s quiet. As we move further and further in, as
the eeriness closes in around us and the air grows thick and heady
with the unknown, I can’t help but wonder what Trent’s plan is. “So
why are we in the Everglades?”

He shrugs, looking over his shoulder. “I’ve
never been. Have you?”

I shake my head.

“Well, we live in Miami so I figured we
should go.”

“I guess that’s a good reason,” I mumble as
we edge along the trail, lined with tall grasses wrapped in shadows
from the late day sun. The perfect place to get rid of a body. “So
is this going to be a reenactment of a CSI Miami episode?” I blurt
out.
Damn you for freaking me out, Livie.

Trent stops and turns to study me with a
furrowed brow and an amused smile. “Are you seriously worried?”