No Time For Love by Tina Radcliffe

Author:Tina Radcliffe [Radcliffe, Tina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Fish.

Nicki wrinkled her nose and moved away from the trash cans stacked in the dark alley. She checked her watch. Half an hour since the bus boy had taken her twenty bucks. The light drizzle continued to cool the Denver evening as she waited. Shivering, she pulled up her collar and pushed back her damp hair.

A chorus of raucous male laughter from somewhere close by reached her ears. Nicki ducked into the shadows. Maybe this wasn’t such a bright idea after all. As she debated leaving, a door squeaked open.

Light from inside the restaurant illuminated a tall youth wearing a stained apron. “Hurry up. My boss is on break.”

She scrambled up the steps, tightening her trench coat.

“You’ve got a table for me?” she asked, anticipation growing.

“Yeah.” The gangly teenager ushered her through a steamy kitchen. “And it wasn’t easy. Place is packed.”

That much she knew was true. She’d been forced to circumvent the usual front door route when the bouncer had turned her away.

Nicki increased her pace, following the boy past a stocky chef in a white jacket who eyed her, an open invitation on his swarthy face. She averted her gaze, nearly colliding with a hanging cast-iron pot.

The teenager pushed back a swinging door with his palm, revealing the dimly lit interior of the place. “See that empty booth over there?” He pointed to the left. “Look right behind it.”

She peeked inside and immediately spotted him. Yes, this was perfect. An unexpected tremor of awareness raced over her. Although his back was to the door, she recognized him. It was more than the long, thick, ebony ponytail, but the way he held himself that said he was a leader and not a follower, despite his appearance. Tonight he wore a faded green army field jacket over his usual shirt and jeans.

Again, the strange feeling of incongruity struck her. He looked unremarkable, but something about Steven Smith was anything but ordinary. When his dark eyes locked on her, she saw the power and intelligence.

Yet, she could find no record of the man, not a driver’s license, bank account or anything substantial. If she wasn’t certain he had purchased the house on Broadway out from under her company, she would think that man didn’t exist.

Angling her head, she tried to see the rest of his party. Her view was blocked by a potted tree, next to the battered baby grand piano.

Piano? She’d have to walk right in front of his table to get to her booth.

“He’ll see me.” The words came out in a rushed whisper.

“Naw. Go behind the bar.”

She glanced at the gorilla who tended the bar and grimaced. The sleeves of the man’s crisp white shirt were rolled up revealing beefy, tattooed arms.

“Don’t worry about Hymie. I told him you’re my sister.”

“And he believed you?”

“Why not?”

She nodded and stepped into the room.

“Hey, where’s the rest of my money?” the kid balked.

Thrusting her hand into her pocket, she pulled out a twenty. The deal was ten dollars more and he wouldn’t ask questions.

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