Page 24 of Just A Kiss
She sits up and pushes herself onto her knees. She spreads them wide and places her hands on her bare thighs. My eyes stay on hers. “I know. You pay me to make Andrea jealous. But you haven’t really done anything to make her jealous, have you?” She tilts her head to the side. “You can do whatever you want with me.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. I represented you once, remember? I’ve heard the testimony of what you will do—anything.”
She huffs. “Just so you know, that precious princess of yours that you’re so infatuated with is going to become just like me.”
Now I’m the one asking. “What does that mean?”
“It means she needs money. And I’ve offered her a job.”
“You what?” I snap.
She gives me a fuck you smile. “I first offered it to her the other night at The Horseshoe, and then I mentioned it again tonight.”
I shake my head. “Andi will never accept it.”
“Oh, she will. She’s in debt. A lot of debt. And a desperate woman will do a lot for money.”
“How would you know? You two aren’t friends.”
“The other night at The Horseshoe, she left a letter on the bar. She owes the nursing home where her mother stays a lot of money. And if she doesn’t pay, they are going to kick her mom out. And I heard her brother doesn’t help her at all.”
“She has a brother?”
She snorts. “It’s shameful how little you know about this girl.”
I walk over to the end of the bed and place my hand in the pockets of my slacks. “Then why don’t you fill me in on everything that you know about her.”
She shakes her head as she crawls off my king-size bed. “You know what? You go ask her whatever you wanna know.” She slips her dress back on. “Or better yet, you can pay her for the information once she comes to work for me.”
I grab her arm and yank her to me as she goes to leave. “Stay away from her.”
“She’s an adult, Asher. She can do or fuck whoever she wants.” Yanking her arm from my hold, she storms out of my bedroom.
I run a hand through my hair. “Fuck.” Rushing over to my nightstand, I pick up my phone and dial my brother’s number. He doesn’t answer, so I call Hadley, but she doesn’t answer either. I go to look for Andrea’s number in my phone, but I never got it. I pocket my phone and walk out of my bedroom and down my stairs to the front door, grabbing my car keys on the way out.
We—my brother, our dad, and I—all live in the same neighborhood called The Ridge. Our father has lived here for almost twenty years. My brother and I both bought houses here after we graduated from college.
I pull into his driveway and get out of my car, running up his steps, I knock on the door. When no one comes to open it, I use my key and go on in. I half expect the alarm to sound, but it doesn’t. I make my way into the house, shutting the door softly behind me and locking it. Then I head off to the bedroom where I know Andi is staying in tonight. I knock on the door, but just like the front door, I’m ignored.
What are you doing, Asher?What will you do if she opens the door for you? Fuck her? Tell her you love her? I laugh out loud at that thought.
Turning around, I head back to the front door, but a sound from the living room gets my attention. I come to a stop when I see Andrea sitting on the couch. She’s holding a glass of wine in one hand and a twenty-dollar bill in the other. Still in her dress. A fire burning in the corner fireplace lights up the room and makes her glow.
“Andi.”
Her head snaps up, and she stares at me wide-eyed. “What are you doing here?”
My eyes drop to the bill in her hand. “What are you doing looking at that twenty-dollar bill?”
“Nothing.” She puts her hand down and shoves the bill underneath her thigh.
I walk over to her and reach down, snatching it from her.
“Hey,” she snaps.