Touch Slowly (Red Light: Silver Girls series) (6 page)

"I need to talk to you," whispered Nova, pulling her cousin into the bedroom and shutting the door.

"What's going on?" Shayla leaned forward. "Everything is going great. Nick doesn't suspect a thing."

Nova rolled her eyes. "You're not helping matters. Stop asking me to move in and if someone asks about my job, at least change the subject. I don't like lying to Nick."

"Then tell him the truth. He's not going to care."

"Are you delusional?" Nova tapped her foot. "Nick punched Tommy Coche when he caught him kissing me in his car the day after I turned sixteen years old. What do you think he'll do when he finds out the miners he works with are visiting me at the bordello?"

Shayla's jaw opened, and she gaped at Nova.

"What?" said Nova on a hiss.

"Oh my God, what if Nick goes to town and buys sex?" Shayla blinked into Nova's face and then burst out laughing. "I'm just kidding. He's always broke. He couldn't afford you."

"You're disgusting." Nova leaned forward and shook her cousin. "I need to leave in an hour if I’m going to sneak back inside the building without getting caught. If Nick starts questioning why I only come at night and leave when everyone else should be sleeping, tell him I'm working from my room at the inn. Tell him my boss is demanding, even on vacation."

"Don't worry. I've got you covered." Shayla grinned. "All this sneaking around reminds me of old times. Except, I'm not out covering your ass while you tag the side of a train. Maybe you can decorate the pillars under the viaduct on your way over here, and we could act out our teenage years."

"Yeah, that won't be happening," mumbled Nova.

She returned to the living room to find Emmett and Nick talking about some sports team and the odds of them winning. Without disturbing them, she curled into the chair and listened to the deep male voices lulling her to relax.

Shayla came back and took up her spot on the couch, pulling the afghan Nova recognized as one of Aunt Jennie's off the back of the sofa and covering up.

She curled her legs into the chair, turned sideways, and laid her cheek on the upholstery. The ease at which she relaxed inside the trailer, the conversations and even the odd scents that seemed familiar comforted her.

Nick kicked off his shoes and put his sock covered feet on the coffee table. Emmet occasionally gazed at her while talking to Nick. Not in a weird way or even interest. More of an acknowledgment that she remained in the room, and he liked her there. She found herself looking back, even when he looked away. She liked his presence. He was comfortable with himself, and even in someone else's house.

She had a feeling if she walked across the room and sat beside him, he'd put his arm around her without even thinking or hesitating. He'd roll with the changes, and while he'd continue to talk with Nick, he'd make her feel secure at her side.

Not that she'd make a move on him.

She had no idea how she'd come to those conclusions about Emmett. He was not here because of her, and she wasn't here because of him. Emmett came over because Nick and Shayla were his friends. They were good people enjoying a night together.

An hour later, Shayla was sound asleep. The men had switched from sports talk to politics to the good versus better parts for Nick's truck. Nova yawned and stretched her legs. She needed to get back to town and hated the thought of leaving. The quiet conversation between the two men had lulled her into a semi-coma.

She tied her sneakers she'd slipped off earlier and walked over to the couch. Brushing the hair off of Shayla's face, she leaned down and whispered, "Hey, sleepyhead. I need to get back to town."

Shayla wiggled deeper into the corner of the couch. Nova reached out and grabbed the edge of the blanket.

"Let her sleep. I'll take you." Emmett stood.

"Oh." Nova glanced at Nick, hoping he'd step up and offer a ride.

"Yeah, I'm beat. Swing shift is kicking my ass." Nick pushed himself off the couch. "See you tomorrow, man. Emmett will get you back safe, Nova."

She stared at her cousin's back as he left the room. Just like that, her family left her with a stranger. Again.

S
he was going to kill Shayla for falling asleep.

Emmett pulled into the Federal Inn, ignoring Nova's request to drop her off under the viaduct. She glanced at her phone for the sixth time since sliding into his 'Cuda. In forty minutes, the sun would rise and signal Marci to walk into the kitchen upstairs at Red Light and start the coffee pot.

The risk of her getting caught quadrupled with each passing minute. Anyone walking down Cedar Street could catch her climbing to the balcony of her room. The bikers that hung around Jeremy had a habit of stopping in at all hours. Marci, Tiff, or one of the other ladies could come to her room and knock. If she failed to answer, she'd be out of a job.

She opened the door. "Thanks for the ride."

"No problem," said Emmett, his deep voice. "I'll wait out here until you get inside."

Her stomach rolled, and she squeezed the door handle. "That's not necessary."

"Yeah, it is." Emmett lowered his voice. "I wouldn't be a gentleman if I let a woman walk alone in the dark."

"It's almost morning."

"Sun isn't up."

"Do you ever listen to what I'm saying?" She shook her head in irritation. "Fine."

She left the car and hurried down the sidewalk, hoping the inn kept the main door open during off hours. If not, she was screwed.

Her backup story would be over, and she'd need to stay away from the trailer park, away from her cousins.

In front of the sliding door, she glanced behind her. An exhausted sigh escaped her. Emmett remained in his parking spot true to his word.

"This better work," she mumbled stepping forward.

The glass doors slid open. She hurried inside on a burst of energy. Not wanting to attract the attention of the woman behind the counter in the lobby, she continued walking to her left and down a hallway without the inn employee even raising her head from her computer screen. An exit sign lit up the door at the end of the hall, and her luck turned.

Outside, she jogged around the building to the front, peeked around the corner, and blew out her breath on a relieved laugh. Emmett had left.

Now all she had to do was make it back to the Sterling Building and get upstairs to her room in Red Light.

She set off jogging, aware of every car that passed her and the dogs in the yards that lifted their heads and barked. She cut through a back street, down an alley, and arrived in front of the building within ten minutes of being dropped off at the Inn. She leaned against the building to catch her breath.

Out of shape, she couldn't believe how slow she ran across town. At one time, she could put her feet on the ground and run forever. Fear and adrenaline usually played to her advantage in her teen years when she'd ran the streets with her backpack of art supplies, participating in the game of tagging.

One street artist would start a picture, and she'd finish it in her style. Whoever declared the piece completed earned the right to sign the art. The name Nova probably remained on more buildings, trains, and billboards back in Long Beach, Washington than she could count. God, she missed the time in her life when the town was her playground and the adventure and danger associated with painting gave her the biggest high.

She hustled over to the abandoned building that shared an alley with the Sterling Building and grabbed the broom from the recess of the doorway. The twine she'd used last time too fragile to risk again, she'd found an old push broom in the utility closet upstairs at Red Light, snuck it to her room after dinner, and escaped with it last night.

Glancing all around, she took her chance and ran over to her balcony. The handle of the broom long and sturdy enough, she easily pulled down the emergency extension ladder for her to reach. Once in the room, making sure the door was completely shut, she slipped the cardboard piece she used to stabilize the security system off the trip wire.

Standing beside the bed, she held her breath. The occasional creak and thump on the other side of her door signaled Marci in the kitchen. She hid the broom under the bed and then flung herself down on the mattress and closed her eyes. Two straight nights out were too much for her body. She only wanted to sleep until it was time to work.

Her eyes burned behind her dry lids. She slipped her arm under the pillow and let herself slip off to sleep.

A loud banging woke her. She scrambled for her phone on the bed and looked at the time.

Shit.

She'd only slept twenty minutes.

Shit.

"Nova, wake up," shouted Marci from the other side of the door. "You have a doctor's appointment in a half hour."

Shit.

She pushed herself off the bed, groaning at the tight pull of her muscles refusing each step. Wiping her finger underneath each eye to remove last night's mascara smudges, she opened the door.

"Oh, good. You're up and dressed." Marci's smile fell. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No." Nova shoved her hand in her hair. "I had a rough night. I kept tossing and turning. It happens during the first week I'm working at a new place."

"Can we help?" Marci pointed down the hallway. "We have extra pillows, blankets, and even one of those back massage mats you can lay on to relax."

"Thanks, but I'll be fine." Nova stepped back. "Give me a few minutes and I'll be ready for my appointment."

"Sure thing. Go ahead and meet us all downstairs by the back door when you're ready. Just make sure you're on time." Marci turned on a hop and scurried down the hallway.

Nova shut the door and let her head fall back. Staring at the ceiling, she had doubts that Dr. Brandof would believe she slept well and adapted to working at Red Light. The doctor's intense gaze behind his glasses noticed everything, playing part gynecologist and part psychologist.

Fifteen minutes later, she'd washed, brushed, primped, and snarled in the mirror at her reflection. Then she walked downstairs and joined Tara, Tawny, Kathryn, and Marci.

Already familiar with the walk to the doctor's office down the block, she trailed Marci. Each woman silent and dragging their feet. Obviously, she wasn't the only one tired this morning.

She claimed the chair closest to the door, folded her arms, and dropped her chin to her chest, closing her eyes. The soothing respite relaxed her body. She tuned out the conversations around her.

Her next conscious thought was the nurse calling her name. She startled out of her seat and ignored Tawny's giggle. Past the point of caring where she caught her cat naps, she looked forward to laying on the paper-sheeted table in the exam room.

"Go ahead and hop up on the table and I'll take your vitals." The nurse followed her and put a blood pressure cuff around her bicep.

The gauge on the band went up to one hundred and sixty. Nova looked away and read the domestic violence poster on the wall to distract her from the tightness. Six out of ten women would experience physical and mental abuse in their lifetime. Nova exhaled. Good reason never to get married or fall in love.

"One hundred and five over seventy-two. Are you tired?" The nurse ripped the Velcro apart and removed the device.

"Yeah. I'm exhausted," said Nova.

"Thought so." The nurse smiled holding a thermometer device against Nova's forehead until it beeped. "Ninety-eight. That's it. Go ahead and change into the gown I've placed on the pillow behind you and Dr. Brandof will be with you in a few minutes."

"Okay, thanks." Nova waited until the door closed, stripped, and slipped her arms into the gown.

She laid on her back and let her legs dangle over the table. Her first day off in five days, she wanted to take care of her weekly doctor visit and go back to her room. Better yet, she wanted to return to Shayla and Nick's trailer, crawl into Shayla's bed, and listen to her cousin talk about unimportant things until she fell asleep. Just like she'd spent every night after she'd moved in with her aunt.

The door opened. "Miss Nova..."

"Morning, Doc." Nova opened her eyes, lifted her legs, and put her feet in the stirrups.

Dr. Brandof rolled his stool to the foot of the table. "Any problems you want to discuss?"

"Nope." She yawned.

The doctor's efficient examination, followed by a swab test ended her internal exam. At the snap of his latex gloves coming off, Nova put her feet down and curled into a sitting position. Weekly STD testing no longer bothered her. She appreciated the care the madams gave toward the ladies in the Network. Soon, she hoped to walk away from the business whole, disease-free, and richer than shit.

If Shayla or Nick wanted to live with her when she bought her new house, she'd move them in, too. No trailers. No loud neighbors. No gossip.

"I'll call the test results into Red Light tomorrow afternoon." Dr. Brandof wrote on the folder in his hands. "We're done here. I'll leave you alone to get dressed and then the nurse will be in to draw your blood, and you're free to go."

"Thanks, Doc." She hopped off the table.

Alone, she redressed. The nurse came in and poked her arm drawing a vial of blood. She returned to the waiting room. Tawny talked with Marci by the door. Nova spotted the nearest chair and sat down.

"Here she is." Marci raised her brows at Nova. "Do you want to walk back to the Sterling Building with Tawny? There's an escort outside waiting if you do. Kathryn's the only one left and should be done in fifteen minutes if you want to wait for us to walk you back."

She pushed to her feet, more than anxious to get back to her bed. "I'll go now."

Outside, the sun blinded her. She smiled hello at the biker wearing a Moroad Motorcycle Club vest and fell in line. Tawny kept a string of questions aimed at the escort leaving Nova alone. Trying hard not to let her second wind grab ahold of her, she slipped her hands into her back pockets and concentrated on missing the cracks in the sidewalk.

"It's so pretty here." Tawny leaned closer to the biker. "When the, um, woman's center said there was a safe place I could go after leaving my asshole boyfriend, I never thought they'd send me to the Rocky Mountains of Idaho."