Tempt Me When the Sun Goes Down (35 page)

Chapter Two

“Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in the world not having sex.”  Cady Garrett leaned against the scarred table, not liking the way the low couch stuck to her sweaty skin when she sat back.  It made her wonder what other bodily fluids had been stuck to the cheap vinyl in the past. 

“That’s just silly.”  Kelli held platinum curls away from her neck, pressing a cool glass to her cheek.  Even without all the dancing, there were enough people in the club generating body heat to rival any sauna.  Never troubled by modesty, she wore the briefest of skirts, a generous amount of flesh showing both above and below the scraps of pink fabric she called a blouse.  Cady could see Kelli flexing her bare toes under the table.  That’s what she got for wearing ridiculously high heels to a dance club.  “Did you even see that guy over there with the ponytail?  Trust me, you are not the only person not having sex tonight.”

Cady couldn’t help but look, hiding her smile behind a rum and diet soda.  Falling into the game, she pointed a discreet finger alongside the glass.  “And sausage fingers guy isn’t having sex.” 

“I’m not having sex,” Penny volunteered in her babydoll voice.  She alone seemed unbothered by the heat in a navy blue dress, better suited for a dinner at the marina.  Probably because she was so tiny, her body didn’t produce enough of its own heat to keep warm.  She’d actually brought a sweater with her despite the summer heat, her dark hair loose, covering her shoulders both in front and back. 

It made Cady itch to tie it back into a ponytail, glad her own long, auburn hair was wound up and out of the way in twin knots.  Her clothes lay somewhere in the middle of the two extremes her friends sported.  A thin, strappy tanktop over skinny jeans and pretty sandals she could dance in without breaking a toe.  Cady wasn’t on the prowl, she just wanted to relax and have a good time. 

“That doesn’t count, you’re engaged,” she said, taking another cooling sip of her watered down drink. 

“Which is ridiculous.  You should be having more sex than the two of us put together,” Kelli snorted. 

“No one has more sex than you, Kelli.”  Penny gave her a sweet smile, ducking to avoid the wadded up napkin Kelli threw at her.  “Hey, can I help it if Justin is old fashioned?  He wants to wait, so we’re waiting.”

“No guy likes to wait,” Cady murmured.  It was part of the reason why she wasn’t having sex these days.  No guys liked to stick around long enough for her to be
sure
.  Not since high school when sex wasn’t expected after the third date anyway. 

“What if you get to the big night and it’s… you know…”  Kelli’s finger wilted and she made an accompanying sound like dying in a videogame, but Penny maintained her serene superiority. 

“It’ll be wonderful
because
we waited.”

“I’m sure it’ll be magical.”  A touch of envy crept into Cady’s smile, though she wasn’t sure her friend had the right idea either.  Cady wasn’t exactly saving herself for marriage; if she found a guy she loved, she’d be doing the deed every chance she got.

“And if it’s not…” Penny’s voice lowered, as if she was about to share something wicked.  “Then I’ll just pack old reliable with me and take care of it myself.”  The women traded a giggle, clinking their glasses in a hasty toast.   

“Well, I’m not old fashioned, I’m jaded,” Cady proclaimed with a weary sigh.  Burned by too many men (and too recently), she’d made a silent promise to herself to take a break from the dating world. 

“How can you be jaded already?” Kelli scoffed.  “You’re barely nineteen years old.  Look at me, twenty-three and I’ve slept with half the population of Angola.  If anyone should be jaded, it’s me.”

“Cool it!” Cady’s gaze darted around nervously.  “I don’t want to get tossed out of here.” 

“Newsflash, nobody cares.”  Kelli drained the rest of her glass and pressed it to her cheek, chasing after the remnants of cold.  “Look around, they’re too caught up in their own shit to waste two seconds over whether or not you should be in here.”

“I guess,” Cady relaxed.  She was right, nobody gave her a second look.  “Hey, what
is
the population of Angola, by the way?  Just so we know what kind of numbers we’re talking about,” she teased, drawing a narrowing of the eyes from her blonde friend.   

“Oh Cady, you’re looking at this all wrong.”  Penny shook her head, chasing after the cherry in the bottom of her glass with the flimsy straw.  “You’re the opposite of jaded, you’re a romantic.”

Cady almost spilled her drink, eyes bugging out at the ridiculous statement.  “What?  Take that back!” she demanded, but to her disgust, Kelli joined in with a sad shake of the head. 

“You know it’s true.”

“It is,” Kelli added.  “That’s why you haven’t hooked up since Stefan dumped you.  You’re still waiting for that perfect, non-existent guy to sweep you off your feet.”

Familiar words of protest jumped to the ready, it was a subject they’d gone over before.  “He didn’t dump me, I dumped him.”

“Only after he stopped calling you.”

“I thought we agreed not to mention the S word anymore?” Cady scowled at Penny until she went back to chasing her cherry. 

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

Cady fell back against the couch, hugging her elbows.  “I’m not waiting for a perfect guy,” she muttered.  “I’m just tired of going out with guys who are only after one thing.”

“I know what you need.”  Kelli’s blue eyes widened, and Cady’s stomach sank, fearing the blonde’s passion for whatever it was.

“Please don’t say makeover…”

“Oh, that would be super fun, but not what I was going for.”  Kelli waved the thought away.  “I was thinking more along the lines of you taking a break from picking out guys since your judgment is obviously flawed.”

That didn’t sound so bad, especially since it already went with what she had in mind.

“Instead you should let us pick out your next guy!”

Because her judgment was so much better?  “That’s crazy.  All you know how to pick is guys to hook up with.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t know how to pick the super boring guys you’re into,” Kelli insisted, earning a frown from Cady. 

“I don’t like boring guys.”

Kelli continued, undeterred.  “Besides, Penny knows how to pick guys that want to wait, look at Justin.  He’s almost not even a man.”

“He’s a man…” Penny ventured in a small voice, and the pair debated that for a few minutes while Cady watched, until they both turned to her with expectant faces.

“This is stupid,” Cady insisted, refusing to even consider it.

“No, really.  Just for tonight, either you pick a guy or we’ll pick for you.”  The bubbly girl stuck out her hand.  “Deal?” 

“Why would I make a dumb deal like that?”  Cady kept her hand firmly in her lap.  “I don’t want to go out with
anybody
.”

“That’s because you haven’t met our guy yet,” Penny nodded brightly, her dark eyes already searching.  “Let’s see… who do we have to work with?”  They made a big show of scanning the crowd, but Cady sat back, already having lost interest in the game.  As if it was that easy.  Pick a guy out like a book on the shelf.  Didn’t they realize you couldn’t judge a book by its cover?  Otherwise Rico Suave from across the room with his dark, smoldering looks (and probable venereal warts) would be the answer to all her dreams. 

While she went up to the bar to buy another round of drinks they continued their search, squabbling between themselves over what type of guy Cady needed.  Kelli insisted Cady needed a hottie to make her forget about her stupid standards and have a bit of fun for a change, while Penny seemed to take the exercise very seriously, carefully assessing the possible suitors.   

She made it back to the table with the drinks in time to see Kelli throw her hands up in disgust.  “I give up, how about that homeless guy over there?” she gestured, not even caring if he heard her or not.

Cady’s head swiveled, unable to keep from looking.  He sat alone in the corner, elbows resting against the table, watching the crowd with an unshakable intensity.  Wearing a blue hoodie under a faded army jacket, everything about him appeared rumpled and frayed, prompting the homeless crack, but she didn’t think he actually lived on the streets, he was too clean. 

An unshaven jaw, not the kind Rico Suave over there cultivated to perfection, but rough, as if he’d forgotten to shave for a week.  The straight blonde hair was a little shaggy on top too, but trimmed close on the sides in an almost military cut.  His nose was too flat to be conventionally handsome and had obviously been broken before, but the eyes were a clear, cornflower blue, free from the glassy stare of drugs or too much drink. 

“Hey, I know that guy,” Cady realized suddenly.  “He’s not homeless, he’s my neighbor.”

“He’s not that bad,” Penny allowed, taking a deeper look.  “His eyes are pretty.”

“He needs a makeover, STAT,” Kelli speculated, taking a long drink.  “I think you should be the one to give it to him, Cady.”

“I don’t think he’s interested in a makeover,” she snorted, continuing to watch the man.  His gaze slid over to their table and then quickly flicked away.  Had he heard them?  Not a chance over the din of the music, Cady decided. 

“You should go talk to him,” Penny nodded encouragingly.  “He’s your neighbor, that makes him safe.”

Cady wasn’t sure she followed the logic in that, but before she could reply, Kelli laid a hand on her arm. 

“No, hold everything, take a look at
this
guy.”  Kelli smiled over the rim of her glass at a guy on the dance floor, wildly gyrating his hips in her direction.  “That is the kind of guy who could curl your toes.  Go talk to him instead.” 

Ick
.  “You know what, I think you’re right.”  Cady pushed herself up from the table.  “I should go talk to him.”

“Really?” They blinked in unison. 

“Sure, it would be the neighborly thing to do.”

Chapter Three

In general, Cady didn’t have trouble talking to guys.  Outgoing by nature, she figured the worst that could happen was he could tell her to F off, and she could at least say she’d tried.  Still, she hadn’t approached a total stranger like this before, usually there was some other pretense that had her offering the first words.  Something like…
I love your jacket, do you ride a motorcycle?
  But what could she say to this guy?  He looked like he was dressed from Salvation Army castoffs. 

“Hi, I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before,” Cady approached, smiling past the inner cringe at the lamest pick up line ever.

“No, thank you.”

Not what she’d expected to hear.  “I wasn’t offering anything.”  A furrow appeared on her brow, he hadn’t even looked at her. 

“It’s just a general no, thank you.”  He offered the barest of smiles before returning his eyes to the crowd.  “I’m not here to pick up girls.”

“Oh, are you into guys?”  Cady sat beside him, the brief smile and oddly polite rejection piquing her curiosity.  He didn’t outwardly object to her taking a seat, but he didn’t look thrilled about it either. 

“I’m not here to pick up
anybody
,” he growled, letting out a sigh that could have meant anything from a deep heartache to indigestion.  “Go try someone else.”

Cady’s eyes darted back to her table to get a thumbs up and an encouraging grin from Penny.  Kelli was already making eyes at the mad dancer she’d spotted before.  “I’m not trying to pick you up either.”

That earned her the first look from him that lasted longer than half a second, and it came with a raised brow.  “You’re not?”

“Okay, maybe I did say hello under false pretenses,” she allowed with a flap of the hand.  “Do you see my two friends over there?”

His gaze never shifted, but he described them well enough.  “Petite brunette, dressed like a widow, and the bottle blonde, five six, her ass hanging out on the dance floor?”

Her head craned back in time to see that Kelli was indeed out on the dance floor, shaking her booty.  “Then you
were
checking us out.”

“Not particularly.”  He shrugged a single shoulder.

“Um…”  Not quite sure what to make of that, she plunged ahead.  “Anyway, I sort of promised I’d try to pick you up, but I’m not really.  It’s just to get them off my back, and Penny thinks you’re safe because we’re neighbors.”

“That’s the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard.”  He didn’t bother to keep the scorn from his voice and it earned her another look.  “Why would I be safe because we live in the same building?”

Even though she’d expressed the same doubt not two minutes before, she couldn’t help but try and defend her friend’s position.  “Well, because… if you tried anything I could always tell the cops where you live.”

“And that would make whatever sicko attack I could dream up okay?”

“No, but you wouldn’t attack me, knowing I could turn you in.  It’s a natural deterrent, see?”  Her winsome smile didn’t appear to have any effect on him.

“Only if you survived it.”

“My friends know you’re my neighbor, they’d report me missing if I didn’t turn up for work tomorrow.”

“Big comfort that would be to your friends and family after I murdered you in cold blood.”

Her head canted to one side as she wondered how they’d strayed to that particular topic.  “Do you often kill girls who pick you up in clubs?” 

“Not usually, but I’m beginning to understand the appeal,” he muttered, shaking his head.  He looked over at her and she got the feeling he was truly seeing her for the first time, his bright eyes giving her as frank an appraisal as she’d given him before lingering on the delicate gold cross that hung around her neck.  His face softened, and when he met her eyes again, his tone was earnest.  “Look, whatever this is, no thank you.  The safest thing you can do is take your girlfriends out of here and go home.  In a group, together.  In fact, you shouldn’t be out in a place like this at all.” 

He was starting to sound like her brother.  “I can take care of myself.”  Before he could reply with what she was sure would be a cutting remark, she changed the subject.  “What are you doing in here anyway?  Besides not picking up girls or guys?”

“I’m… working,” he replied after a moment’s hesitation.

All at once the reason for his protective disinterest hit her.  “Are you a cop?”

“Something like that.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Cady relaxed beside him.  It made perfect sense to her, a cop would find the neighborhood dangerous for a girl her age, and it explained his hyper-vigilance.  “You know, it actually helps with your stakeout in a club if you’re seen talking to a girl.  Otherwise you stick out like a sore thumb.”

“You think so?”  A half smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.  “Been on many stakeouts have you?”

“Oh yeah, I’m an old hand at them.  My dad was a cop back in the day.  He used to take my brother and I with him plenty of times.”

“I’ll bet.”  His eyes narrowed, but at least they were focused on her for a change.  “What kind of a cop takes his kids into a dangerous situation like that?”

“The kind who can’t afford a babysitter?” she grinned, and he shook his head in amusement. 

“Let me guess, you saw the back seat of a cop car a few times and now you think you know all about surveillance?”

“I know the trick is to blend in, to not look like you’re there just to watch.  Which you are failing at, by the way.  You look like you belong in the alley behind the club, not inside it.”

He frowned down at his jacket.  “I’m not trying to blend in, I’m here to make sure nothing bad happens.  There’s something to be said for a visible deterrent, you know.”

“Then why not show up in your uniform and flash your badge around?  Besides, what are you expecting to stop from here?  Everybody knows the drugs go down by the bathrooms.”

“I’m not here because of the drugs, I’m here…” he stopped, eyes darting back to the crowd.  “Shit… I’m here letting myself getting distracted by a pretty girl instead of doing my job.” 

“You think I’m pretty?”  Cady’s smile returned at the backhanded compliment, but he didn’t seem to realize he’d given it.  His attention was fixated on something else and she turned to see if she could spot it, but everything looked normal to her.  There was no sign of Kelli anywhere, and Cady realized she’d been gone longer than she intended.  Penny must be… sitting with Rico Suave, chatting up a storm and… flirting? 

“You should get back to your friend before she makes a serious mistake.”  He seemed to echo her thoughts.  But how did he know Penny wasn’t free to flirt in a club with a sexy stranger?

“She’ll be alright, trust me.  She’s just being friendly.” 

“Very friendly,” he replied in a flat tone and Cady had to agree.  Penny was being uncharacteristically touchy feely, laying her hand on the guy’s arm, leaning in close while she talked to him.  It was like she and Kelli had switched bodies.  

“Okay, but she’s engaged,” Cady insisted, not sure who she was trying to convince more, him or herself.  “There’s no way she’s about to leave with that guy.”  Except that they both rose from the table together.  “I’d better go.”

“Be careful, he isn’t what he seems.”

Cady spared him a last look, trying to figure out the meaning behind that enigmatic statement before she hurried after Penny, eager to catch them before she slipped away with the guy.  Could he somehow tell with his cop-vision that the guy was a baddie?  She managed to hook an arm through Penny’s elbow as they reached the end of the bar. 

“Hey, where are you headed?”

“We’re going to a party,” Penny smiled brightly, her eyes wide and shiny.  Had he dosed her with something?  Cady thought she saw a flicker of annoyance shadow the man’s handsome face but it was gone in an instant, replaced by an engaging smile.

“You are welcome to join us if you wish.”

“No, thanks.  In fact, I think it’s time we called it a night.  Don’t you think so, Penny?”  Cady nodded encouragingly at Penny who ignored her, her eyes trained on the man’s face. 

“We’re going to a party,” she insisted vacantly.

“What happened to Kelli?”  Cady did her best to command her friend’s attention, giving her arm a shake.  “Where’s Kelli?”

Penny’s head wobbled, but it worked, and she turned to look back at her.  “What do you think?  She already left with that guy.”

Damn
.  “Okay, well, it was nice of you to invite us, but I don’t think we’re up for any parties tonight.  Thank you.”  Cady put a note of finality in her voice, not quite rude, but making it clear she had no intention of letting her friend leave with him.

“But… Claudio said…”

“I’d be more worried about what
Justin
had to say about this.”  Cady gave her a pointed look.  “Remember Justin?”

“Justin…” Penny blinked, almost as though she didn’t remember her own fiancée.

“Yep, time to go.”  Cady grabbed hold of Penny’s elbow, only to have it pulled from her grasp as Claudio held firm to her friend’s arm.  “I’m not playing tug-o-Penny with you, dude.  Let go or I’ll scream bloody murder.”

“In this place, who would care?” He chuckled, his voice all soft and silky, but somehow penetrating the din without any trouble.  “Join us.  I promise it will be a night you would not soon forget.”  With his free hand he reached for hers, bringing it to his lips. 

Cady felt the invitation down to her toes, and instead of telling him exactly what he could do with his slimy suggestion, she nodded, held captive by those dark eyes.  He smiled, and she wanted nothing more than to see him smile again.  Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, poised to say yes, when she was jostled from behind, something cold, wet and sticky spilling over her side.  Letting out a yelp, Cady turned in time to see a girl with frizzy orange hair shrug her shoulders in apology.

“Oopsie,” she grinned sloppily before tottering away on platform heels.  

It was better than a bucket of cold water for cooling her jets, and Cady shook her head to clear it.  Was she seriously contemplating leaving with this guy and Penny for a night of…
ick
!  Maybe he’d used some kind of hypnotism on her?  She wasn’t about to stick around and find out.             

“Now, ladies, if I may suggest…” Claudio started to say, but Cady ignored him, grabbing onto Penny with a jerky tug, pulling her free of his grasp. 

“Let’s go, Penny,” she insisted, looking anywhere but at the guy.  Penny objected weakly, but Cady had no trouble dragging her out of the club, sucking in a shaky breath once they reached the relatively fresher night air outside.  Without stopping, she pulled her down the block, knowing they’d never get a cab in that area of town, but at least the busses were still running.  Darting a look over her shoulder, she half expected to find Claudio following them, but apart from a short line of people still trying to get into the busy club, the street was empty. 

“What’s going on?” Penny blinked, rubbing her arms against the cooler temperature, which was probably still over seventy-five degrees.  “Where’s my sweater?”

Cady laughed, nerves and relief lending a touch of hysteria to her giggle.  “Where’s your sweater?  That’s all you have to say to me right now?” 

“Well… I…”  Slowing to a stop, Penny placed a hand over her heart, her forehead crumpling as she puzzled through the mental fog. 

“Come on, we have to keep moving.”  Cady propelled her forward.  It was one of the unspoken rules of the street.  Keep moving, keep your head down, don’t make eye contact.  Especially given the weirdness they’d just experienced.  Her thoughts went back to her neighbor, the cop.  How had he known that there was more to Claudio than met the eye? 

“Did I almost just go home with a random guy?”  Penny’s already tinny voice squeaked into a higher register as the magnitude of her actions sank in. 

“Yep,” Cady nodded, pulling her across the street.  “You and me both.”

“Oh my God…”

“It’s alright, Penny, you didn’t do it.”

“Yes, but I…”

“Let’s just get out of here and we can talk about it later.”  Cady gave her another subtle tug and this time Penny allowed herself to be led.  “Do you want to go grab a cup of coffee?”

“No, I want to go home.”

It wasn’t Cady’s first choice, they lived in opposite directions and she’d rather not be alone just yet, but she nodded, understanding her friend’s desire to feel safe at home.  Luck was with them, and Penny’s bus appeared at the end of the street as they reached the stop.  “Here comes your bus.  Will you be okay getting home from here, or do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”  The words tumbled out too fast, and Cady wondered if her friend was trying to convince herself.  “I think I just need to lie down for a bit.  I feel so strange.”

That didn’t sound so good.  “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with?”

“No, don’t be silly,” Penny smiled weakly.  “It’s not all that late, I’ll get home just fine.”

She started to sound more like her old self, and Cady didn’t really want to ride clear to the other side of town and back.  “Okay, but call me when you get home so I’ll know you made it there alright.”