Page 54 of All That Glitters

And I’ll keep telling myself that every damn day if needed, because eventually it has to stick. Right?

I shake my head and focus on my plan for the day. Before I know it, Gene is calling out to me.

“We’re here. Good luck. I’ll keep everything crossed for you.”

“Thank you.” I blow him a kiss as I step off and wave as he drives away.

After smoothing down the imaginary wrinkles in my shirt, I take a steadying breath and cross the street to the diner on the corner. When I push the door open, it’s already busy, the breakfast rush in full swing. I head to the counter and wait until the waitress is free before catching her eye.

Her face lights up when she sees me, remembering me from yesterday.

“You came back!”

“You told me to, right?” I ask with a nervous smile.

“I did. But with how crazy it was when you were here, I thought it might’ve scared you off.”

“Hey, Susie, can I get more coffee?”

She turns and holds up a finger. “One sec, Fred.” Then she looks back at me. “Sorry. Anyway, Del’s in her office. Head toward the restrooms, then take a left. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks, Susie.”

She smiles before heading off. I spot the sign for the restrooms and follow her directions until I find a brass plate that readsOffice.

I knock, and a voice calls for me to come in. Pushing the door open, I see a woman in her early thirties sitting behind a desk. She has red hair, which is obviously dyed, but works perfectly with her peaches-and-cream complexion. She lifts her head, and a pair of startling blue eyes that take me in from head to toe. I fight the urge to squirm as she stands.

“Okay, first things first. You’re gonna need to tell me where you got those jeans, ’cause if they can make my ass look like yours, I’ll die happy,” she says, her voice gravelly.

I can’t help but crack up at her comment. I don’t know if she’s a smoker or a phone sex operator. It really could go both ways. She’s gorgeous, though. If my heart wasn’t still tied to Midas, I’d be a puddle about now.

“Honestly, I picked these up at Old Navy.”

“Really? Well, fuck. I’ve been looking for perfection in all the wrong places.”

“Story of my life,” I grumble, making her grin.

She reaches out her hand, and I take in the thick brown leather cuffs with silver buckles around her wrist. “I’m Del.”

“I love those.” I nod to her cuffs as I reach out to shake her hand. “I’m Hazel.”

She freezes for a second, her eyes landing on my raven tattoo. I can’t tell if the look that crosses her face is because of my comment or because of my tattoo, but the room suddenly feels a lot colder. I let go of her hand and tug my sleeve down.

When she snaps out of it, her face is a little paler than before, and she sits back down.

“Should I just go?” I ask softly, hating how small my voice sounds.

She shakes her head and motions for me to sit. “So, tell me about yourself, Hazel.”

Chapter Thirteen

Midas

I layinto the bag like it has the answers to all the fucked-up questions in my head. I block out everything else around me and focus on my jabs and staying light on my feet. I hit it until my knuckles split and my arms feel like fucking Jell-O.

I don’t stop until someone grabs the bag, stopping it from moving. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I glare at Capone, who glares back.

“What?”