Page 38 of Angels & Whiskey

We started to walk toward the basketball court. “You know what? Your plan is stupid. Why don’t we just ask Cassie at the desk?”

“Ask her what?”

“What time Autumn comes in.”

“You think she’ll tell us?”

“She knows Autumn referred us. It’s worth a try.” I shrugged.

“Let me talk to her. I’m not sure how you’re even an escort,” he teased.

Cassie gave us the information we were seeking. Autumn comes in around nine, Monday through Saturday. Looking at the time on my phone, we’d just missed her by an hour.

“Let’s go check Starbucks,” I suggested.

“We just got here and haven’t worked out,” he whined. “I need to keep my stamina up for work.”

“Fine, I’ll go. Uber a ride home.”

“You’re just going to leave me here?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll call you when I’m done and come get you if you’re still here. If she isn’t at Starbucks, I’ll come right back.”

“Don’t be creepy.”

“I won’t,” I groaned.

I couldn’t believe that I was trying to stalk a stranger. Iwascreepy—definitely creepy. But I needed to see Autumn again. From the moment I ran into her, I couldn’t get her out of my head and I had to figure out why. It wasn’t like me. I hadn’t thought of any women other than Alyssa since she died. I’d been on dates for work with plenty of hot women, but I’d never thought of them outside of work before, so there was definitely a reason I thought of Autumn. I was attracted to her for sure. Maybe it was because I was sent to protect her somehow. I was certain I hadn’t bumped into her by accident, especially since I saw her the next day and at Club 24. Vegas wasn’t a small town by any means.

Walking into Starbucks, my gaze fell on the chair she was sitting in the day before, and my heart skipped a beat. She was sitting there, staring out the window. She looked beautiful even in her oversized grey sweatshirt; it was seventy-five degrees out and I was certain she was hiding her bruises. Only women who are abused hide them like that, especially drop dead gorgeous women like Autumn.

After ordering my coffee, I walked to the table where Jackson and I sat the day before. “Hey,” I greeted her.

“Oh … Hey.” She smiled a tight smile, her face blushing.

“I thought you didn’t want to have coffee with me?” I joked, trying to keep her smiling.

Her smile didn’t falter as she looked down at her paper cup, twirling it between her palms. “I never said I didn’t—”

“But you want to?”

“Gabe—” Her gaze met mine as she tilted her head slightly.

“Having a good day?” I asked, cutting her off. I didn’t want to hear her excuse that she was married. If she were happy in her marriage, I’d let it go. But she didn’t look happy.

“Pretty good. I was just leaving.” She stood to leave.

“Wait!” I reached out and grabbed her wrist. “Don’t go.”

“I have to.” She kept her stare focused on the door, not looking at me or my hand on her.

“Just five minutes,” I pleaded.

She took a deep breath. “We can’t keep meeting like this.”

“Why? Because you’re married?” I let go of her wrist, hoping she wouldn’t leave.

“Exactly.”