Page 75 of Falling for Them

But something about her has called to me from the start.I can’t shake it.

My phone rings again, this time as I’m stepping into my office.I flick on the lights and stride to my desk as I answer the call.

“Kingston?”a woman’s voice says.

Oh, fuck me.I should’ve looked at the Caller ID.“Rayanne,” I say.“What a surprise.”

She gives a light laugh.“I’m surprised you answered.”

Bypassing that entirely, I say, “Is everything all right?”

“Oh, yes.”She laughs again.She always does that when she’s nervous, ever since I met her in college.“I just wanted to call and catch up.Have you heard from Joel lately?”

“Not since he left for Tahoe a few days ago.I think he’s back in town, though.He should be coming to the office today.”I frown at the cityscape outside my office windows.San Esteban is too bright, the winter sun glinting off of car windshields and reflecting off the buildings.Horns blare in a traffic jam below.“Do you want me to give him a message or something?”

“No, no, it’s fine.He’ll text me at some point.”She clears her throat.“How’s business?”

“It’s good.Solid.”

“Slow and steady, that was always your motto,” she says.

“It’s worked for me.”

Rayanne always hated that I wasn’t more ambitious.She wanted me to grab every opportunity, even the opportunities that seemed sketchy, or morally gray.

“I guess it has worked for you,” she says softly.

She sounds weird.

“Is…everything all right with you?”I ask.

“Oh, yeah.Totally.”

“Douglas is okay?”I hate her husband—not because he married my ex-wife, but because he’s the kind of slimy, money-grubbing businessman I always vowed I wouldn’t turn into.He’s in the pharmaceutical business and some of the drugs his company manufactures are reportedly highly addictive.

“Yeah, he’s great,” Rayanne says.“Well, I was just calling to catch up.I’m glad you’re doing well, Kingston.”

“You too, Rayanne.”I don’t wish her ill, anyway.Just because she and her husband make my skin crawl doesn’t mean she deserves to be unhappy.“Take care.”

“You too.”

The call ends and I sigh, staring out over the city, wondering what the fuck that was about.

Ella

It’s been a long freaking day.The hours while I cleaned the luxury apartments seemed double what they actually were, especially with two guys I didn’t recognize who stared at me for a long moment in the hall.It made me paranoid, even though they looked nothing like the guys who showed up at the pub to bother me.Then after that disconcerting shift, the pub has been slow.

“Is today over yet?”I ask Natasha.

She glances at the clock on the computer we use to put in food and drink orders.“Nope.We have thirty minutes to go.Why don’t you head out?It’s so slow, I could take your…what, two tables left?”

I look out over the dining room.“Just one left now.But I’m not leaving early.I need to get paid.You can go, though.”

“Yeah,” she says.“I think I will.Only if you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Natasha says goodbye and takes off.In an hour, the next server will be here to take on the late crowd.I can’t wait to get out of here, but like I told Natasha, I need the money, so it doesn’t matter how much my feet hurt or how bored I am, I’m staying until the end of my shift.