Page 104 of Lawton

"I saw her license," he said. "Remember?"

That's right. I did remember, but I still didn't like it. "I'm still pissed about that," I told him. "You're just lucky she didn't find out."

"I'm lucky? Oryou'relucky?" He smiled. "Because I don't give a rat's ass if she's mad atme."

For some reason, I just had to ask, "Why don't you like her?"

"I already told you," he said. "That's not it."

"Then what is it?"

He was quiet a long moment. Finally, he said, "A girl like that? She's gonna rip your heart out and eat it for breakfast."

I wanted to laugh. But the look on his face made me stop. For his sake, I changed the subject. "About tomorrow," I said, "just make it work, okay?"

Five minutes later, he was heading out, with a promise to return later that night. Normally, this would be good news – not so much now, not with him and Chloe not getting along.

Eventually, we'd work it out. But tonight wasn't the night. Tonight, I wanted to give Chloe a birthday that she wouldn’t forget.

"Hey," I said to Bishop as he headed out the door.

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"Tonight, if Chloe and I end up here at the house, don't be a dick, alright?"

He gave me a wave that might've passed for a yes. As for me, I returned to my desk and pulled out the ring. I looked at it for a long time, thinking how nice it would look on her finger. I didn't want to wait. But I would, because more than anything, I wanted her to say yes.

Funny, with other girls, it had always beenmeputting on the brakes. Not with Chloe. With her, I wanted to hit the gas pedal and keep on going.

But how Chloe felt, I still wasn't sure. I reminded myself that tonight washerbirthday celebration, not mine. So I returned the ring to its box and moved it to my wall-safe.

While there, I pulled out the other box, the one with the diamond earrings that I'd purchased at the same time. Looking at them, I felt myself smile. Chloe had delicate ears with perfect earlobes, not too big, not too small. The earrings, I figured, would fit her just right – just like she fit me.

A few hours later, her birthday celebration was well under way. There was only one problem. The birthday girl,mygirl, was missing.

Chapter 46

I looked around the packed nightclub. Where the hell was she? I scanned the crowd. After guiding Chloe toward the women's restroom, I'd been standing in the same spot, exactly where we were supposed to meet. She should be here by now.

It's not that I minded waiting. For a girl like Chloe, I'd wait forever. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if somehow I'd missed her.

Thanks to me and my plans for the evening – starting with a bottle of champagne in the limo – Chloe had been drinking more than I'd ever seen her. She'd been adorable, a little unsteady, but cute as hell.

I recalled how she looked in that little black dress. The image wasn't a comfort. I knew howIfelt when I looked at her. How would it be for other guys? Guys who'd been drinking twice as much. Asshole guys with slick lines and fast hands.

If anyone laid a hand on her –.

A female voice interrupted my thoughts. "Hey! Lawon!"

I turned around and spotted Sasha, a girl I'd hung with for maybe a week or two. With Sasha, there was another girl, a curvy brunette who looked vaguely familiar. Maybe I knew her. Or maybe she just had one of those faces.

Sasha pushed her way through the crowd and sidled up next to me. "You wanna dance?"

Sasha was okay, but this wasn't a good time. Again, I glanced toward the restrooms. Where was Chloe?

I gave Sasha the quick brush off, trying to be nice about it. She was cool, but her friend wasn't. It didn't help that she was totally smashed.

"I know you," the friend slurred. "You're Lawton Rastor." She stared down at my crotch. "Can I see it?"