Page 121 of One Little Kiss

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone only to see that yet again, there’s no service. Every building she’s shown me today has been one disaster after another, and I’m about to fire her ass.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take a calming breath and nearly lose my breakfast. The stench is worse than our frat house basement after a party. And we had some epic parties. “Miss Tannery.”

“Lindsey, please, Colton.” With pouty lips, she steps closer to me.

My gaze does an unwilling scan of her body, and I notice for the first time how she’s dressed. Her attire is more suited for a skanky club than taking a businessman out searching for potential property, and I narrow my eyes as her intent becomes clear.

She mistakes the change in my demeanor for interest, and when she’s close enough, she wraps her snake-like arms around my neck, attempting to pull me in for a kiss. My hand flies up just in time to block her face with my palm and push her away.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I caution, but apparently, she’s used all her brain cells to get her horrid shade of lipstick lined on her nasty lips, because she throws herself at me again. I’m so stunned I can’t say anything for a moment. Never, not once in all my years at The WB, have I been propositioned in such a disgusting manner.

Miss Tannery shimmies her shoulders and with lightning speed grabs my hand and places it on her ass. My stomach rolls, and I gag before anger rules every action. With a gentle shove, I step back. The venom in my gaze should stop her, but she continues to reach for me.

“Colton. It doesn’t have to mean anything. We can just have a little fun.”

Her perfume is nauseating. I’d thought so in her shitty car, but now it’s as if it’s burned all my nose hairs and I can’t get it off me.

“What doesn’t have to mean anything?” I roar. “What the fuck are you doing?” Glancing around, I search for cameras. Someone is punking me. That has to be it. “Preston?” I scream. “This isn’t funny. You’ve gone too far.”

“It’s just us here, Colton,” she coos.

“Mr. Westbrook.” I seethe.

“No one has to know.” Her crooked smile has a hint of jealousy I didn’t notice before, and a sickening feeling threatens the contents of my stomach.

“What agency are you from?”

“Let’s not discuss that right now.” I think her words are meant to sound seductive, but they ring in my ears like my worst nightmare.

Keeping my gaze averted, I force my voice to take on a menacing tone when my entire being is actually terrified. “What agency are you from?”

“You won’t even look at me?” she screeches, and I know nothing good can come from this.

“Fuck this,” I mutter. I don’t care if I have to walk twenty miles back to town. This crazy bitch is not about to ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

“Where are you going?” She stomps her foot, and I can’t believe I let myself get roped into this position again.

I should have known after the second building. Fuck me for giving her the benefit of the doubt. I need to get to Winnie. Talk to Preston. Get the fuck away from psycho realtor Barbie.

Blood rushes in my ears and I think I might be sick. Not again. This cannot happen again.

I’ve been walking on a dirt road for ten minutes when Lindsey’s car goes speeding by, kicking up dust. She’s followed by an oddly familiar black Toyota that I can’t place. That’s what happens in small towns. You unconsciously notice what kind of car everyone drives.

As they disappear into the distance, I pick up my pace. My phone says it’s after five. I’ve been gone, out of contact all day. My meetings this morning with Preston ran late, and by the time I got to the address he gave me to meet Lindsey Tannery, it was Weston’s nap time. I had hoped Winnie would be napping too, so I didn’t call.

I should have called.

Now I’m hating myself. I don’t even know if I’m going in the right direction. I haven’t seen a house in miles. The dirt road drags on forever, lined with trees that offer no point of reference. This town isn’t that big. Eventually, I have to get out of hell and find another person. Right?

I’ve been walking for almost forty minutes when my phone dings.Thank Christ.

Winnie: Hey… I just realized you call me CC and I don’t have a nickname for you.

Winnie: Anyway, I got called in to cover an extra shift. Since I’m taking tomorrow and Saturday off for the wedding, I need the hours.

Winnie: I tried to call, but it went straight to voicemail.

Winnie: I hope everything’s okay.