Page 38 of Rum & Coke

I chuckled. “You too.”

When I got back to Tessa’s door, I knocked lightly. After a few moments, she opened it. “Did you just open the door without seeing who it was?”

“No.” She frowned. “I looked through the peephole.”

“Oh, okay. Now, let’s call the cops.” It wasn’t every day I said those words, and I hoped I’d never have to again.

Tessa called the non-emergency line for Las Vegas Metro, and while we waited for them to arrive to file a report and get more information, we sat on her couch side by side, staring at a blank TV screen.

“Go to sleep if you want. It might be awhile before they get here.”

“Really?”

I stretched my arm across the back of the couch, hoping she’d lean in and sleep against me. “Yeah, it’s non-emergency, but they’ll come eventually.” I figured it would be maybe thirty minutes, but I could tell she was tired because she was yawning. Hell, I was tired, too.

“Tell me about the time you were followed.”

“You really want to know?”

She turned her head toward me. “Of course I do.”

I patted the top of my shoulder, silently asking her to do what I wanted, which was for her to get closer to me. She smiled and snuggled closer. I grinned to myself and held her tighter. “I’ve been followed twice, and both times was because a client wanted more.”

“Like to date you?”

“Yeah.”

“What happened?”

“First time, after I brought a date home, she followed me to my place. She didn’t stop, but I made the mistake of letting her know where I lived by going home. You shouldnevergo home if you’re being followed.”

“I didn’t.”

“I know. That was smart.”

“So, what did she do since she didn’t stop?”

“Well, she started parking outside of my place a few nights a week, and then once I found her in my bed.”

“What?” she shrieked and sat up.

“Naked.”

“No,” Tessa breathed.

“True story. Had to call the cops and got a restraining order.”

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

“Yep. The second woman didn’t follow me, but she somehow traced my phone and got my address. Showed up at my house wearing only a trench coat.”

“You don’t like women showing up in a trench coat? Isn’t that sexy or something?”

“Yes, when both people are interested. But I don’t have feelings for my clients.”

“So, what did you do?” She placed her head back on my shoulder.

“Asked her to leave because I was busy, which I was.”