Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Page 77

I didn’t say anything. I knew I should be grateful, but I was still mad. I got out of the car and walked over to mine. Joe stayed in the parking lot while I pulled away.
The Trading Post was on Highway 82 just outside of town. Henryetta being so small, it didn't take long to pull into the pea gravel parking lot, already half-full of pickup trucks and motorcycles. My stomach tied itself up in knots as I got out of the car. It was one minute after ten. One minute late.
I took a deep breath as I went in and let my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky haze. Daniel sat across the room, at a table with two other men.
Showtime.
I walked over to his table, but I tried to saunter, like I’d seen models do on television. I had no idea if I pulled it off or looked like a fool. In either case, Daniel Crocker looked like he appreciated what he saw.
I realized I might get out of the dying part, but I highly doubted I’d get out of the sleeping-with-him part. I hoped I could go through with it.
Daniel leaned his arms on the backs of the chairs next to him and looked me up and down. “Well, there you are, baby. I was just talkin’ about ya.”
“Oh?” I sat down in the empty chair across from him and tried to look interested. I’d prefer to dump the flash drive in his lap and turn around and leave, but the person with the real flash drive had stood him up for awhile. Common sense told me I was gonna have to work my way out of being punished.
“Let me get you a drink. I believe you drank wine when I saw you with Sloan.”
I ignored the Sloan comment. “Wine would be great, thanks.”
Daniel motioned to a guy next to him with a quick wave of his hand. “White.” The guy walked over to the bar. “I was worried you weren’t goin’ to show, baby. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”
“I disappointed you long enough.” I smiled and lifted my eyebrows. I wasn’t sure how it actually looked, sexy or stupid, but he still looked interested. I felt like I was walking a tightrope without a net.
The guy returned with a glass of white wine. It creeped me out that Daniel remembered what I had that night. I took a sip and smiled my approval.
My hand rested on the table. Daniel stretched his hand over and covered mine. It felt clammy and oppressive. I resisted the urge to snatch mine away.
“They say business before pleasure, Rose. Seems particularly apropos tonight.”
I stood up, carefully pulling my hand out from under his so I didn’t offend him. I reached into my pocket, arching my back and thrusting out my chest. I needed to worry about the surviving tonight and not the fact I was digging myself into a hole of sleeping with him. His eyes told me he appreciated the view. I put the flash drive on the table slowly slid it toward him.
He picked it up and handed it to the guy who brought my wine. He waved to the other man, who got up and left. Daniel patted the chair next to him. “I’m feeling mighty lonely all by myself. Come sit with me.”
I moved to the chair, trying not to stiffen when he draped his arm around my shoulders and sniffed my neck.
Oh, Lord, I don’t think I can go through with this.
“You smell so good, baby. I can’t wait to get a taste.” He leaned over and kissed me, a wet sloppy mess that tasted like beer and onions. Daniel Crocker had a love of onions. I tried to show him a little enthusiasm, but he noticed the lack of effort on my part.
“Nervous, baby? You got something to be nervous about? I know you’re good in bed. McAllister says so anyway.”
I couldn’t stop my show of surprise.
His hand moved to my leg, skimming the inside of my thigh. “Don’t be hurt. I had McAllister keep an eye on you, once I knew it was you. I didn’t expect him to watch you so closely though.” His hand moved farther up my thigh. “Although he did provide exceptional information.” He pinched the inside of my leg. Even through my jeans it was hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. “But you’re mine now.”
I grabbed my glass of wine and took a good-sized gulp.
The man came and whispered in Crocker’s ear. Daniel grinned. “Bring over some tequila shots to celebrate.” He turned to me, beaming. “You have no idea how happy I am that you didn’t disappoint me.”
The man brought six shot glasses, a bowl full of lime wedges, and a shaker full of salt.
“You ever done tequila shots, Rose?” Daniel asked, lining up the shot glasses, three in front of him and three in front of me. They were much smaller than a glass of wine or beer, but I knew they were much more potent.
“No,” I said, scared. If a couple of bottles of beer made me jump Joe, what would a glass of wine and three tequila shots have me do with Daniel? Then again, if I was gonna have to do it, I might as well have a little help.
His eyes lit up, but with a scary excitement, not the excitement I saw on Joe’s face. “Let me teach you,” he said in a leer. “But first finish your wine.”
I gulped my wine down. I was going be incapable of driving. How would I get home?
He laughed when I set down the empty glass. “You are gonna be fun. Okay, time for your lesson. I’m gonna demonstrate and then you try it, Okay?”
I nodded, my head getting fuzzy.
He picked up my left hand, and licked the back of it, I couldn’t help the automatic response to jerk away. But he must have been prepared, because he held on tight and laughed. He picked up the salt shaker and poured salt onto my hand. Licking it off, he rolled his eyes an evil smile widening on his face. Still holding onto my hand, he picked up a shot glass with his other hand and downed it in a second. He slammed it on the table and picked up a lime wedge and sucked on it.