Which was another reason she was in the office on a Saturday when she didn’t have to be there. Her presence at the bank didn’t make it any more likely Sean would behave himself. The truth was, she couldn’t face the idea of staying in the house on her own all day.
It was so long since she’d spoken to her friends she was afraid to get in touch. Her parents were away visiting family back home. In fact, she should have gone too, but she hadn’t wanted to ask for the time off work and she was sick of all the aunts and uncles asking when she was getting married.
Not for the first time, she wished she could be a fly on the wall in Sean’s office. Her ears were burning and she was pretty sure it wasn’t because he was singing her praises.
Well, there was nothing to be done about that. The target analyses needed updating for the week, so she got stuck into the figures and soon got lost in the process.
The morning passed pretty quickly after that. It was surprising how easily everyone had slotted back into their routines after what had happened. The only exception was Melanie who’d decided to take a few days off. Loretta was amazed more people hadn’t reacted in the same way. Perhaps they were all in denial, herself included.
At one o’clock, she shut down her computer, grabbed her bag and left her office. If Sean didn’t want her there, he could close up without her. The sun was still shining brightly – she really ought to make good use of the weather.
Stepping outside, she considered going for a walk along the canal. She’d have to go home and change first. Maybe find a book to take with her.
“Loretta, I was hoping you’d be at work today.”
Her heart leapt before she actively recognised the voice. She turned to see Jordan holding a big box tied up with a red bow. “Jordan?”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be in, but I didn’t have any other way of finding you.”
“What...?” Her brain was struggling to follow what he was telling her.
“Look, I’m really, really sorry about yesterday, but I wanted to see you again.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“Oh shit. I’m coming on too strong again, aren’t I?” He shoved the box at her and backed off. “Just take this. I’m sorry.” He walked away.
She watched him go, then looked down at the gift in her hands. It was too large for chocolates. Curiosity got the better of her and she tore open the wrapping.
“Oh my god.” Her hand went to her mouth. She couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t thought he’d been listening, but now she could see he must have been.
He’d found the front grille she needed for Edna. It was exactly the right one.
“Wait, Jordan.” She ran up the street. Where the hell was he? “Jordan.” She’d already lost his phone number. She couldn’t let a second chance slip through her fingers.
“Jordan.”
He worked to keep the smile from his face as he heard her calling out for him.
“Jordan, wait.”
With his best attempt at a surprised expression, he turned around and let her catch up with him. “Loretta.”
“Where did you get this?”
“I’ve got a friend who owns a garage. He made a few calls for me.”
“I can’t believe you remembered.” She looked so pretty with her eyes all wide and impressed. It made driving all over town that morning more than worth it.
“I got the impression you weren’t going to call me.”
Her full lips tightened and he knew he’d hit the nail on the head.
“I needed something to get your attention.”
“You’ve certainly done that.” She looked down at the box. “But I can’t accept it. Not as a gift. Let me pay you back.”
“The only payment I want is a date.”
Their eyes met and he was happy to feel a kick of electricity. He wasn’t losing his touch.
“I... I don’t know.”
“One date. Weren’t you enjoying yourself before we got interrupted yesterday?” He had to tread more lightly with this girl – she needed more space than the likes of Gina. It went against his instincts, but he bit down on his tendency to let his mouth run away with him.
“Where did you have in mind?”
He’d spent a long time thinking about that. “As someone who absconded from a restaurant without paying the bill—”
“Hey, that was a mistake.” A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
“I thought you might appreciate something a bit naughty.”
She went very still and very quiet. So quiet he thought he’d blown it.
“But not too naughty?”
He shook his head. There was a hidden side to this assistant bank manager. It didn’t surprise him all that much. Preachers’ daughters were always the wildest ones underneath it all. “I’ll pick you up tonight. About eight?”
“Okay.”
“Where?”
“Where are we going?”
“Just outside town. How about I meet you in front of the bank.” He couldn’t resist.
“Okay. Eight o’clock outside the bank.”
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Until then.” And so the game began.
CHAPTER 7
All thoughts of an afternoon stroll in the sunshine went out of Loretta’s head as soon as she got that front grille in her hands. After agreeing to see Jordan that evening, she headed straight home, got changed and fit the new part on Edna. No matter how many times she told herself not to get too excited, a grin kept stealing across her face anyway. The car was nowhere near finished, but seeing another piece of the jigsaw slot into place made her feel a few steps closer to driving her out on the road.
It was like a miracle. Jordan couldn’t be too bad if he’d gone to all that trouble. She still wasn’t sure about the situation with that Gina woman, but she’d be sure to ask him about that on their date.
Her stomach squirmed around in circles. A date. How long was it since she’d done that? An embarrassing length of time. She cleaned herself up and heated a bowl of soup. What was she even going to wear?
There were so many questions she should have asked him. Were they eating out, or should she have something beforehand? Should she dress smart or casual? If she hadn’t been so blown away by his gift, she might have thought to ask for his number again. Now she’d just have to pick an outfit and hope for the best.
She could always go home and change if she was wearing something hopelessly unsuitable.
In the end, she ate a light dinner and wore a dark grey pencil dress that straddled the line between dressy and relaxed. She got to the bank for ten to eight. Jordan arrived five minutes later in a red Subaru.
“Nice car.”
“Thanks.” He leaned over to open the passenger door and she climbed in.
The scent of his aftershave was heavy inside the car. It was vaguely familiar. Just her luck if he used the same one as Sean.
“You look good.”
She’d left her hair down for once and nerves meant she kept tucking it behind her ear. “Thanks. You too.” He looked more than good. The top buttons of his shirt were undone and her eyes kept going back to the well-defined muscle she could see peeking out. He must spend a serious amount of time at the gym.
Jordan pulled away from the kerb and she racked her brains for something to say. “How’s the import-export business going?” She cringed at herself. What a lame question.
“Demanding. But I’ve got a deal in the wings that might make up for it.”
He gave her such a warm smile she felt like less of an idiot.
The drive out of town didn’t even take twenty minutes. They headed out where the scenery held more trees and fewer houses.
“What’s out here?”
“A party.”
“Whose party?”
“Not exactly that kind of party.” He turned into a dark, narrow track. “Nearly there.” The way opened up little by little and the moon shone down on an empty field w
ith a huge farmhouse on the other side of it.
As they went further along the road, a heavy beat vibrated through the car and music floated out to them. Jordan took them right up to the source – a bright red barn with party-goers spilling out of it.
A young couple sat kissing on a stack of hay bales just outside the door. Inside, the darkness was punctuated by flashing lights in red, yellow, blue, orange, purple.
They parked up behind a sporty open-top and got out of the car.
Loretta’s kitten heels sank into the soft earth. She walked on the balls of her feet until they got inside where it was a bit firmer and there was straw spread on the ground. As soon as they stepped over the threshold, a wall of heat rocked her backwards.
He leaned in to speak, but she couldn’t hear him over the music. She shook her head and he took her by the hand, leading her further inside.
The whole barn had been made over into something closely resembling a nightclub. There was even a mirror-ball hanging from the ceiling.
“What is this place?” she shouted, but Jordan couldn’t hear her either. He led her through the crowd and out through a side door. They came out into a cooler, smaller room that had cans and bottles of alcohol stacked against the walls. The music was muted from blaring to just loud.
“Lager or alcopop?” he asked, helping himself to a can.
“Bottle of lager, please.”
He opened one for her and passed it over. When she took a sip, it was nice and cold.
“How come you knew about this place?”
“Friend of a friend.” He brought his can up and tapped it against her bottle.
She was completely at a loss. A nightclub on a farm. She wouldn’t have guessed that was where they were going if she’d had all year to think about it. What else did he have up his sleeve? “Is this an illegal rave, or something?” He had said naughty, after all.
“If it is, does that mean you want to leave?”
“Are we likely to get arrested?”
He laughed and took a swig of his drink. “Hasn’t happened so far.”
“How many of these have you been to?”
“A few.”
She sucked on her bottom lip. If she got arrested, she’d probably lose her job. Next door, the music segued from one song to another. She looked back over the way they’d come.
“Want to dance?”
She nodded. Jordan opened the door for her and they walked into the humid heat of the disco.
This was shaping up to be an interesting night. She’d had him worried for a while back out by the drinks, but he’d been right about her other side. And all women liked to be corrupted at least a tiny bit.
He took her hand and led her out into the middle of the dancers. The music was too loud for them to talk, but that wasn’t what he had in mind. When they were right in the thick of things, he turned to her and moved to the beat. She didn’t join in straight away, but he knew she was just easing into it.
She knocked back the last three-quarters of her beer and tossed the bottle aside. He moved towards her, a grin spreading across his face. Slowly, she started to dance, swaying her hips to the rhythm of the music. Looking into her eyes, he danced closer. He finished his drink and threw the can on the floor.
Now she’d got going, it was clear she really knew how to move. She looked at him alone, dancing just for him. He couldn’t tear his eyes away. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him?
Loretta swayed from side to side, raising her arms to beckon him closer. He walked over to her, placing his hands on her hips. He could feel the straps of her g-string standing out against her dress. Who was this woman? And why weren’t there more bankers like her?
Her hands went to his sides, teasing him through his t-shirt. Moving together, he felt her body brush against his and the temperature in the room rose by a few more degrees.
He moved away, conscious of the effect she was having on him. Having his... excitement come between them wasn’t the way he intended to start the evening off. He danced around her, keeping enough distance to let himself cool down.
But she wasn’t going to let him off that easy. She backed into him. His hands went to her waist and she ground her ass into his crotch. There went any chance he had of playing it cool. She must have been able to feel what was going on in his pants.
Hell, it was too late now. He pulled her in close and rubbed up against her. She was sending his libido through the roof.
The song changed again. Enough was enough. Still holding her in front of him as camouflage, he walked her across the dance-floor, out through another door and into the night.
Maybe the lager had gone to her head, but feeling Jordan get hard behind her was making Loretta seriously horny. She was glad when he walked her outside. The heat in the barn was getting too much. She could only imagine what state her hair was in.
As soon as they stepped out into the cool air, he leaned her against the wall and kissed her the way she’d been fantasising about all evening.
His hands pinned her shoulders back as his lips moved over hers. He kissed her hungrily and she opened her mouth to him. It had been too long since a good-looking man had tasted her.
The bank robber didn’t count. She didn’t even know what he looked like.
She sighed and sank her fingers into his thick hair. His hard body pressed into her. This was a man who knew how to take control and she gladly relinquished it. He felt so good it was almost familiar – like kissing a long lost love. She groaned into his mouth and arched her back up off the wall. Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to the sensations he was waking inside her.
His hands slid over her dress, moving from her thighs to her waist to the swell of her breasts. His woody aftershave seeped into her awareness like a mind-altering drug. She broke off the kiss. It was too soon. She couldn’t.
Breathing heavily, she shook her head. “Will you get me another drink?” More alcohol was the last thing she wanted, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.
He looked down at her, his face flushed with need, his eyes unfocused. “I won’t be long.” He disappeared back through the door.
Loretta slumped against the wall and let out a long sigh. What was she doing? She separated her hair out with her fingers, wishing she’d brought the handbag with the mirror in it.
It wouldn’t take him long to fetch a couple of bottles. She needed to clear her head before he got back. What she really wanted was an ice-cold lemonade, but she doubted they had any soft drinks at a party like this.
The door opened long enough for some of the noise to escape. She backed away a couple of steps, but it wasn’t him. Three girls looked her up and down, then walked off round the back of the barn. She looked down at her dress. It wasn’t that unfashionable. Was it?
The door opened again and this time it was Jordan. “Here.”
She’d never been so pleased to see a bottle of water before. It was delightfully cold in her hand. She tore off the lid and gulped half of it down.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
He took a kiss from her, but didn’t push it any further. “I got you a beer too, when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
He had some of his drink and held out his hand.
She accepted the offer and walked with him into the tall grass that grew alongside the barn.
“Let me know if you want to go back inside.”
“It’s too hot in there.”
“You were pretty hot out here too.” His hand tightened around hers and a tingle ran down her spine.
He was stirring up all kinds of dangerous feelings. She promised herself she wouldn’t go any further than those delicious kisses. Not on a first date. “So is it just the disco here?”
“No. I was going to show you the other part. Still up for being naughty?”
She wasn’t so sure, but she went with him as he led her in the same direction those girls had gone.
CHAPTER 8
Jordan finished his second can and brought a bottle out of his back pocket. He needed to go easy on the drink, but having Loretta with him was making him nervous. Another one to keep the edge off wouldn’t hurt.
He rounded the corner and took her up to the door. This place had more nooks and crannies than you could keep straight in your head. Pretty handy in the event of a raid.
“After you.”
He followed her inside, admiring the view. That was the difference between women and girls. Women knew how to show off their assets. You wouldn’t catch a twenty year-old in a knee-length dress, but Loretta’s outfit clung to all the right body-parts and she looked hotter than ninety-nine per cent of the girls out there that night.
“Cards?”
He slipped in behind her, putting his hands round her waist. “Poker.” There were three tables laid out with games going on at all of them.
“I take it this isn’t legal,” she whispered.
“Not exactly.”
She shook her head and he felt her laugh.
“Do you mind if I play?”
“You don’t need my permission.”
He wasn’t entirely sure if that meant she was okay with it or not. He’d soon find out.
“What rules are they playing?”
“Five card draw.”
“I’m more used to Texas Hold’em.”
“You play?”
“Not as much as I used to.”
She was full of surprises. Not a bad quality in a woman. “I can stake you if you want to play.”
He felt the tension in her body. When she looked round at him, she was wearing the same expression she’d had when he asked her on the date.
“I’ll just watch.”
The games were in full swing with the table nearest the door set aside for the real high stakes. They settled in to watch the play.
Loretta moved round to stand next to him. She tugged on his arm for him to lean down so she could whisper in his ear. “See the guy with the crazy shirt?”
“Uh-huh.” He must have been wearing the paisley to put the other players off. Nobody would put that on as a fashion statement.
“He’s got a really obvious tell.”
Black Girls and Bad Boys: Stealing Loretta Page 5
