by Lila Fox
Long minutes later, Larkin tired. She hadn’t realized how far up they were, and she was glad she had to go down instead of up because she knew she wouldn’t have made it. Finally, she pushed through the first door that was unlocked and stood in a large, expensive-looking lobby.
“Miss, can I help you?”
Larkin jerked her head to the side to find an older man in a uniform. “Yes, I need to go home,” she said, hearing the edge of desperation she tried to hold back.
“Where were you?”
“I think I was at the top of the building.”
“You were at Mr. Marsh’s penthouse?”
Larkin shrugged.
The man looked at her sympathetically as she became dazed and agitated. “How about we get you a taxi?”
“I don’t have any money,” she confessed.
“I’ll give the driver money.”
Larkin shook her head. “Oh, no, I can’t let you do that.”
“I’ll make sure Mr. Marsh reimburses me. How’s that?”
“Will he get mad?” she asked.
“No, dear. He’s a very nice man. I’m shocked he let you leave like this.”
Larkin bit her lip and looked down.
“He doesn’t know you’re gone, does he?” The man likely guessed by the guilty look on her face. She was so easy to read.
“No. I can’t face him. I just can’t.”
“All right.” He had to see she was getting restless. “Let’s get your information down…”
“Oh, I don’t want him to have it. Although he might not remember me.”
The man tried to hide his grin. He seemed to have guessed Mr. Marsh would never forget her. “It’s for the taxi,” he explained.
She released a breath. “Oh. Okay. I’m sorry. I’m having a problem concentrating. I’ll write it down, but you have to promise not to give it to him.”
“Absolutely. I won’t give him the paper.” The man walked her over to the front counter and gave her a piece of paper and pen while he called the taxi.
Within a few minutes, the taxi honked outside.
She wrote down her address and then handed the paper to the man. “I’m sorry, but did you tell me your name?”
“No, miss. It’s Dempsey.”
Larkin held a hand out. “I’m Larkin.”
Dempsey shook her hand. “Let’s get you into the taxi.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like to put on your shoes, dear?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid I’d break my neck.”
Dempsey chuckled. “I understand.” He handed her into the back of the taxi and then gave the driver the address and money. “Take good care of her,” he advised the driver. “She’s a special friend of Mr. Marsh.”
The driver nodded. “Gotcha.”
Larkin waved. “It was nice to meet you, Dempsey.”
“You, too. I hope to see you again soon.”
Her mouth turned down. “I … maybe, if I walk past, I’ll wave.”
Dempsey grinned. “Be careful.”
She waved as the taxi drove off.
****
Darian reached out in his sleep and encountered cold sheets. He was instantly awake and looked around for Larkin. The light to the bathroom was dark, so he walked through the condo.
“Larkin?” he called out.
His stomach clenched when he realized she was gone. He raced to the house phone.
“Good morning, sir,” Dempsey answered.
“Morning, Dempsey. Have you seen a young woman?” Agitated, he ran a hand through his hair. “God, I don’t even know what’s she’s wearing.”
“She’s wearing a red dress, and I would guess one of your shirts over it.”
Darian relaxed. “Where is she?”
“She took a taxi home, sir.”
“Goddammit.”
“But I happen to have the address. I told her I wouldn’t give it to you, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t just let you see it.”
“Good man. I’ll be down as soon as I get dressed.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be here.”
Within five minutes, Darian had showered, dressed, and was down in the lobby.
Dempsey slid the paper onto the counter.
Darian grinned and memorized her address. “I owe you.”
Dempsey shook his head. “No, it was a delight meeting her. She’s very sweet.”
He nodded. “She is that.”
“I hope you find her, sir.”
“Oh, you can count on it.”
Two hours later, Darian walked back into his building.
Dempsey caught the look on his face. “Did you find her, sir?”
Darian shook his head. “I haven’t seen her yet. Her roommates said she was home for a minute to change, and then she left again to go to her best friend’s apartment, and they didn’t know where that was or her number.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not worried. I know she’ll be at work tonight, and she can’t get away from me then.”
“My money’s on you.”
Darian grinned. “Mine is, too,” he said and walked to the elevator. He planned to get some work done before he met up with his runaway later that evening. She wouldn’t get away from him this time.
Chapter Four
Darian hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. Maybe it was the fact he’d saved her the night before from those men that it made him feel like she was already his, but he knew he’d have to mellow out a bit or chance scaring her.
He walked into the Cigar Lounge later that night. He knew he’d never been to the place but admitted the place was very classy, expensive-looking, and definitely masculine. Dark wood walls and brown leather furniture were set in groups around the room, and then also several tables and comfortable chairs. It was a place men could come to relax for an extended period of time. It was an exclusive establishment, but he had no trouble getting a membership.
“Ah, Mr. Marsh.”
Darian turned to see a tall thin man headed his way. He held out a hand. “Are you Mr. Turnbell?”
“Yes, sir.” The man smiled. “But you, of course, can call me, Bert.”
“Bert. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Would you like to see our display of cigars?”
“Not right now. May I sit and have a drink?”
“Oh, of course. What can I get you?”
“Scotch, please.”
“I’ll have someone bring that right to you. Have a seat anywhere.”
Darian watched him scurry off and then scanned the area. It was a large room, but the way it was decorated and how the chairs were placed in small groups made it seem cozy and relaxing. He found a table where he could have his back to the wall so he could see the whole room.
Larkin’s roommates had told him they would all be working, so he expected to see her right away.
“Hello, Mr. Marsh.”
Darian looked up at the woman standing beside his table. “Hello, Monica. Where’s Larkin?”
She looked around. “She’s here. Do you want me to find her and have her come over?”
Darian shook his head. “No, I’d just like to observe first.”
“Okay. Have you ordered?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Yell if you need anything.”
Darian received his drink from another waitress and relaxed back in his chair. His posture changed when Larkin came from another room with a tray stacked with glasses. She was wearing trim black pants and a white long-sleeved shirt like the other waitresses. Her long hair was up in a twist and pinned to the back of her head.
Although the clothes fit snuggly, he was just glad she was covered.
He watched her go to one of the bigger tables and start serving the men.
His grip on the glass tightened when a few of the men tried to reach for her, but Larkin would step out of the way, so none of them got a hand on her. He could tell she’d done it many
times before, and it infuriated him.
For the next hour, he watched her work, rushing from one table to the next. Darian caught Monica’s attention with his hand raised.
“What do you need?”
Darian tipped his head toward where Larkin stood. “I want you to send her to me.”
Monica looked around and then back at Darian. “You have to be careful with her. She’s a very sweet person.”
“I would never hurt her,” he promised.
Monica bit her lip, seeming uncertain. “I have to tell you … she’s unique.”
Darian’s brows snapped together. “How?”
“She’s one of the smartest people I know. She’s always reading about boring stuff, but when it comes to life, she’s … clueless.”
“I understand. She doesn’t have a lot of street smarts.”
Monica snorted. “What I’m saying is she has none. The girls have been trying to get her to go out with us so we can teach her about life, but she rarely does. She spends most of her time with her friend Brylee, and she’s a lot like her.”
“Just know she will be taken care of.”
“I hope so. She really is a special person.”
Darian watched Monica walk to Larkin and say something in her ear. Larkin headed his way with her head down, oblivious to where she was going.
****
Larkin stopped at the table. Monica told her to get the order. She stopped writing a list for the drink order she’d received and then looked up. Her heart throbbed painfully in her chest, and tears burned under her eyelids.
Unable to say anything, she just stood and stared at the man she never thought she’d see again.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
“What are you doing here?” she whispered in shock.
“I came to find the woman who ran from me this morning.”
A tide of red stained her cheeks. “I … I didn’t know what to do. I was embarrassed that I didn’t remember you and …what happened last night. I don’t know the protocol for one-night stands.”
Darian narrowed his eyes. “You think we had sex?”
She flinched at the hard tone of his voice even though he whispered it. “Um, yes. I remember talking about it with you, and then I was practically naked this morning.”
He scowled at her. “We did not have sex…”
“Why not?” she burst out and frowned.
“Because I refuse to have our first time together be when your drunk and wouldn’t remember it.”
She looked down in disappointment. “So, you’re saying I’m still a…?”
“Virgin,” he said and nodded. “Yes.”
“I told my friend, Brylee, I was finally a woman. We celebrated with hot chocolate and cookies.”
His lips twitched. “Why are you so disappointed?”
“Because I’ve wanted to be like girls my age, and now, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen.”
“What if I told you that you didn’t have to be like everyone else? That I wanted you to stay the way you are because I think you’re perfect?”
She shook her head. “That’s not possible. Look, I have to get back to work. I’m sorry if I disappointed you or made you angry.”
He tightened his grip on her hand. “When do you get off?”
“Two.”
“How about I take you out to breakfast?”
Larkin bit her tongue and looked around the room. “It’s just… I don’t know you.”
“My name is Darian, sweetheart. Ask your friends or your manager who I am. If I had wanted to hurt you, I could have last night. Besides, we’ll be in a public place. I know a diner that sells great food twenty-four hours a day.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to my friends.”
“Good. I’ll be waiting here.”
She nodded again and took a step away. Turning, she walked away but then looked over her shoulder at him, almost running into another table.
Darian cringed. He was glad when she caught herself before hitting the table.
****
Darian watched her the rest of the night as she glanced at him and blushed. He smiled every time because it was incredibly charming. To pass the time, he made notes in his phone as he waited on her. He even made a few calls. He wasn’t one to sit idly around, so he took the opportunity to get a little work done.
A throat clearing got his attention. He looked up to see Larkin standing beside the table with her purse over her shoulder.
He stood right away and slid an arm around her waist as Mr. Turnbell walked up to them.
“We were glad to have you with us tonight, Mr. Marsh.”
Darian stopped. “Thank you for letting me get a membership at such a short notice.”
“Oh, my, anytime.” Mr. Turnbell looked from one to the other. “So, you two know each other?”
“Yes,” Darian said.
“Have you known each other long?”
Darian nodded at the same time that Larkin shook her head. When she scowled up at him, he grinned and tightened his arm. “Thank you, again,” he said to the manager and maneuvered Larkin out of the lounge before the man could ask any more questions.
He led her to his car parked down the block. A drop of sweat rolled down the middle of his back when she started to balk. “Come on, honey. Everything’s going to be okay.”
He watched her exhale, nod, and slip into the car. She sighed when she sank back into the soft leather seat. He felt a satisfaction knowing this was the first step to having her as his own.
Chapter Five
Larkin stared at him when he stood with the door open, waiting for her. The inside of the vehicle was very dark, yawning, and ominous. Her next move would be a big step. Like if she got into the car, her whole life would be changing.
With a sigh, she got in and waited until he closed her door and walked around the car.
Darian reached over her and pulled her seatbelt across her midsection, securing it. He looked up at her and smiled. “I want you safe.”
Her heart tripped at the look in his eyes. Apprehension and excitement made her feel slightly dizzy.
He pulled out and drove through the town. The streets were about empty at two o'clock in the morning, and it always felt eerie to her. Without the cars and people, the shadows seem to grow more menacing.
When Darian pulled into a parking space, she gazed around in interest. The place looked a little rundown but was amazingly busy for that time of night. She jerked when her door opened.
Darian held out his hand. “I know you’re tired, so I won’t have you out long.”
Larkin reached for his hand. She stood a little shaky at his side.
“Come on, honey.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and maneuvered her into the diner. They took a seat at a booth in the way back.
“Coffee?” the waitress said as she set the menus down in front of them.
Both of them shook their heads.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a sec.”
Larkin opened the menu. “What’s good here?”
“I love the pancakes.”
She smiled and closed her menu. “Okay, sounds good.”
Darian lifted his hand to get the waitress’s attention, and she wasn’t the least surprised to see the woman immediately react. The man had a way about him that made people stand up and notice, jumping at his orders.
“What can I get you?”
“We’ll both take the stack of pancakes with sides of bacon.”
Darian glanced at Larkin. “Milk or juice?”
“Milk, please.”
“All right, milk for her and juice for me.”
“Coming right up.”
Larkin watched Darian relax back against the booth, rest one of his arms on the top of the seat, and train his eyes on her. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Oh, well, um, let’s see. There’s really not much to tell. I’m twenty-three. I live in an apartment with three other girls, all of whom I work with. I’ve
been working at the lounge for about two years.”
“Boyfriends?”
“No.” She grinned. “I’ve had a couple in the past, but they didn’t get serious either time. How about you?”
“No, girlfriends, wives, ex-wives, or children. I’m free and clear.”
Larkin snorted. “Tell me something about you.”
“Let’s see. I’m thirty-two. I own a few businesses with a group of friends. We all met in college and hit it off. We’ve been together ever since.”
“I have a friend like that. Brylee. She and I have so much in common. We get each other.”
“How?”
She shrugged. “We just like doing the same things. We both love reading, walking, going to movies, and we love baking.”
“How long have you known each other?”
Larkin leaned back when the waitress set her glass of milk and his juice on the table and then their plates. Her eyes widened. The dish was huge and filled with pancakes and so many pieces of bacon.
“Thank you,” Darian told the waitress.
“Yell if you need anything.”
Darian caught the look on Larkin’s face and chuckled.
“That’s a lot of food,” she said.
“It is. What you can’t eat, I will. So, dig in.”
They ate in silence for several minutes.
She took a drink from her glass. “You didn’t answer me about how long you’ve known Brylee.”
“Since we were seven or so.”
“Met in grade school?” he asked between bites.
Larkin set her fork down and wiped some syrup off her fingers. “No, not school. We were put into the same foster home.”
“Foster,” he exclaimed, clearly shocked.
She nodded. “It wasn’t too bad because we had each other.”
“Why were you there?”
“My mom dropped me off in front of a fire station and said to wait for her. She never came back.”
“Jesus, honey. I’m so sorry.”
“It actually might have been a good thing now that I’m older I understand the danger she put me in. My mom did drugs. I can remember the smell and the creepy people she’d have over. She slept with a different guy just about every night.”
