Moth

by Jennifer Foor

  Still, the curiosity remains.

  We arrive at the party and I’m shocked to see the amount of high dollar vehicles in the circle driveway. She parks her crappy car off the road and waits for me to meet her before we walk into the yard together. The stone home is old. The windows have cracked wooden frames, and it’s evident they need replacing. I’m not the best at home improvement, but I know enough to recognize rot.

  “Who does this house belong to?”

  “One of my bosses. Isn’t it creepy? A few of my co-workers joke about it being haunted.”

  I lean closer as we walk toward it. “Ohh, are you scared?”

  “Not particularly. That stuff is fake. It’s all in our heads. I have enough to worry about then to assume ghosts are coming for me.”

  I snicker. She’s cute when she’s trying to be tough. I shake off the urge to continue to tease her. Remaining focused will help me learn as much as I can in a little amount of time.

  We’re bombarded with people as soon as we hit the threshold. Most of the guys are dressed in preppy attire, while the females are wearing outfits equally as appealing to what Windy has on. She’s all smiles as we begin to greet the group. I’m introduced to several people, all while trying to memorize their names for later investigation. I follow Windy like a mutt looking for scraps until we make it to a less crowded area in the house. She inhales deeply like introductions exhausted her. “Shew. So far so good.”

  “Everyone seems to like you. I don’t really know why you brought me. Perhaps you secretly want to date me, and this is the only way you could figure how to do it without appearing desperate.”

  She rolls those big chocolate eyes. “Give it a rest. I’m fairly certain you’re full of shit.”

  I sneer. “Your loss.”

  She shakes her head and puts on a smile for a guy as he enters the room. “There you are, Windy. I thought I heard your voice.”

  She turns to me. “John, this is Monty, my boyfriend.” I like the sound of it, even if she’s not really Windy, and I’m only with her to figure out her involvement in my brother’s murder.

  The guy extends his hand for me to shake. I grip it firmly to show off my strength. It’s a man thing. I know it’s a dick move, but when he pulls away and shakes the pain away I know I’ve hit a nerve. He’s now aware Windy is off limits. It’s exactly what she’s brought me here to do. Little favors like this are what will make her trust me. Once that happens I’ll be able to figure her out.

  When John leaves the room Windy turns to me. “You didn’t have to hurt him.”

  “Just laying claim to what’s mine, for the night of course.”

  She’s shaking her head while walking away from me. I know it’s what I said. She’s annoyed, so I inadvertently feel accomplished. I want to taunt her until she gives in. I like seeing her angry. It’s delightful to watch her questioning her own judgment. Right now she regrets bringing me along. I need to tread lightly in order to continue to inch my way into her life. If I push too hard I’ll lose my opportunity.

  A bit later I find her sitting on a couch with another one of her male co-workers. He’s got his arm behind her on the back of the sofa while he leans in to speak. Her eyes find mine and a smile forms across her face like she’s doing this to see if there’s a reaction. I feel like I’m back in high school, looking for all the reasons why I have to nail this chick, then rethinking the decision because of the repercussions that will come.

  At first I assume the conversation is cordial. I’m paying such close attention to her that I don’t notice a female stepping in my line of view. “I didn’t know John hired entertainment for the party.” She runs her hand over one of my biceps, and I can tell she’d like me to give her a show of what I might be hiding under the hood. She’s a middle aged lady with super curly red hair. She has a small gap in between her teeth that is storing a big black speck of what I assume is pepper. I hate correcting her, because I enjoy this kind of attention. “Yeah, I wasn’t hired for the party. I’m with Windy. We came together.”

  It’s obvious this isn’t what she expected to hear. “Windy Lewis? Wow. I didn’t know anyone would find her interesting.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Do you know something I don’t?” What better way to get inside of her head than to ask the people she surrounds herself with on a daily basis.

  “Windy isn’t sociable. I find it hard to believe she’s got a boyfriend.”

  This makes me laugh to myself. She’s been nothing but standoffish since we met. I want to think it’s because she’s so smart she’s awkward, but I’m aware this isn’t the real Windy. Maybe her actions reflect something entirely different, like being attracted to me. Maybe I’m full of myself and see things that aren’t really there. I have lived in the jungle for too long, and also been surrounded by a bunch of horny men.

  I look in her direction and see the guy next to her staring at the cleavage her large breasts are revealing in the tube top. Right away I feel overwhelmed with the urge to lay claim to her. We arrived together. She asked me to protect her from these men, and I plan on making my presence very known. She notices what he’s doing and backs away, pulling up the top so he’s unable to continue.

  I see it as a sign to step in and assist. “Excuse me. I think I need to check on my girlfriend.”

  Knowing she’s the hottest female in the home only makes this harder. I’d like it if I could flirt and mingle, but I find myself wanting to be close to her, not just to get to know her, but because being in her presence does something to me. I’m unintentionally losing my grip on right and wrong as I reach the sofa she’s sitting on. Our eyes meet and I think she already knows why I’ve come from across the room. Her eyebrows lift as she gives me the go-ahead without saying it.

  “Do you mind if I take my girlfriend away from the conversation for a bit?” I ask. It’s simple, but gets the point across. I extend my hand for her to take. She’s quick to take it and allow me to assist her to stand next to me. Her palms rest against my chest as she turns to address the pervert.

  “Seth, this is my boyfriend, Monty.”

  “Boyfriend? Since when?”

  “Does it matter?” I chime in.

  She pats me and smiles. “It’s okay.” Then spins around to reply. “We’ve been dating for a while now. I didn’t think it was professional to talk about my personal affairs in the office. That’s why I brought Monty along today. It’s time I stopped hiding him.”

  I don’t know why this feels right to me. It’s not at all, but I accept what she’s trying to do. I need to make sure they know she’s off limits, and that I’ll take extreme measures if they continue to press her about hooking up. I need this woman to trust me, and this is a good way to make damn certain it happens.

  I offer my hand to this guy, making sure when he takes it to give him a hint of my power. It’s like a silent threat. If he touches her he’ll have to get through me first. He jerks his hand away before I give him half of what I’m capable of doing. If I wanted to I could break his hand with one squeeze. It’s not hard. Mostly it involves a firm grip and a twist. “Good to meet you.”

  He nods and places his hand in his pocket. Windy latches both arms around one of mine. “Are you ready to head out? I know you said we had that thing to do later.”

  I could say something obnoxious, but I refrain. I’ll wait until we’re in the car to egg her on again. For now I’ve made my presence known.

  “Yeah, babe. We can head out.” It’s difficult to contain my amusement as we play against each other’s words. Once we’re outside she releases her hold and separates us. We stand on either side of her car to speak. “Did I do good?”

  “As well as can be expected. You didn’t have to break bones.”

  “I didn’t.”

  She laughing as she climbs into the driver’s seat. “You could’ve fooled me. Did you see Seth’s face. He looked like he was about to cry.”

  “He’s a scumbag. The whole time you were
talking he was fucking every part of you with his eyes.”

  “Like you do?” She questions.

  “No. You’ve got it all wrong. It shows what little you know about me. If I want to fuck, I won’t have to do it with my imagination.”

  Chapter 10

  Fake Windy is sitting at a red light about to turn in the direction of my brother’s old place. She’s quiet, and for the life of me I can’t stop myself from suggesting another idea. “We don’t have to call it a night.”

  She snickers while turning in my direction. “Let me guess, you invite me inside and show me how talented you are?”

  I smirk. I’m ornery like that. “As much as I think that would be an unforgettable time, that’s not what I’m thinking at all. I was hoping you were hungry. Those little finger foods were a tease for someone like me. I need protein. Let’s go somewhere with steaks and wine and get to know each other.”

  “Steaks and wine? I don’t eat meat.”

  I’m not sure she’s being honest. “Seriously? A woman always needs a big fat…”

  “Okay, okay. I get it. I put my foot in my mouth on that one.”

  “You could get a salad,” I suggest.

  She gives me a sour glance. “This is a bad idea.”

  “Why? Are you afraid getting to know me could be hazardous to your health?”

  I watch her white teeth come into view as she cackles from my pestering. “I’m not afraid of anything you have to offer, Moth. You’d be surprised how resilient I can be. It’s just, well right now I feel like I’m living someone else’s life. Things are screwed up, and I’d rather not involve someone in my mistakes.”

  That is the most loaded answer I’ve ever gotten, which only supersedes any reasonable excuse for me to back off. She’s admitting things without knowing it. This will be easier than I could have hoped for.

  Then there’s the constant reminder of the things I’ve witnessed; the things I shouldn’t know about. They’re beyond the borders of my occupation. I spied on her, when I should have looked away, and I enjoyed every second of it. What kind of man does it make me? Am I sick in the head?

  My mind goes to her being naked and touching herself, and I have to look away to gather my thoughts and hide them. I’m reminded she is a mission. It’s my job to interrogate her, even if I have to take drastic measures to make it happen. I almost want to smile at the assumption I could get what I want before taking her down.

  When she’s ready all of her secrets will be revealed and I’ll have the answers I desperately seek, and maybe something else to remember her by. “It’s a meal. Come on. I hate eating alone. I’m buying. It’s an offer you can’t refuse.”

  She heaves a heavy sigh. “Fine. A meal. Afterwards we’re parting ways. It’s for the best, Moth. You’re a funny guy, and you’re not shabby looking,” she teases while continuing. “But I can’t involve anyone in my life right now. I’m not saying I’m going to avoid you, but I need to be clear this isn’t going anywhere.”

  I’m up for the challenge. “Deal.”

  Windy takes us to a restaurant I’m all too familiar with. It’s my father’s favorite place to go for holidays, instead of having to cook for he and Jamie. I can’t blame him. The food is outstanding, and a bit pricy. Here’s the problem with that scenario. I have to pay with my credit card, which says my real name. This has to happen without Windy catching it. To elude the situation from escalating in a direction I don’t want it to go, I run up to an ATM machine and withdrawal enough money to cover it in cash, all while she waits unsuspectingly inside of the establishment to get us a table. Since she’s not around, I pull out my cellphone and check my messages.

  Have you cloned the second phone yet? We need to know who she’s talking to. – Renner

  Still working on it. She’s been keeping it in her purse. It’s going to take more time. I’m eating dinner. Check in later. – Moth

  Dinner with the criminal. Are you losing your touch? It’s because of that pussy haircut. Guess you have to work harder now. Does that mean you’re planning on staying the night? You’re such a dog. – Renner

  Piss off. I won’t sleep with the suspect. Give it a fucking rest. – Moth

  I love it when you’re testy. It makes my dick hard. – Renner

  I shake my head. He’s not getting a response. He’s saying shit to get on my nerves and it’s working.

  We’re seated in a busy area at a small table facing one another. We’re given water as we sit down, and order our drinks right away. They ask Windy for identification, but not me. I guess once you’re over thirty they don’t give a shit anymore.

  “I’m twenty five.” She tells the waiter while handing him her driver’s license. I take a quick peek and see if it looks authentic. She’s literally taken the real Windy’s full identity. That would enlist the skill of a pretty good computer hacker.

  Much to my surprise, Windy orders a hefty sized steak with two sides. I give my order and realize I’m going to have to come up with conversation while we wait to be served.

  I get more comfortable in the small chair and sip at a newly delivered beer. “So, tell me again why we can’t be friends.”

  It’s uncomfortable from the start. She’s cornered with no way out of answering unless she decides to get up and leave the restaurant with me still sitting there. She fidgets, a sign she’s hoping a good answer will pop in her head. “It’s a lot of things. I haven’t had a great life so far. My family is messed up, and I know involving anyone in my personal issues is a terrible way to start a friendship.”

  “When you say problems are you implying your parents are killers, or on the run from the law, or is it more personal?”

  “Wow, you really cut to the chase, Moth. Maybe we should talk about you for a while. You seem to have come out of nowhere. I know you told me why, but what is your interest in me?”

  “You’re the first woman I met since I’ve been here. I feel like one encounter is a coincidence, twice is a sign.”

  “What’s three times?”

  I take another swig before responding. “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

  She smiles. “You’re not going to give up are you?”

  “I don’t quit. I’m relentless. When I want something I’m used to getting it.”

  “And you want me?” She’s moving around in her seat like she’s worried about how my reply will affect her ability to withstand my advances. She’s playing right into my hand.

  “I think you’re beautiful. When I saw you saving that little old lady it was a huge turn on. You care about innocent people. Most people our age don’t worry about anything but themselves. You say your life is a mess, but you took the time to help someone in need. It shows what kind of a person you are on the inside.”

  “Things aren’t always as they appear, Moth. You’re attracted to the person you think I am. If you knew my past you wouldn’t be so intrigued.”

  “Well then I suppose we have a decision to make. You could spill all your dirty laundry on the table for me to judge, or I could tell you I don’t give a shit about your baggage or past. I live in the now.”

  “And what do you want right now, aside from a medium grilled steak?”

  “I want to enjoy you.”

  “Enjoy me?” She laughs as she questions it. “What does that involve?”

  “Use your imagination.”

  Her hands go up. “Whoa. One date doesn’t grant you access into my pants. Why should I assume you're any different from my perverted coworkers? All you've done since the day we met was flirt with me. Who's to say I'm not getting myself into trouble just being around you?"

  "I'm not like them. For starters, I'm not desperate. I've never had to be. I'm also not stressing about being anything more than friends. Sure, you're sexy as all hell, but I didn't move here to jump into something new right off the bat. I can't wave a magic wand and prove I'm not an asshole. For the most part I'm every bit of that definition, but I tell it like it is. What you see i
s what you get."

  "Well, I'm not looking for a boyfriend. My life is far too complicated to involve someone in it."

  "I'm cool with that. I don't know anyone else here yet, other than my roommates, who I obviously have nothing in common with. If you don't want to hang out I won't push."

  She shakes her head. "No. It's not that. It would be nice to share a meal with someone every once in a while. My hectic schedule keeps me from being able to socialize."

  This is a good sign. My plan is working. I've been cocky, now it's time to be a good listener. Whatever this chick needs in order to trust me I’ll give to her. The sooner I can be done with this charade the better, as far as my dick is concerned.

  A cold shower will be necessary when the night is over for sure.

  I cackle. It’s funny to see her attempts at seeming innocent, especially after knowing she’s horny and needs a good fuck. I’m not saying I should give it to her, but I can’t deny my deadly attraction to this woman in front of me. “Let’s be friends. No judging. If a topic is off limits we’ll agree to let it go. My roommates aren’t the best to hang out with. Between classes and my shitty job I could use some company when I want to unwind. If you want to bitch about the idiots at the office, I’ll be around.”

  “I can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I’m not afraid of anything. You should know that ahead of time.”

  “So you think you’re Superman?”

  “I am. In my head of course.” Another cocky response. She’s writhing in denial. She knows she can’t resist me, and I’m smitten over it. As long as I stay in control of this game I won’t have to do things I’ll later regret.

  She’s four glasses of wine in, and her ability to withhold information is becoming difficult. She’s been going on and on about her position at the pharmaceutical company. After admitting the job was thrown into her lap, she complains about the people she has to report to, including the two men I met at the party earlier. She said from the get go they’ve been hitting on her, one going to the extremes to get her into bed. He’s cornered her at the office when he asked her to stay late one night, and he’s even threatened her pending permanent position because she won’t change her mind. I sense that she’s not only offended by his advances, but a bit worried. No man should force themselves on a woman. It’s very apparent she won’t change her mind. No matter who this woman’s real identity may be, she’s knows what she wants. I suggest another way for them to back off. “I think maybe you should keep telling them we’re dating. Hopefully they’ll be too scared of running into me in a dark alley.”