Page 17 of Whispers in the Dark
And it’s bothering me, so I walk back to the door and wait for her to follow me. She takes one last look before facing me and stepping back inside.
I cross the room, approaching the fireplace to stack pieces of wood on top of one another before crouching down and lighting a match to set the whole thing ablaze. Looking over my shoulder, I find her taking a seat on the end of the couch, placing her bag on the floor.
She kicks off her heels, letting them drop to the floor, and then tucks her feet beneath her thighs. My coat bunches around her like a comforter, keeping her covered.
Thank God.
I sit in my favorite chair, my fingers running over the worn leather arms from so much use over the years. We both look at the fire, neither one of us knowing what to say or do. So, once a few minutes pass, I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and arching a brow in a silent gesture to let her know that the floor is hers.
She directs her attention toward her hands clamped together on her lap, her cheeks flushing a soft shade of pink. “Well, you see…” She gazes around the room, pulling at the top of the jacket.Please, for all that is holy, do not take off my coat.I bite down on the inside of my cheek as I watch her inhale deeply. “Do you have anything to drink?” She laughs softly. “I think I might need some liquid courage for this conversation.”
Nodding, I stand and approach the whiskey barrel in the corner, opening the side of it. I pull out a bottle of my favorite whiskey and two glasses, quickly pouring some liquid into each.
As I hand one to her, our fingers graze, our eyes briefly locking before she accepts the glass and looks away.
I take my seat and gulp down a hefty sip of the amber liquid, finishing half of it and placing the remainder on my thigh. I focus my attention on her and watch as she hesitates to bringthe crystal to her lips before quickly swallowing a sip. I can’t help the grin that forms on my face as she coughs from the burn sliding down her throat. She pats her chest, scrunching her face in disgust.
It’s pretty fucking adorable.
“Why do you drink something that tastes like poison?” she croaks out, her eyes involuntarily watering.
My lips lift in a teasing smirk, causing her to laugh as she places the glass on the mahogany coffee table in front of her.
Using the back of her hand, she wipes at her skin where a bead of whiskey trickles down her chin, and I find myself wishing I could taste that single drop.
Her gaze slowly climbs to mine.
There are so many thoughts running rampant across her eyes.
Worries. Questions. Fears.
Too much chaos for one person to handle.
I reach for my drink and take a mouthful, giving her time to say whatever it is she needs to get off her chest.
“I need to get married.”
I cough up the whiskey, her confession taking me aback.
Not in a million years would I have guessed those were the words I was about to hear spill from her soft lips.
“I know,” she says, tucking her hair behind her ear. “It’s pretty shocking. It took me by surprise, too.” She laughs, but it sounds sad, like this is something that’s been consuming her whole for too long. She lifts her hands in the air in exasperation before quickly dropping them. “I’m in debt. A lot of debt. More than I could easily get myself out of.”
I sit up straight, ready to type out for her to tell me a number, and I’ll give it to her, whatever she needs, but she stops me by holding up a hand.
“I won’t take money from you. Or anyone in your family.” She sighs, leaning forward. “Things just…spiraled with school loans,and…other things.” She hesitates before saying, “I finished school last month, right before Christmas break. Finally got my master’s, so I can work as a deaf education specialist at the right school.” She sighs. “Worst possible time to look for a teaching job. I’ve tried. Believe me. Every damn day.”
That’s when I notice it: the shadows beneath her eyes, along with the exhaustion etched across her face.
“So I took a job at Darkest Desires a few months ago as a cocktail waitress.” She shrugs. “I heard the tips were good. Turns out, they are. But they come with a price like men who don’t appreciate hearing no.” My fingers clench into fists on my thighs as I make a note to find every single man at the club who touched her. “I had no intentions of ever…” Her cheeks transform into a bright shade of red. “Stripping. But I became desperate. And, when a friend at work suggested I try it, well, I don’t know. I guess I took the bait, and the next thing I knew, I was on that stage, living out my nightmare.” She looks over at the fire. “But I wouldn’t have to do any of this if I could just find someone to marry.”
Her words sound miles away between us as if she’s currently formulating a plan in her head.
I clear my throat, gaining her attention.
Why?
“Umm.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth, her thumb pressing into her palm until faint half-moons appear.What is going on inside her head?“I found out about a month ago that my mom apparently had a will when she died. It was just…recently discovered.” She hesitates. “And she left…” She pauses, then exhales. “Money. For me. With a stipulation.”
