Chapter 53

I smiled. I frowned. I liked Ray. I liked Ray enough that, had it not been for Jeff, Ray would’ve been my boyfriend. Clearly, though, Ray was not what he appeared. None of them, in fact, were. Heck, even Jeff was a hardened criminal. I’d been deceived by the lot of them, but just how far did that deceit go?

Of course, I didn’t have time to ponder this, what with Ray’s soon return. And so, the envelope was returned, as was my ass on the couch. I willed my heartrate back to its initial position and stared at the door. Which is when I realized I was sitting in a man’s living room, alone, unarmed, said man possibly out to get me, said man quite bigger and stronger than me. Which is also when that heartrate of mine jackrabbited to the max position.

I rose. I headed for the door. I could leave, message him that my back was flaring up. I could be long gone before his return. I could, only I didn’t. Mainly because he returned sooner than planned.