Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,92

all from the list of suspects. I feel terrible about that, but at least there is some hope that we are a step closer.

When five o’clock comes, Jake quickly peeks out of his office door to see if I’m still at my desk. Looking up at him, I shake my head with an unamused look, and he quickly retires back to his office. Once I know I’m safe, I rapidly gather my things and turn to Jessie. “Right. Jessie, are you ready?”

She smiles, shutting her computer down and gathers her things. “Sure thing! Let’s go.” I grab her arm and practically drag poor Jessie out of the station and into Sam’s bar. “Wow, I guess you really need that drink.” I exhale loudly, and we both start laughing. We keep on giggling as we make our way to the bar area.

“Nice to see such beautiful, happy, smiling ladies enter my bar for a change. I’m guessing gin and tonics for you both?”

“Yes, please,” Jessie pipes out.

“I’ll have a double brandy on the rocks please, Sam.”

Jessie looks at me baffled, but Sam just smiles. “I love a girl who likes her hard liquor.” He gestures with his thumb up and winks at me.

After placing the drinks on the bar, I quickly swig it back and order another.

“Jesus, Ana. What’s gotten into you?”

Sam grabs my glass to pour another shot, seemingly impressed that a girl can handle the hard stuff.

“Just letting off some steam a bit. I am going crazy knowing that this killer is out there somewhere. It’s just a moment’s release from it. That’s all.”

Jessie squeezes my arm and then turns to Sam. “I’ll have the same as Ana, please.” I glance to Jessie, and we both smile at one another.

Once the drinks are on the bar, Jessie raises her glass to me. “Are you ready?” I nod. “Fuck ‘em,” Jessie says, before we clink glasses.

“Fuck ‘em,” I repeat back as we both down the contents in our glasses again before ordering more.

I’m already starting to feel slightly tipsy, so I know the next one has to be sipped slowly.

Jessie lets out a whoosh of air. “Jesus, that’s strong stuff.”

Just then I feel a presence behind me, so I look round. “Hi, Ana.”

I stare into the eyes of my last and only one-night stand. “Hi, John, how are you doing? John this is Jessie, Jessie, John.”

Jessie gets up and shakes his hand. “Oh, you’re the John,” she says, giving a slow, methodical wink. John smiles, and I elbow her to shut up.

“I hope whatever Ana told you has all been good?”

Jessie spits her drink back in the glass and starts coughing, but I don’t give her a chance to respond. “Not working today then, John?”

He shakes his head. “I was actually hoping to bump into you. I’m just here with a couple of friends, Trevor and Jackson.” He points to a couple of men sitting at a table, and we give them a little wave. They take that as their cue to make their way over to us.

“So this is the famous Ana you won’t stop talking about. I see your reputation precedes you. You’re a stunner.” I shake hands with Jackson, who’s not shy in making his feelings clear as he rakes his eyes all over me.

John thumps him on the arm. “Knock it off, Jackson.”

I shake hands with Trevor. He seems a lot nicer than Jackson, who is now pouring all his attention on Jessie.

“So how have you been?” John asks.

I nod and sip my drink. “I’m fine, thank you, same old, same old. What about you?” Same old couldn’t be further from the truth, but I don’t want to get into details with John about this.

“Well, but I have this problem. This girl I really like didn’t come out with me on Sunday, and I never heard from her when she said she would call.”

I grimace. “Sorry about that. A lot has happened since then. Things have changed and—”

“I like you,” he interrupts. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since that night. I kind of feel bad because I did take advantage of the situation. It was only because I wanted you so much, though. Not because I’m an asshole or anything. I felt even worse when Mr. Bennett showed up at my apartment and started shouting at me. Boy, is he intimidating.”

I wince a little, remembering just how bad it all sounded. “I’m really sorry about that. I only recently found out myself