Finn (Casella Cousins #3) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,10
time had passed.”
She stood and crossed to him, the dress moving sensuously over her body. “Hmm. You can make it up to me later.”
The words were a whisper, but Millie and her boyfriend stood right next to them. Millie frowned and Emerson chuckled.
Millie turned abruptly to the alcove. “Emerson, would you help me dismantle the signing area? We can leave after that. Judy’s closing with Finn tonight.”
He thought Millie was.
“Is that all right, Finn?”
Angry at himself and her, he quipped, “Sure, rearrange the front then go and have fun, you kids!”
* * *
Miserable, Molly walked out of the building after the devastating meeting with her long-lost father. It was getting dark now, and she was in an unfamiliar part of town. She couldn’t believe what he’d said when she’d told him…
“I have a daughter?”
“Yep. Hi, Dad.” She’d joked because she wanted to throw up.
His face blanked at the word. I’m nobody’s Dad. You got it wrong, kid. Now scram…”
She’d bolted out of his apartment and down the street. Now, she heard footsteps behind her. Maybe her father had come after her. She glanced back. No, it was a bigger man, taller, catching up to her. Her heart beating fast, she crossed the street. He followed her. When she reached a group of people waiting for the light to change, she stopped and turned. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I saw someone following you. I circled around and got in between you and him. I’m trying to help.”
“Do you have ID?”
“Yeah, sure.” He took a wallet out of his back pocket.
His name was Fitz Connors and he lived in the city, not far from her. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a police officer.”
At her wary expression, he said, “I can call in my badge number and get you to listen to the conversation.”
“No, no, that’s all right. Thanks, I guess.” She noticed the people had moved away with the light change.
“Let me walk you home. You can think of it as a police escort.”
“I don’t know…”
“Please? I’ll worry if you don’t.”
“All right. You can walk me home…”
* * *
Chapter 3
* * *
The next day, Millie walked to the soup kitchen to serve food. She thought about the people who needed meals from them to live and felt guilty for squandering some of her resources. Then she thought about Emerson. They’d gone to a jazz club last night after the signing and she enjoyed the evening. Even if she did wonder how Finn was enjoying his. In bed with Sabrina.
Despite her vow to put him out of her mind, as she walked, she daydreamed about what Finn would be like in bed. Did he talk while he made love? Did he ask his partner what she liked? Did he say what he preferred? Or was he quiet, like he was in daily life? Take his time, not say much? She was certain he’d be solicitous of his partner, and pursue his own gratification along with hers.
And what the hell? she thought as she reached the soup kitchen. Why was she doing this?
Shaking off the fantasies, she went in through the employee entrance, which was down a flight of stairs and about twenty feet away from the stove. The space smelled like cooking beef. “Hello Ruth, Helen, Jackie.”
“Hey, Millie. Good to see you.”
Emerson approached her. He was dressed pretty much like last night. Except today, his hair was pulled back in a tail and he wore a ballcap. Hair coverings were required and she’d stuffed hers under a blue scarf. “Hey, babe.”
She frowned at the language.
“So, what do you want to do today?”
“I’d like to work the floor.”
“You’re an angel.”
Working the floor was hard. Ninety-nine percent of the guests were sweet and grateful, but every day, some were not. They treated the volunteers like servants. Complained that the food was awful. And last week, one guy stood up and threw his dinner on the floor. He’d been escorted out by the bouncer, and told not to come back, but his poor server cried.
Before the meals went out, a minister who volunteered here gave a short, universal prayer, invoking God, the higher power and spirit, asking for a pleasant two hours with the guests.
After the grace, she went to stand in line for food. Today’s meal was sloppy joes with French fries and broccoli. She put sixteen plates on her cart and wheeled it out to her two tables. Someone else brought milk and behind her was the salad person. “Hello, everybody.”
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