TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES (A ROSE GARDNER MYSTERY, BOOK 1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“No! It’s fake. It’ll save you tonight, but not past tomorrow. They’ll figure out it’s a forgery by noon.”

“Why are you doin’ this?” I wasn’t sure I could trust him, but whatever he had on his flash drive had to be better than my empty one.

“You want the truth or the version you prefer?”

“Neither.” I turned to the door.

“Wait!”

This was getting old. “I’m gonna be late.”

He looked uncomfortable. “Try not to let him get you into bed.”

“Excuse me?” I hadn’t expected that.

“He’s gonna try, which is why you’re still alive, but avoid it if you can. You’re gonna have to use your head. Rumor has it he’s rough in the bedroom. Just be careful.”

While I was grateful for that bit of information, it scared the bejiggers out of me. “Thanks,” I whispered.

“Rose.” His voice broke. “Be careful.”

I didn’t say anything. I knew I should be grateful, but I was still mad. I got out of the car and walked over to mine. Joe stayed in the parking lot while I pulled away.

The Trading Post was on Highway 82 just outside of town. Henryetta being so small, it didn't take long to pull into the pea gravel parking lot, already half-full of pickup trucks and motorcycles. My stomach tied itself up in knots as I got out of the car. It was one minute after ten. One minute late.

I took a deep breath as I went in and let my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky haze. Daniel sat across the room, at a table with two other men.

Show time.

I walked over to his table, but I tried to saunter, like I’d seen models do on television. I had no idea if I pulled it off or looked like a fool. In either case, Daniel Crocker looked like he appreciated what he saw.

I realized I might get out of the dying part, but I highly doubted I’d get out of the sleeping-with-him part. I hoped I could go through with it.

Daniel leaned his arms on the backs of the chairs next to him and looked me up and down. “Well, there you are, baby. I was just talkin’ about ya.”

“Oh?” I sat down in the empty chair across from him and tried to look interested. I’d prefer to dump the flash drive in his lap and turn around and leave, but the person with the real flash drive had stood him up for a while. Common sense told me I was gonna have to work my way out of being punished.

“Let me get you a drink. I believe you drank wine when I saw you with Sloan.”

I ignored the Sloan comment. “Wine would be great, thanks.”

Daniel motioned to a guy next to him with a quick wave of his hand. “White.” The guy walked over to the bar. “I was worried you weren’t goin’ to show, baby. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

“I disappointed you long enough.” I smiled and lifted my eyebrows. I wasn’t sure how it actually looked, sexy or stupid, but he still looked interested. I felt like I was walking a tightrope without a net.

The guy returned with a glass of white wine. It creeped me out that Daniel remembered what I had that night. I took a sip and smiled my approval.

My hand rested on the table. Daniel stretched his hand over and covered mine. It felt clammy and oppressive. I resisted the urge to snatch mine away.

“They say business before pleasure, Rose. Seems particularly apropos tonight.”

I stood up, carefully pulling my hand out from under his so I didn’t offend him. I reached into my pocket, arching my back and thrusting out my chest. I needed to worry about the surviving tonight and not the fact I was digging myself into a hole of sleeping with him. His eyes told me he appreciated the view. I put the flash drive on the table slowly slid it toward him.