I tucked my foot under my leg so I could turn to him. “Why is that your guess? I could be a cleaner or a factory worker. Lots of night-shift jobs.”
He tapped the steering wheel. “Because you’re smart and know you’re beautiful. If I was an old married guy and you served me a drink, I’d give you a massive tip for existing and allowing me to breathe the same air.”
“Sweet.” I ran my fingers along his arm. “You’re saying you, Theodosius Longbottom Whitlock, wouldn’t give me a massive tip for existing?”
He sputtered. “Theodosius now? Honestly, baby, I think you should be giving me a tip for not complaining about you calling me by the wrong name.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
His mouth tipped at the corners. “If you came at me, I didn’t know you at all, pouting those red lips, undoubtedly wearing something sexy as fuck, I would get your attention any way I could. Paying you for it? No, baby. I want your attention because you’re interested in what we can have with each other.”
His profile was a study in proportion. Strong jaw, jutting to just the right degree. Lips full, but still masculine. Straight, distinguished nose with the smallest bump that made it interesting. Even from the side, his eyes twinkled. Theo was so ridiculously beautiful, it was hard to comprehend.
“You have my attention, Theo.”
His head fell back on his seat while his eyes remained on the road in front of him. “Thank Christ for that.”
Laughing, I propped my feet up on the dashboard and turned on the radio. Now that we’d established we were into each other, it was music time.
* * *
We hit traffic, and I was pissed. Not at Theo, although he was feeling it. No, I was pissed at myself for basking in the day like I’d had any room to bask. That wasn’t my life. I needed to be on time for my job so I could make enough money to support my sister and pay back the loan my mother owed a violent criminal so he didn’t murder my family.
A year of working for Mads had made me soft. Before Madeline McGarvey came into my life, I never once would have allowed myself to be in a situation that would’ve threatened what little I had. She’d given me room to breathe, and I’d let myself get used to what it felt like not being squeezed all the time.
She was gone, and so was my breathing room. Now, when life squeezed me hard, I cracked.
“Shit, shit, shit.” My fingers dug into my legs. “I never should have agreed to dinner.”
“It’s okay, Helen. We’ll get there. If you’re a couple minutes late—”
“I’ll be fired, Theo. I know in your world, getting fired is no big deal, but I don’t live in that world. This job means a roof over my sister’s head. I don’t think Zadie and Elena would appreciate me bringing Luciana to live with me in our dorm.”
“Okay.” He took my hand in his, threading our fingers tight. “I’m gonna get you there.”
As soon as we passed the accident that had been slowing us down, Theo drove like a bat out of hell. The damage had already been done to our timeline, though. I had no time to go back to the dorm first—or ride the bus after.
“I need you to take me directly to work. I have clothes there I can change into.” And makeup in my purse I could apply while Theo drove.
“Anything. Give me the address.”
I spouted off the address to Savage Beauties while digging in my purse for mascara and my lipstick. Fortunately, the lights were low in the club, so I could get away with car makeup.
Theo kept glancing at me from the corner of his eye, silent, though his questions were screaming. He could keep screaming. I wasn’t up for giving out answers. Not when I was hanging on by the skin of my teeth.
“We’re making it. I’ll get you there.” His low, lovely voice was like an hour of meditation. If I was capable of being calmed at this point, that would have done it. At least my simmering anger fell away. It wasn’t Theo’s fault there was traffic, and I’d been all for having dinner with Lock. This was just bad luck, and yeah, maybe poor planning.
Theo skidded into the lot of Savage Beauties with ten minutes to spare. He didn’t say a word about where we were, but he didn’t have to. His body language said everything. The tightness of his shoulders told me he was judging me. The frown pulling at his mouth broadcasted his disappointment. His white knuckles around the steering wheel said he was pissed.
I scrambled out of the car, and Theo followed, snagging my waist before I could make a dash across the parking lot.
“Thank you for getting me here. I need to run in and change at the speed of light.” I pressed on his chest. “You can’t come in, Theodore.”
“Why not?”
I swiped at my lashes, performing nonchalance. “I won’t be able to get my job done if you’re glaring at all my customers.”
He stared me down, nostrils flaring. “I’m not driving away and leaving you here.”
“You don’t have a choice.” My pulse quickened in my throat. “I need to go.”
“How are you getting home?”
“Bus.”
He practically shook. Savage Beauties wasn’t in the best neighborhood, but the bus stop was only a block away, and if I needed, one of the bouncers would wait with me. It wasn’t a huge deal.
“What time do you get off?”
“Two, but I’ll be fine.” I glanced over my shoulder at the door, then back to Theo. “I really have to get inside.”
He took my jaw in his hand and tipped my head back. “I’ll be here at two. Then we’re going to talk.”
I nodded, all out of time for arguments. “You don’t have to be here, but okay. I’ll see you if you are.” I blew him a kiss, then swiveled on my toes and ran.
He’d either be here at the end of my shift or he wouldn’t. I’d be disappointed if this was the thing that scared him off, but I also might be relieved if he didn’t come back for me.
I didn’t have the time to think about what my contradicting feelings meant. I shut my brain off, pushed my tits up, and plastered a smile on my face.
It was time to get the job done.
Chapter Eleven
Theo
Helen exited the building in a baggy hoodie and fishnets. Her silky hair was pulled in a high ponytail, red lipstick firmly in place. Her head swiveled side to side before she locked on my car. Hitching her bag on her shoulder, she took her time making her way across the parking lot. I was holding open the passenger door by the time she got to me. She slipped into my car without a word.
I pulled out of the lot and drove toward campus. Helen tucked herself by the door, turned away from me.
“You strip, Tiger?”
She dragged a finger down the glass. “I’m a waitress. I serve drinks in a skanky outfit to horny dudes.”
The exhale that shot from my lungs was filled with relief. I didn’t know what I would have done if her answer had been yes, but I’d have been more than disappointed. She was too fucking good to give that part of herself up for a few bucks. Way too good.
I couldn’t stop myself from pressing it.
“Do they touch you?”
In my periphery, she shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, dude. Can you just drive me home? I’m really tired and not in the mood for a play-by-play.”