Nothing happens for the longest time. I’m tempted to just turn around, leave, and tell May no one was home when I came. But I know better than to think that this technique will work with her. She can be very determined when she puts her mind to something. She’ll harass me and force me to explain myself, and I don’t want to admit to my baby sister, who I need to protect from all things that go bump in the night, that I was scared. Scared of a toothless forklift driver and a little sweat. Dammit. I’m the meat in another rock-and-hard-place sandwich.
I lean in once more, picturing a video I saw of a honey badger attacking a cobra. The honey badger don’t take no shit from nobody, not even the Bourbon Street Boys. “Hellooo? Is anyone in there or not? I’m leaving if someone doesn’t open up right now.”
The sound of the giant door suddenly starting to open makes me jump in fright. Honey badger, my ass. I quickly recover and smooth the sides of my hair back so no one will think I’m a big weenie, afraid of every little thing. It’s just a door. Relax, idiot.
Being out here at the port always makes me a little nervous. I’m completely out of my element right now, I can admit that. I have no idea how my sister could possibly feel so comfortable around here. Maybe it’s her boyfriend’s muscles that give her a weird sense of security. Unfortunately, I don’t have that going for me. All I have is my laptop and some pepper spray. I clamp my arm around my purse a little harder, imagining I can feel the canister pressing into my hip.
“May’s sister, Jenny, I presume?” says a male voice from within. It’s not Ozzie’s. I don’t think I’ve heard it before.
It takes a couple seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dimmer light inside, but when they do, I have to work really hard to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor. There’s a guy more handsome than he has a right to be, standing just inside the warehouse, smiling at me.
Be cool, Jenny, be cool. “Yes, that’s me,” I say way too brightly, trying to cover up the fact that I’m having a total brain meltdown. He’s not my type, but still . . . handsome is handsome, and there’s no denying he’s a looker. I take a little breath to calm myself down. “That’s my name. I’m Jenny. Jenny Wexler. May’s sister, yep, that’s me. Computer person. With my laptop.”
Aaaand cue the word-vomit. Excellent! You’re on a roll, Jenny!
When he stands there looking at me, kind of stunned, I hold my laptop up off my hip a little as my face burns red. “She called me. To come here. With my computer?”
Handsome Guy holds out a hand that I’m expected to shake. “Nice to meet you. I’m lucky.”
Why is he lucky? Because he gets to meet me? Should I be flattered? I step forward with my hand extended, more confused than anything and hoping he won’t notice how sweaty my palms are. “Lucky . . . ?”
He shrugs, almost like he’s embarrassed. “It’s a nickname I got when I was ten.”
Understanding finally dawns, along with the realization that I obviously need more sleep. “Nice to meet you, Lucky.” His hand is warm and soft, which kind of surprises me, since I figured all the guys who work here have calluses from all the head cracking they must do.
I look around him as our hands fall away from each other, trying to locate my sister. I would’ve thought she’d come out and welcome me herself, but I don’t see her anywhere.
“May had to step out for a little while, so she asked me to bring you in and get you started.”
I try really hard not to roll my eyes, but it’s impossible. She acts like she’s so desperate to get me here, and then she disappears? What’s up with that? This had better not be a trick. She will so get a knuckle sandwich if it is.
“Don’t worry. I don’t bite.” He smiles and winks at me.
“Well, I do, so be careful.” I’m back to being cranky. I could be in a hot bath right now almost done with that bottle of wine, but instead I’m in here with a guy who just winked at me, probably to make me feel better about my sister abandoning me, or because he can see I’m sweating like a pig in heat. She’d better not be out to dinner with her boyfriend, blowing me off.
His smile drops away just a little. “Well . . . okay, then.”
An awkward silence ensues. I tap my finger on my laptop, and he rubs his hands together. I wait for him to make the next move, because I have no idea what I’m really doing here, but all he does is shrug his shoulders.
A noise behind him distracts me from the sweat that’s starting to drip down my lower back and into my bum crack. And I thought this day couldn’t get any crappier.
“You going to leave that door open all day?” a guy asks.
Lucky answers by turning his head slightly to the side and raising his voice. “Keep your pants on! We have a visitor!”
“Who is it?”
“See for yourself!” Lucky gestures for me to step toward him. “Come on in. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance.”
“Keep your distance?”
“I wouldn’t want to get bitten.” He winks again.