Witness in the Dark (Love Under Fire #1)(8)

“Oh, yes. My whole family can’t stop talking about it.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You have a big family?”

“Yep. My dad’s a fireman. My mother is a nurse, and I’m the oldest of four brothers and sisters.” She’d always wanted brothers and sisters. If her father hadn’t died before she was born, she might have had some.

She indicated his empty glass, silently asking if he wanted a refill.

He nodded. “Thanks.”

For the next half hour, they chatted and laughed. But after taking a moment to help the customer who came in to pick up their pizza, she returned to the table to find it empty.

Garrett was gone.

“Seriously?” she muttered. It wasn’t just that he’d stiffed her on the bill, but she’d been having a nice time on her un-date.

Whatever.

She trudged down the hall to the back room where they kept the pizza box flats so she could work on those. She’d cover Garrett’s food out of her tips so Anthony wouldn’t get mad. Her boss would give anyone the shirt off his back, but he hated stealing.

She was halfway down the dimly lit hall when Garrett stepped out of the restroom, making her jump.

“Shit! You scared me.”

“Sorry.” He put his hand on her arm to steady her as she worked to catch her breath.

The task was made more difficult by his touch. His large hand was warm on her skin, and he didn’t seem in a hurry to remove it.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. Then, he leaned down and kissed her. As if it was a completely normal thing to do when passing someone in a hall.

If she’d thought his touch was warm, his lips were like fire, sending heat through her entire body, hitting all the good spots. She wound her arms around his neck. His tongue moved in, and she opened to him.

After a few blissful moments, she came to her senses. What the hell was she doing?

She didn’t pull away, exactly, but she let the kiss fade off.

He got the hint and backed off, a smile on his face. “Can I come back when your shift is over? Maybe we could go get a drink?”

Her mouth opened to say yes before her brain had a chance to think about it, but at the last second she stood back and shook her head. Not only had she made plans with Nikki, but she didn’t know this man from Adam. She didn’t know anything about him but his name. Even though they’d spent time talking, he hadn’t really shared anything about himself. He’d kept the conversation focused on her. Which was a bit weird. What guy didn’t like talking about himself?

Besides, he might be a serial killer, and she’d had enough of senseless murder for one lifetime, thank you very much.

“Sorry. I can’t. I have plans,” she told him.

He actually looked disappointed. “Oh. Okay.”

His gaze fell to her lips and she thought he might kiss her again. She may have even have hoped he would. But instead, he nodded once and turned to go back to his table.

It felt awkward to hand him the check and meet him at the register when they’d just shared that amazing kiss in the hall. Her lips still tingled.

He paid his bill and smiled. “Thanks for keeping me company. Have a nice night.”

“You, too.”

He paused at the table to drop a generous tip, and walked out of the restaurant.

Did serial killers tip? Probably not.

With a large pang of regret, she went back to work, wondering what might have happened if she’d taken him up on his offer.

“Why don’t you head out?” Anthony said later when she had prepped everything for the next day.

She still had twenty minutes left of her shift, but she was exhausted and wanted to go home to bed. She thanked him, then pulled out her phone and texted Nikki an apology for having to cancel their plans.

“Good night,” she called to Anthony as she left through the front door. The night air hit her, causing a shiver, and she wished she hadn’t left her jacket in the car.

She was parked only two blocks away and had scored a spot right next to a streetlight. She usually never thought about stuff like that—but that was before she’d seen what could happen up close.

Glancing over her shoulder, she picked up her pace, feeling as if someone were watching her. She’d crossed an alleyway only half a block from her car when she spotted movement next to it.

Two men were messing with her car. She froze momentarily as one of them bent down by her rear tire.

Her heartbeat kicked up, and she quickly ducked into the alley to hide. Unfortunately, not before the second man noticed her.

He kicked the first guy as his eyes widened. “Eddie, it’s her.”

Both men turned toward her.

Shit, shit, shit.

She didn’t have time to think; she just ran.

She threw a trash can in their way and sprinted down the alley. Fortunately, someone unlocked a vehicle close by, and the beep forced the men to walk slower so as not to call attention to themselves.

She was about to yell for help when a hand clamped down on her mouth and she was pulled between a building and the fence.

Something cold pressed against her temple.

A gun.

Oh my God. Her pulse took off and she prepared to fight.

“Quiet,” a deep, calm voice ordered from behind her. The gun was cold as ice as it moved along her temple.