Eve (5 page)

“You mean, does she beat me? No, she’s not like that even when she’s on the stuff. She just wants everything pretty, and it looks that way to her when she sees it through a veil of crack. She doesn’t see that everything is really falling to pieces around her.”

“Not a good life for you.”

“I manage,” she said tersely. “Keep your pity, I don’t need it.”

“I don’t pity you.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t let myself. It might get in the way of getting what I want. I told you that was my main objective.”

“Why?” She looked straight ahead. “Why me? I’m not drop-dead gorgeous. I’m not even particularly pretty.”

“No, you’re not.” His smile vanished. “You’re too thin, and your face doesn’t look like some movie star’s. But I don’t want to stop looking at it. Do you know what I thought when I first got a good look at you when you were sitting on those stairs? You burn, Eve. Your hair was shining more red than brown under those lights, and your whole being was focused on Rosa and her baby. You were so alive and intense, I felt as if I’d scorch my fingers if I touched you.” He added softly, “And I couldn’t wait to feel the burn.”

She was feeling that burn, with every breath she took. She swallowed and pulled her gaze away. “That’s crazy. I don’t want this. Why are you bothering? Why don’t you go screw Teresa or someone else? When you get down to it, isn’t one girl as good as another to a guy? That’s what I’ve always heard.”

“That’s what I’ve always heard, too.” His lips twisted. “Hell, that’s what I’ve always believed. Sex is sex. Why not take it wherever you can?”

“So?”

“But it’s not working right now. There’s some kind of wild chemistry going on between us. I’ve heard about that happening, but I thought it was a bunch of bull. But I felt it the minute I saw you, and I think you felt it, too. I don’t want anyone else. It has to be you, Eve.”

“No, it doesn’t. Not if I don’t want it.” She said shakily, “And I don’t. It would get in my way. My mother had me when she was fifteen. I’ve seen girls my own age having babies and being left to raise them by themselves. And then they’re stuck in a rut that they can never climb out of. That’s not going to happen to me.”

“I’d protect you. I don’t want kids, either. I’m going to basic training in four weeks. Do you think I want to leave a kid behind? I have to be on my own.”

She shook her head. “Why are we even talking about this?”

“You started it.” His hands clenched on the steering wheel. “And I’m glad you did. I wanted to have everything aboveboard. I don’t want to hurt you, Eve. We can take what we need without hurting each other. Let me show you.”

“No.” She jumped out of the car. It was still raining, and she was wet in seconds. “You won’t hurt me because I won’t let you.” She started across the street. “I take care of myself.”

“I’ll pick you up at work tomorrow night, Eve.”

“Haven’t you been listening to me?”

“Every word. And you’ve been listening to me. That means progress.” He started the car. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

She slammed the heavy door of the entrance behind her.

Close him out. Close out the thoughts his words had brought rushing to the surface.

She couldn’t do it.

Every word he’d said was still with her. She was wet and should have been chilled, but she felt as if she had a fever.

Yes, that was it. That was exactly what John Gallo was.

A fever that would leave her if she didn’t let it take over her mind as well as her body.

It was clear that he’d had a lot of experience in sexual encounters. His interest in her was probably fleeting and would go away soon. Then she would not have to deal with these bizarre and disturbing feelings again.

All she had to do was hold on.

*   *   *

“HELLO, EVE.” HE WALKED UP TO
the counter at ten forty the next evening. “I came a little early. I thought I might need to do a little repair work.”

“Repair work?”

“Haven’t you been trying to tear down everything that I tried to do last night?” He chuckled. “Don’t answer.”

She didn’t intend to answer. “I don’t need a ride home. You might as well leave.”

He shook his head. “I’ll stick around. You might change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

“Let me help you fill up those saltshakers, Eve.” Teresa was suddenly beside her, her gaze fixed on John Gallo. “Hi, I’m Teresa Maddel. Are you a friend of Eve’s?”

“I’m trying to be.” He smiled at Teresa. “John Gallo. Nice to meet you, Teresa.”

Teresa’s smile was brilliant. “Me, too. You wouldn’t have any trouble being friends with me. Eve has other fish to fry. She’s so serious, she even spends her breaks doing homework. Can you imagine that?”

“I can imagine.” His gaze was on Eve. “I can imagine all kinds of things about her.”

Eve could feel that now-familiar heat moving through her. She abruptly turned away. “You two get to know each other. I’ll go clean the soda machine.” She disappeared into the kitchen, and she kept busy doing preps for the next twenty minutes. She was aware of Teresa’s laughter and John’s voice, but avoided looking at them. It was only when she saw John leaving the restaurant that she came back out front to finish the counter fill-ups.

“Thanks for giving me my chance with him.” Teresa’s gaze was on John moving across the street toward his Chevy. “Damn, he’s sexy. Will you look at that tight butt?”

Eve automatically glanced at John, then hastily averted her eyes. She didn’t need Teresa drawing her attention to anything about him. “Did you make any progress?”

“Maybe. I gave him my telephone number.” She was still staring at him as he got in the car. “Of course, he wouldn’t make a move on me since he was here to see you. He said he’d wait outside for you.”

“Why don’t you go out to the car and talk to him? It’s eleven now. Clock out, and I’ll finish your side work.”

Teresa’s brows rose. “Are you kidding? Are you trying to get rid of him?”

“Yes.”

Teresa stared at her in disbelief. “You’ve got to be crazy. I knew the minute I saw him that he was a good time walking. He could give a girl a really good ride.”

“Then go have your good time.” Eve didn’t look at her as she finished filling the pepper. “Like you said, I’m too serious for him.”

“Well, I’m not.” Teresa clocked out and was heading for the door. “Thanks, Eve.”

Eve put the cap on the shaker. Don’t look out the window and see whether Teresa had been welcomed by John. Of course, she would be. She was pretty and sexy and very willing. Eve had done the right thing. Soon she wouldn’t have to worry about—

“Eve.” It was Mr. Kimble, frowning as he called her from the kitchen. “Phone call for you. It’s your mother. I’ve told you all that there are rules about receiving calls here unless it is an emergency.”

“Sorry.” She moved quickly toward the phone on the wall. “You know I’ve never gotten one before, Mr. Kimble. There must be some mistake.”

He turned away. “See that it doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes, sir.” She picked up the phone. “Sandra, I can’t talk now. Why did you call me here?”

“He hurt me.” Sandra was sobbing. “I thought Jimmy was such a nice man. We had such a good time. But he hurt me. I’m bleeding, Eve.”

Bleeding?

Eve stiffened. “How did he hurt you, Sandra?”

“He slapped me and cut my lip. And then he punched me in the stomach. Why would he hurt me like that? It wasn’t as if I wasn’t going to let him—but a woman has to be treated with respect.”

“Where are you?”

“A hotel room at the Marriott.”

“Is he still there?”

“No, he said he was going to go out and find a dealer and score some heroin. He said I needed to be sweetened up a little.” She paused. “I’m scared of heroin, Eve. I take other stuff, but I’m scared of heroin.”

“Sandra, why are you calling me? Why don’t you just walk out of there?”

“He locked the door from the outside.”

“How did he do that? Never mind. Call downstairs to the front desk and have them send someone up to let you out.”

“I can’t do that. That would make a fuss, and those security people would be on the lookout for me if I ever came back into the hotel.”

“Then don’t go back.”

“That would be … awkward. There are a lot of nice little get-togethers at these hotels. It would be easier if you just came and got me out.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?”

“How do I know?” Sandra was crying again. “You’re smart. You’re always thinking. Think of a way to get me out of here before he comes back. I don’t like to be hurt. I don’t want to take that heroin, but if he says he’s going to hurt me … Fix it. You owe me, Eve. Find a way to help me.”

Anger and fear were racing through Eve, and she tried to suppress both so that she could think. All Sandra had to do was call the front desk, but she wasn’t about to do it. Typical. She’d rather take a chance on everything working out so that she could have it all.

“I really am bleeding, Eve,” Sandra said. “He didn’t care. He’s not a nice man.”

And if Sandra didn’t get out of there, she was going to risk either a brutal beating or an overdose. “How long has he been gone?”

“I don’t know … it seems like a long time.”

If Sandra was on crack, that could mean anything. Two minutes or two hours.

“What’s your room number?”

“It’s 2012.”

“I’ll come after you. Go to the bathroom and wash your face and try to stop the bleeding.”

“I will. You’ll hurry?”

“I’ll hurry.” She hung up the receiver, and leaned her head against the phone for a moment. She tried to think. Dammit, Sandra, why wouldn’t you just call the desk? But Sandra wasn’t going to do it, so that meant the ball was in Eve’s court.

So get it done.

She whirled and strode toward the front entrance. “I have to go, Mr. Kimble. Emergency…”

A moment later she was running across the street toward John’s car. Teresa was leaning with her elbows on the open window of the passenger door talking to John. She glanced at Eve in surprise as Eve nudged her aside.

“Get out of my way. I’m in a hurry.” Eve jumped in the passenger seat and turned to John. “Take me to the Marriott Hotel.”

“A hotel? That’s too good to be true.” He was studying her expression. “Yes, I’m right, it is too good.” He started the car. “Bye, Teresa, nice talking to you.”

“Yeah.” Teresa was still in the street watching as the Chevy pulled away from the curb.

“Why the Marriott?” John asked as he stopped at the red light on the corner.

“Sandra … my mother is in trouble. Someone beat her up and locked her in the hotel room. I have to get there as quickly as possible.”

“And I had a car.”

“The Marriott is ten or twelve blocks away. Just drop me off, and I’ll take it from there.”

“I know where it is. That fancy downtown Marriott.” He glanced at her. “How badly is she hurt?”

“I don’t know. She wasn’t too coherent. She said she’s bleeding.” She shook her head. “I don’t think that she’s too bad. She wasn’t scared enough to call downstairs to the front desk.” Her lips tightened. “She’d rather have me rescue her again.”

“How many times has it happened?”

“Two or three times. Not like this. Once was at the apartment, a couple times in bars. She’s not a good judge of men. Anyone who has the stuff and is willing to sweet-talk her is enough.”

“You’re angry with her.”

“Yes, this is so stupid. I’m angry and I’m worried and I want her to
stop.
She’s only a little over thirty. At this rate, she won’t live to forty. She’s selfish and vain and doesn’t care for anyone but herself.” She crossed her arms across her chest, her hands tightly gripping her upper arms to keep from shaking. “I try to hate her, but I can’t do it.” She repeated through set teeth, “I
can’t
do it.”

“Easy.” John’s hand was on her thigh. “We’ll get her out of this.”

“This time,” Eve said. “What about next time?”

“You can’t keep doing it. You’re not the mother, she is.”

“That doesn’t seem to make any difference,” she said shakily. “And it won’t, until I find a way to hate her. I’m not sure I ever will.”

“Then we’ll just worry about this time.” He pulled up the ramp of the Marriott and parked at the far end. “Leave everything to me. Stay behind me. You look too upset. We don’t want security thinking I’m dragging in an underage girl for sex.”

She got out of the car. “I can handle this myself, John.”

“Stay behind me.” He got out of the car and moved toward the doorman. “We’re just going to run inside and pick up my girlfriend’s mother. Would you keep an eye on my car?”

The doorman frowned as he looked at the shabby vehicle. “You can’t leave that thing parked out here for long.”

“Ten minutes.” John smiled. “I don’t want to make her mother walk far. She had an accident last week.” He was pushing Eve through the revolving doors. “Thanks a lot, buddy.”