A yelp escaped her lips as she jumped toward the center of the car at a knock on her window. She took a deep breath in and released it when she realized it was Jake.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Didn’t you see me pull in?” Jake offered her his hand to help her out of the car.
“No.”
“Were you crying?” he asked.
“I told you—nerves. We should do this some other time?” Cripes, what was she doing here? What was she, nuts? He’s a freakin cop.
“You’ll find I’m a good listener, if you need an ear.”
Wish I’d met him last week. “I’m fine. Sometimes the pressures of the job, the divorce, life, gets to me. See? Whack-job. Run for your life.” She laughed without mirth.
“Not running. Do you still want a drink?”
“I guess I do.” Pretending everything was fine, she laced her arm through his as they walked into the bar.
* * * *
He didn’t understand what provoked her tears, but she wasn’t fine. Kyra had piqued his curiosity. Call it his cop intuition but something was off with her. He enjoyed a good puzzle. Kyra seemed stretched. No, more than that. She seemed afraid. Of him? No, not him.
“What do you want to drink?” He pulled out a barstool for her.
“A Cosmopolitan sounds good.”
“Hey, Jake, how’s it shaking?” the bartender asked. Walking down the bar to them, he stuck out his hand to Jake.
“Good, Pat. How’s the family?”
“Everyone’s good. Do I get an introduction?”
“Kyra, Pat Brennan, retired WPD.”
“Kyra, an Irish name. And your surname?”
“Russell.”
“Ah, nice, lass. Well, your first drink is on the house in this Italian bar.” He winked.
“Thank you.” Kyra smiled.
* * * *
After Pat served them, he moved down the bar, out of earshot. She should’ve stuck with the rum and coke, instead of mixing alcohols. Kyra sipped her drink, not wanting to let it go to her head. She was too close to the edge tonight. The booze might loosen her tongue. What would be her answer on Thursday? She hadn’t come up with a counteroffer to get her out of the situation. Were they going to kill her? She knew in her heart she’d never be able to pick either one of the choices presented to her. Joe had to be crazy to ask. Kyra looked around the bar as if seeing it for the first time. Thursday night was a long way off. She’d put the decision away for later.
Tuesday nights were quiet here. At the other end of the bar, talking to Pat, sat a man downing shot after shot like this was a speakeasy and prohibition was in effect again. I wonder what troubles he wants to drown? Who cares? His problems can’t be bigger than mine.
“Hey, where’d you go?” His hand on her arm brought her back to the conversation.
“I must have zoned out. What did you say?”
“It wasn’t important.”
“I’m sorry.” A big guy like him sulking. Who needs this crap? “I had a shitty day.”
“I asked how you got into your line of work.”
“Oh, I was the secretary at the cemetery for six years. We built the crematory. I took the course, along with my boss at the time, to be a backup to him. A year later, he fell down on the job, died on the spot of a massive heart attack. I got the job by default.”
“Ah, a rags-to-riches story,” Jake joked.
“Yes, ask my creditors, they’ll agree,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“You’re one tough cookie, Kyra.” He stared into her eyes.
“Yeah, that’s me. Good or bad?” She looked up at him. The intensity of his gaze unnerved her as he leaned an elbow on the bar, his body facing her.
“I don’t know. I’ll need to do some homework, study the subject.” The boyish grin he flashed melted her heart. Who knew a simple smile had that much power.
“Well, there’ll be an open-book test after,” she joked back.
“There’s nothing open about you.” Geez, the guy turns from joking to serious on a dime. Give me a freakin’ break.
“Instinct or guessing?”
“A little of both.”
“Well, shit.”
He laughed. “Yeah, it’ll be fun getting to know you.”
She watched him down his drink as she continued to sip hers. “Time will tell.”
She liked him though he seemed as wound up as she was. Job or personal problems…which one, Jake?
“Would you like another drink?”
“No, I’m still working on this one.”
“Why?”
“Funny, ’cause I’m a cheap drunk and I’d like to keep my wits about me tonight.”
“That’s no fun.”
“Trying to take advantage of me?”
“No, hoping you’ll take advantage of me.” Looks like he knows the power of that grin he flashes all the time.
“It might still happen, the evening’s young.” She tossed him a flirtatious smile. It was time to test her wiles. She raised her glass and saluted him.
“Ah, a tease.”
“Oh yes.”
She discovered they had a lot in common, but he sent vibes he was still hung up, involved with someone else. She worked up the nerve to ask.
“Do you plan on getting back with the woman you broke up with?”
“I did in the beginning…now…?” He shrugged as he looked into his empty glass instead of at her.
Well, that shut down her line of questions and him.
“Can I ask why?” In his eyes the pain was evident.
“You can ask. I definitely have. I still don’t understand why we’re not together.”
She lifted her drink, sipped and wished her own problems were relationship-related.
“I don’t mean to unload on you, but I’m still in love with Mia. Before we move forward you should be aware of that.”
“Thanks. I’m not looking for a relationship. My life’s too complicated right now. I will tell you this—if you love her, go after her. Fix it. Love doesn’t come around often.”
“She doesn’t want to be involved with me. I’m overprotective. Her words, not mine.”
He looked miserable. She searched around for the right answer. “Did you overreact to something to make her accuse you of it?” Oh shit, that wasn’t it.
“I can’t talk about it, Kyra. You want another drink?”
“No, it’s time to head home. I have an early day tomorrow.” She stood, took her purse from the back of the barstool. “Thanks for the drink, Jake.”
“I’d like to see you again. Do you want to go out to dinner Friday night?”
She reached into her purse, pulled out her business card. “The number on the bottom right’s my cell number. Dinner sounds good. Call with the time.”
“Good