Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

It was an offhand remark, made because she obviously
knows I have no intention of leaving with the mysterious and
vaguely hostile Kage, but the thought of Sloane hovering over
me in worry all day tomorrow to make sure I don’t slit my
wrists on the anniversary of my non-wedding is so depressing,
it cuts straight through my buzz like a bucket of cold water
poured over my head.
I glance over at his table.
He’s on his cell phone. Not talking, just listening, every so
often nodding. He glances up and catches me looking.
Our eyes lock.
My heart jumps into my throat. A strange and unfamiliar
combination of excitement, tension, and fear makes a flush of
heat creep up my neck.
Sloane’s right. You should be friendly. You’re going to be
neighbors. Whatever his problem is, it can’t be about you.
Don’t take everything so personally.
The poor guy probably just had a bad day.
Still looking at me, he murmurs something into the phone
and hangs up.
I say to Sloane, “Be right back.”
I stand, cross the restaurant, and walk right up to his table.
“Hi. I’m Natalie. May I join you?” I don’t want for his answer
before I sit down.
Silent, he gazes steadily at me with those dark, unreadable
eyes.
“My girlfriend and I have had a little too much wine and
we can’t safely drive home. Normally, this wouldn’t be a
problem. We’d take a cab and pick up her car tomorrow. But
she just told me that unless I leave here with you, she’s
spending the night at my house.
“Now, there’s a whole long story about why I don’t want
that to happen, but I won’t bore you with the details. And
before you ask, no, I don’t usually demand rides from total
strangers. But I was told that you bought the place next door to