Chapter 48
Conrad's Chance Meeting
Conrad was walking through the lobby of the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach after making a call to Vic in New Jersey to get the weeks take when he heard her voice.
"Fuck you, Leon. Fucking, fuck you. Why did I? You should be asking yourself that question, you bastard!"
Conrad turned and saw her. She was sitting in a leather chair; her head was down, cell phone up to her mouth.
"Yeah, yeah, and what did you do to my charge card? Don't act stupid! I know what you did. Ran it up on that whore, that's what you did. You expect me to stand for that shit?"
She paused, listened to his reply.
"You're unreal. You expect me to come back after that shit? Get out of my life and stay out," she roared and disconnected the cell.
"Fucking freak," she said to herself, but still loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
She stood up, and Conrad got his first clear view. Faded blue jeans, fitted and low rise, a green and white sleeveless T-shirt cut right below her breasts. Red letters across her breasts read
I used to be a virgin, now I'm always on the verge.
She wore a light gloss on full lips that reminded him of Kim Basinger. She stood there arms folded beneath her breasts, and started to shake.
Conrad moved closer and asked, "You okay?"
It's a bad time to speak to her. Her eyes carry pain and dried tears. She looked at him but didn't answer. It occurs to Conrad that she's tall, tan and lithe; his type woman.
"No," she says, "I'm not okay."
When her mouth opens he saw her tongue ring. Tattoos decorate her skin: Chinese symbols on each shoulder; a blazing sun on her belly, a shiny navel ring in its center.
He asked, "Anything I can do?"
"You want to kill someone for me?"
Conrad tensed up.
Did she know him from Jersey?
Then she smiled at him. "Kidding, just kidding. Although he needs killing," she added with a grimace.
"Um, no, I think not, killing's not my specialty," he managed to say, and then stopped talking.
"Know anyone does?"
"I think it's best to change the subject," he answered quietly.
A quizzical expression appeared on her attractive face. "You ever ask yourself; where in the hell did I meet this person? I mean, where the fuck did they come from? Like, this loser is my fiancΓ©? I hate my life. Damn it all, I hate my life and what I've become."
"C'mon," Conrad said placatingly, "it can't be that bad."
"How the fuck would you know? She snarled.
This broad's a wacko,
he told himself,
it's time for me to walk away
. But he remained in place, staring at those full lips, those ripe lips that curved up in her anger. He imagined kissing her, imagined their lips on fire.
To my surprise, she turned and walked away from me. Startled I call after her. "What do you feel when you feel that way?"
She stopped and looked back at me. We stand still, regarding each other.
I struggle to keep my eyes off the letters on her T-shirt. She knows this and smiles, confident of her power as a woman. "I was supposed to get married next week."
"What happened," I asked, knowing the answer from the phone conversation I'd heard part of.
"Well, when you see your man fucking somebody else . . ."
"Are you married?"
He shrugged then said, "No, still single."
"Really?" she replied with a light coat of sarcasm.
"We men always want what we can't have."
"Ain't that the truth?"
He nodded.
"So . . . where's the girlfriend?"
"There is none at the moment."
She almost smiles. "You're a liar."
"I haven't lied to you. I have women friends. I don't have a steady girlfriend."
"You're actually here at the Blockade Runner on business?"
He grinned at her. "I'd say yes, but you wouldn't believe me."
"You just fucked her, and now you're headed home."
"You think?"
She laughed at him, "Too bad. In my mood, as cute as you are, I might've done something bold."
He gave her his best grin then her cell phone rang.
She gave him an innocent smile and answered the call. "I told you to fuck off . . . none of your business where I am. You know what? Fuck you. No, fuck you and your bitch, motherfucker!"
Slamming the cell closed, she met my eyes and smiled again. "I'm over it, really, I am over the son of a bitch."
They stared at one another until she broke it off. "The ladies room," she said, "follow me." She turned and walked directly into the Woman's Room. Conrad waited ten seconds, looked carefully around, then followed. Once inside he found her waiting for him.
"We're alone," she husked. "Take the last booth!"
She shoved him in that direction and he hurried in with her right on his heels. He kissed her and felt the piercing in her tongue rubbing against his. He couldn't recall meeting a woman this hot this early in a relationship.
When they came up for air she gasped, "I need for you to kiss me again."
"Do you, now?"
"Don't fuck around with me," she snarled. "I'm a bitch in heat!"
He laughed and kissed her again, they were grinding their loins into one another when it ended.
"Umm, nice kiss," he said.
"Yeah, you certainly can kiss, had my clit doing the mambo for a time there.'
"That good, eh?"
"Don't get too over confident, darling."
"Shit, you had me at hello," he said and they laughed.