Then take his profits and buy a nice place in the Caymans. He could retire comfortably and live out his life in a tropical paradise.
And forget any chance of a relationship with Kevyn.
That was the trade-off.
His freedom, maybe his very life, was at stake. Besides, she’d already made it clear that she was fine without him.
Probably better off without him, given her career choice and his line of work.
This was the best option. The only option.
He pulled back his shoulders and looked Tio in the eyes. “I want in.”
Eyes colder than he’d ever seen them assessed him. “You’re gonna have to forget that pretty daughter of yours. No turning back, man.”
His stomach lurched, but he forced words through tight lips. “No turning back.”
₪ ₪ ₪
Amazing how much information you could get from a single phone call.
Like learning that Lorelei Divers was working on the mobile unit today.
Kevyn approached the oversized glass doors of the blood bank. The sun peeking through the overcast sky gleamed on the chrome door handles and the mirrored finish on the wall of glass kept her from seeing inside.
But she knew who shouldn’t be inside, which would make getting details about Divers that much easier.
As long as the people working liked to gossip. In her experience, most employees liked to gossip.
She pulled open the door and stepped inside.
Less than half the chairs were occupied. A man in scrubs flitted back and forth between three people reclining on cushy looking chairs.
A woman, also in scrubs, looked up from a massive computer monitor sitting on the sparkling granite countertop. Silver streaked her once dark hair and deep lines at the corners of her eyes evidenced years of smiling.
“Hi!” Her tone was as perky as a puppy on caffeine. “Are you here to donate?”
“Sure am.” Kevyn smiled at the woman’s genuinely friendly greeting.
“Great! I’m Tammy. I’ll need to get some information from you, then we’ll get started.”
Ten minutes and multiple questions later, Kevyn sank into one of the plush vinyl chairs. “Oooh, this is much nicer than the last place I donated.”
Tammy laughed. “You better believe it. We pride ourselves on being the best.”
“Well, I think you nailed it.” Kevyn averted her eyes as the needle approached her arm.
“Okay, small poke.” Tammy’s cheerful tone contrasted sharply with the prick in Kevyn’s arm.
Forcibly relaxing her muscles, Kevyn settled back against the chair. Now. What was the best way to begin?
“Have you worked here long?”
Tammy’s cheeky grin responded. “A few years. Best job I ever had.”
“That’s great. You must have nice co-workers then.”
“Oh, yeah.” Tammy’s smile faltered. “Mostly. I mean, you know, there are always one or two people that you really wish would go somewhere else, but overall, it’s a good group.”
Hmmm. Was Lorelei Divers one of those in the good group category? Or the “wish she’d move on” category?
Only one way to find out. “A friend of mine used to come here all the time. In fact, I’m donating today to honor him. Maybe you knew him? Jason Boggess?”
Tammy’s expression sobered. “I know who he is, but I never drew his blood. He always wanted Lorelei.”
The name rolled out of Tammy’s mouth like sour fruit.
After filing the information away, Kevyn moved on like she hadn’t noticed. “Oh yeah, I know. He never shut up about her. Between you and me, I think he donated blood just to see her, you know?”
Tammy harrumphed. “Well, he wouldn’t be the only one. That woman plays men like a piano.”
“Oh.” Kevyn feigned surprise, even though she’d suspected as much based upon Dak’s assessment. “Gosh. My boyfriend has been having her draw his blood, too. After Jason recommended her, my boyfriend claimed that she does such a good job that he doesn’t even feel the needle. Maybe I should be concerned.”
Tammy shook her head slowly. “If he’s like all the other guys lining up to see Lorelei, she could jab him with a knife and he wouldn’t know the difference. If I were you, I’d kick him to the curb now.”
Kevyn tried to look devastated. “I-I can’t believe he would cheat on me.”
“Maybe he’s not.” Tammy gently patted her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have said that. That girl rubs me the wrong way.”
Yes! The perfect segue. “Why’s that?”
After a brief look around, Tammy leaned in. “Because she’s a big phony, that’s why. She puts on this ditzy, sweet front to the guys, but you should hear her when clients aren’t around. That girl’s got a sharp tongue. Never has a good thing to say about anyone. You shoulda heard what she said about your friend Jason. And she’s smart, really smart, but she acts like she’s not. Maybe she thinks that guys like that dumb blonde routine, I don’t know. I hate it when people put on an act.”
Kind of like she was doing now.
Kevyn pushed the thought aside. She was doing it for good reasons, not out of spite. It was totally different.
Although she knew what Dak would say about her little charade.
Focus. She was here for a purpose.
“Why does she do that?”
A limp shrug lifted Tammy’s shoulder. “I think she likes the attention. Thing is, she’s pretty enough to get attention without all the lies.”
“Sad what some girls do to get attention.”
“Sure is.” Tammy’s smile reemerged. “Well, listen to me, going on like that. You keep an eye on your man and if he’s got any brains in that head of his, he’ll see that you’re twice the woman that phony is.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
The bell rang at the door and Tammy looked up. “Looks like I’ve got another donor. Now you relax. You’ve still got a ways to go. I’ll be
