“I doubt that.” Beth sincerely was thinking that once she got out of here she would never be back.

Evie laughed as if reading her mind. Trying to ease her mind she changed the topic. “I like your top. All my pretty ones have disappeared. These bitches just borrow without asking, so we just wash the clothes and everyone grabs something clean. The shorts are different, not many can get their fat asses into mine.”

“I bet not.” Evie was small, probably a one or two. Beth was one of the fat asses who they wouldn’t fit.

“Not everyone likes skin and bones,” Razer said, rubbing Beth’s ass. “I happen to like mine with a little jiggle.”

“Never notice you complain when you’re humpin’ it,” Evie joked back. She caught the shocked look on Beth's face and instantly regretted her ill-conceived joke.

“Damn girl. I didn’t mean anything.” Beth gave her a false smile at her apology.

“The first couple of times I saw Razer, he had a different woman hanging on him. I just didn’t realize you two had a history.”

“No history,” Evie said. “How about we change the subject. Razer was telling me what you do, I bet that’s interesting.”

Beth looked in her eyes and saw a sincere desire to be friends. She liked the girl and as all the friends she had made had gotten married or left the small town for greener pastures, she wanted to become friends as well.

“What do you do?"

"I was a nurse in Ohio, but I applied here at the local hospitals and the two doctor’s offices, but they haven’t called.”

“You’re a nurse?” Evie stiffened at Beth's surprised tone.

“You don’t think I look like a nurse?”

Beth burst out laughing, stopping when seeing the hurt look Evie tried to hide. Razer’s arm tightened around her waist, letting her know he was unhappy. Even Train was throwing her a dirty look.

“Well to be honest, right now, a nurse wouldn’t be my first clue as to your profession.” Beth waved her hand at Evie’s open top. “But you misunderstood me; if any of my male clients saw you, they would have a cardiac arrest.“ This time, everyone burst out laughing. “Seriously, I have a nursing degree also, worked and got my masters in business with a minor in accounting. Before everyone can say I am flaunting my degrees, I am just telling you this because I have been getting a little overwhelmed with all the work I have been contracted to do. I was thinking of hiring someone part-time if you think you might be interested?”

“God yes, I have been bored out of my mind stuck here all day with the other girls.” Hastily adding before Beth could reply, “I don’t want full-time, whatever hours you could give me would be great.”

Beth frowned. “Perhaps I should have mentioned you would need a car. Do you have one?”

“Yes and it’s in good shape.”

“Have you got your phone handy?”

Evie pulled a small cell phone out of her back pocket. Beth took it and programmed her number into it.

“Give me a call on Monday; I will work something out this weekend on what hours I can offer.”

A loud booming voice yelled Evie’s name from the upstairs. “Gotta go before Knox comes looking for me.” Beth turned to see Knox and the blond woman waiting for Evie at the top of the stairs. When Evie reached them, Knox placed an arm around their shoulders before moving out of Beth’s sight.

“That was nice of you.”

“I had a rough week. I need the help; I should have done it a month ago. This will give me more time to spend with Lily before she leaves for college and someone to cover for me in emergencies when I go visit.”

“Works out nice for you both.”

Beth only nodded because while they had been talking he had turned her sideways on his lap, facing away from Train. His hand had been running up and down her thigh, his thumb casually brushing her denim-covered mound before sliding away. Teasing her into wanting it to linger longer. One hand buried itself in her long hair, tilting her hair back, kissing her before she could protest. When his lips touched her, all thoughts of protest vanished. There was just something so naughty about sitting on his lap and letting him pet her.

Razer sucked her tongue into his mouth, wanting to see if she would be able to respond to him in the heavily crowded room. Beth dragged her nails over his t-shirt covered chest. She was forgetting where she was at and getting into the moment when Razer broke away.

“Let’s go.” Razer tore his lips away.

“Where to?”

“My room. I don’t think you’re ready to fuck in public yet and if you keep scratching at me with those nails, I am tearing those jeans off you.” Standing up, he pulled her up on her feet.

Razer hustled her through the crowd and up the long flight of steps.

“Razer…”

He opened the second door at the top. Leading her inside, his lips found hers before she could say anything, shutting the door behind them. Beth was still trying to make up her mind if this was really what she wanted.

“Baby, you’re so hot.”

The trite phase that was something he probably had said to several women since hitting puberty brought Beth to her senses.

“Razer slow down.” She pushed him away and put her hands up to ward him off. “Can we slow down a minute?”

Razer frowned, “Do you think I am pressuring you?”

“No! I am not saying that at all. I just need to catch my breath for a minute.”

“I can do that.” He smiled and reached for her again, pulling her into his body, rubbing her back.

“Look, if this isn’t working for you, I can take you home. I can see how it can be a little much, I am used to this way of life, but I can also see how it can be for someone else.”

“You understand?” Beth gave him a sweet smile. “I just feel a little overwhelmed.”

“That’s cool. We can try another night. Maybe we can catch a movie when I get back from Ohio."

“I’d really like that.”

“Good, now let’s get out of here before my good intentions go out the window.”

The trip down the stairs was much slower. Razer was being so nice, Beth couldn’t believe that he didn’t at least try to change her mind. It made her feel like he was beginning to want to know her better, maybe he hoped to form a relationship with her in the future. The ride back was gloomy; all the excitement of the night had been anti-climatic. Beth consoled herself that at least she had tried versus not trying at all.

At her door he kissed her again drawing a response that she couldn’t control. “Would you like to come in?”

Razer’s lips slid reluctantly away from her neck. “I better not, we’ll be leaving early, if I leave now I can grab a few hours sleep. I’ll call you when I get back.”

“All right, have a safe trip.” Beth watched from her doorway as he drove away. Contrarily wishing she had remained at his house. Her fear had won the battle and she had wanted to run like a scared little mouse. Again.

She was getting in her bed going over the night, sick to her stomach that he would be returning to a house of half-naked women. Razer had not been worried about getting up early in the morning before she chickened out. The more she thought about it, the sicker she felt to her stomach. She didn’t want him to turn to another woman because she had been too chicken to sleep with him.