Read Got the Life (A Nicki Sosebee Novel) for Free Online

first for those two, but she also ran to her apartment to shower.  She didn’t shampoo her hair, because she didn’t have time to redo it, but she sprayed some perfume in it once she took it out of its ponytail .  The rest of her, though, smelled like stale grease and garlic.  She reeked of Napoli , and the shower was essential .  But by the time she was done, she smelled like vanilla.   What to wear, though?  She eyed her little black dress tucked in the back of the c loset , a little too snug and a little too short, but she figured Carlos would think it was just right.

 
    Chapter Six
     
    BEFORE LEAVING HER car, Nicki smeared some hot pink lipstick on her lips.  She checked in her mirror, relying on the streetlamp over her car to help her make sure she didn’t have any on her teeth.  She checked her entire face, then stepped out of the car, tugging on the dress a little so her butt cheeks didn’t peek out.
    She took a deep breath, then walked toward the hotel entrance.  The glass doors slid open as she approached, and she looked around the lobby until she saw the sign on the left pointing toward the lounge.  Her three-inch black heels clicked on the tile but there was no one around to notice.  A woman stood at the desk , but she was on the phone and didn’t look up.
    Nicki arrived at the door to the lounge.  It was dark inside, but her eyes quickly adjusted.  She spotted the bar and saw Carlos, sans his friends, nursing a beer.  He was talking with the bartender who seemed to be enjoying a quiet evening.  Nicki could see only three other people in the bar.
    She approached the stool and Carlos looked over.  Was that really a look of shock on his face?  “Nicki?”
    “Hey.”
    “ You look ravishing .”   Ravishing?  Nice.   That was the plan.  She slid up onto the stool.  “Would you like a drink?”
    She thought she might.  Let’s see…he’d had several beers by this point, so she might want something a little stronger to catch up.  She didn’t want to drink too much, though, for several reasons.  One was she had a lot of work to do tomorrow.  Two was she didn’t want Carlos to not go for it.  She knew if she had too much to drink, he wouldn’t touch her.  Well, probably, but she didn’t want to take the chance.   Guys could be funny that way.  They wanted you a little loose, but not too loose.  “I think so.”  She looked at the bartender.  “What’s your specialty?”
    He shrugged.  “How about a White Russian?”
    She nodded.  “Sounds great.”
    She looked over at Carlos who had been studying her collarbone, barely covered by a one-inch black strap.  His eyes met hers.  “So what do you usually do in this town for fun?”
    If she had a dime for every tourist who asked…  “Depends on what you like to do.  I’m sure you already found the biker bar.”
    “Bad Boys?”
    “Mmm hmmm.  In the winter there’s skiing farther up the mountain s .  Hiking’s big—we have lots of trails.  In the summer, there’s rafting, and there are a lot of softball and soccer teams that play for fun.  A lot of people like camping and fishing.  Oh, we also have the water park.”
    Carlos smiled again, a mocking look on his face, as the bartender placed Nicki’s drink in front of her.  “I asked what you do for fun.”   Carlos handed several bills to the bartender.
    Nicki sipped her drink.  “Ah, specifics.”  She took another sip.  “Well, I don’t have as much fun as I’d like to.  I work three jobs, so they keep me busy.”
    “Guess I got lucky that you found time for me.”
    A lopsided grin crossed her face.  “No, you just happened to catch me at quitting time.”   She placed her hand on his.  “But I would have made time for you if your timing hadn’t been so impeccable.” 
    He squeezed her hand and smiled, then picked up his beer.  He asked her to tell him about her other jobs , but she said she would later.  She didn’t feel like