Page 12 (2/2)

“I‘ve seen you here quite a few tie, his tone was curious

This branch happened to be way out of my way, so his question wasn’t withoutto the real reason I’d driven twenty minutes to a bank that had a location five minutes from my house

“Visiting a friend,” I answered cagily It’s not a lie I considered Cora a friend—granted our “friendship” consisted of flirting at the bank, a few hellos in passing when I needed a fix, and “accidentally” bu into her somewhere

Cash’s gaze drifted toward Cora, and my instinct was to threaten him to keep his eyes to himself, except he showed no interest beyond curiosity So I reen monster that had spawned inside me the day I met Cora

He didn’t say anything about her when he looked back atan incredibly private guy Because it meant he didn’t pry

“Poker is scheduled for Tuesday,” he said, changing the subject

“Hooyah,” I responded,back to Cora

He echoed the Navy expression, then lifted his chin in farewell before exiting the building

Cora’s line indling as the last of the lunch crowd headed back to work

The other teller said so—to Cora—and then closed herand went into the back This was another reason I’d coh their breaks after the midday rush

My feet had a mind of their own, and they walked me over to stand behind the other custo it to the front and being forced to go to anotherAnd deht on my obsession with her, and that simply couldn’t happen

These visits were all I allowedcontrol and either taking her to the floor or just grabbing her anda run for it And they made my fantasies so much more realistic when I had a fresh picture of her in my mind