Natural Consequences Read Online Free PDF Page B

back.”
    Alex bristled. He understood Lambert’s hostility. The guy thought Alex was a creepy, woman-groping bastard, and Alex had no chance of convincing him otherwise. It wasn’t even worth the attempt. But willfully calling his motorcycle a scooter wasn’t so forgivable.
    He tossed the roll of tape down on the ground behind Lambert. “I’d ask what kind of self-respecting hipster gets a job as a security guard,” Alex scowled, “but self-respecting hipster is an oxymoron anyway, so the hell with it.”
    “Least I’ve got a job,” Lambert countered.
    He had a point there. Alex didn’t have a comeback for that.
    “Alex,” said a woman’s voice behind him. He didn’t recognize it and didn’t want to stay and talk to anyone anyway. Alex retrieved the helmet off its hook on the side of his bike. “I’ve been looking for you.”
    That earned more of his attention. Alex turned around. She stood only a few feet away, dressed a long tie-dyed skirt and what Alex subconsciously labeled as a hippie hoodie. Her brown hair was tied back into a ponytail, revealing bright blue eyes and a strong, lovely face. She stood to his same height, perhaps even slightly taller. He didn’t recognize her immediately.
    And then he did.
    Oh no , he thought. Seriously?
    “We had a terrible first meeting,” said Diana, “and an even worse parting.”
    “Ma’am, this guy’s being escorted off the premises,” said Lambert. “Turns out he doesn’t conduct himself well around women.”
    Diana ignored the security guard. So did Alex . “That was a pretty shitty night for me,” Alex frowned.
    “ Yet you accomplished all you set out to do,” Diana nodded. “I didn’t think you could. I underestimated you, and your friends. I didn’t even know you had friends there.”
    “I’ve got lots of friends.”
    “I can see why.” Diana took a step forward, offering a cool smile.
    “I can’t,” Lambert chimed in.
    “Shut up,” Diana told him without so much as a glance. Alex took a step back. She followed. “You’re brave. Intelligent. Handsome. Loyal. Deadly.”
    “Yeah, I try not to focus a lot on that last bit,” he replied guardedly. He shifted his grip on his helmet, now holding it low by the chin guard so he could use it as a weapon if necessary. He didn’t find the hungry look in her eyes comforting at all.
    She struck a n appealing image. The modern hippie look usually did little for him, but Diana made it work. Unfortunately, he remembered their first meeting all too well—and, in particular, her presumptuous offers and the fact that behind that pretty face was a towering furry rage monster that could tear his motorcycle in half and beat him to a pulp with it.
    Now here she was, a month later, cornering him in the parking lot at his job.
    Somewhere out there, Alex considered, was a campaign or a charity that worked to protect women from stalkers. They had just earned at least half of whatever he had coming to him in his last paycheck, because this creepy shit right here just sucks.
    “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since we parted. As soon as I recovered, I began searching for you. And now here we are.”
    “Yeah,” he swallowed. “In the parking garage. At my job.”
    “Had I a phone number, I would have used it.”
    Alex paused. That sounded reasonable.
    “ I retrieved your home address from your office the other night,” Diana went on. “Your office manager didn’t even lock her door. But when I went to your home, I found no one lived there anymore. So I waited for you here.”
    That didn’t sound so reasonable.
    “Well,” Alex swallowed, keeping his voice calm and steady, “how about you give me your phone number… and I’ll give you a fake one, and I won’t call you, and you’ll get the hint and leave me alone?”
    “Oh, Alex. Don’t you see? I didn’t do all this to let you go now.”
    “Ma’am,” Lambert spoke up again, “it’s time for him to leave and for you