Street Safe Read Online Free PDF Page A

back.” Na’arah straightened the stack, then walked to a curtained off area and patted the sheet covered table. “Hop on. A quick massage will help.”
    “Nothing will help but another drink,” she groused, peeling off her purple zip up jacket. “Are you gonna be out here all day? By yourself?”
    “Auggie’s still in the hospital,” she reminded her sister. “And I hear you’re sleeping with him.”
    Zee lay face down on the table and heaved a sigh.
    Na’arah pinched a pressure point near Zee’s neck.
    “Ow! Dammit, Arah.” She rubbed her shoulder and scowled at her sister. “What’s the big deal?”
    “You can do better.”
    “It was just sex. Two consenting adults, indulging their carnal needs.” She settled back on the table. “You are such a prude at times.”
    “You have enough drama.”
    “But not enough feel good sex,” Zee muttered. “You should try it sometime.”
    “I’d rather not.” Na’arah picked up a bottle of oil.
    “Are you here all day?”
    “One of the other therapists will be in this afternoon to take over for me.” Na’arah adjusted the pillow Zee rested her face on. “Better?”
    “Perfect.”
    “Well, don’t go to sleep.”
    “Whateva.”
    Na’arah grinned and slowly kneaded the knots in her sister’s neck and shoulders. A few moments later gentle snores drifted through the tent. She worked her hands over Zee another five minutes, then covered her with a light blanket. The least she could do was let her sister take a quick nap. She stepped from the makeshift room and let the curtain drop in her wake. Na’arah pulled up short at the small man hovering on the other side.
    “Kyle!” she gasped. “You startled me.”
    Kyle pushed his mirrored aviator shades to his forehead and frowned. “Where’s Auggie?”
    “Uh, he was attacked last night and will be in the hospital for a few days.” She studied him a moment. A flicker of amusement shaded his eyes before it was replaced by concern. “Was there something I could help you with?”
    He leaned to one side, lifted a hairy leg and scratched his calf. The skin on his knuckles was raw and abraded, as if he’d punched something. She scrutinized him. His thin tanned face held a shadowed bruise across his pointed chin.
    “I wanted to see what time I’m supposed to take over this evening.” He lowered his leg and glanced around. “You got a schedule or something?”
    Unease rippled down her spine. Kyle was the only employee at the spa she didn’t like. He was genial toward the clients and Auggie thought he was some kind of miracle worker when it came to the deep tissue massage, but Na’arah still didn’t like him. Something about his suave manner and shark’s smile made her skin crawl.
    Even the way he studied her now made her want to bathe in bleach. She was thankful other vendors were present in the tent.
    “Yeah.” She stepped to a second curtained off area, knelt in front of a box and thumbed through the myriad of clipboards and brochures. She’d seen a schedule somewhere. Material rustled behind her and the slide of metal barely registered through the flutter of papers. Of course it would be at the bottom of the box.
    “You said he’s in the hospital?”
    “Yeah.” She scanned through the spreadsheet until she found Kyle’s name. “Coupla broken ribs, a mild concussion and a bunch of bruises, but he’ll be fine.” When she pivoted, still on her knees, she was staring at the open brass zipper on a pair of khaki shorts. Short, curly blond hair peeked through the opening while disgust sluiced through her system. She lifted her gaze to find a smirk on Kyle’s face.
    “I’ve always wanted to know if you’d need a pillow for extra height, but you’re perfect.”
    Revulsion roiled through her belly and she scooted away from him. She smacked the back of her head on the edge of the table and saw stars.
    “Ow!”
    Kyle gripped her shoulder, his fingers biting into her flesh. “Stay where you