The Beautiful and the Damned Read Online Free PDF Page B

Can’t you tell by my bloodshot eyes that I got more than my fair share
     of beauty sleep?” Cyn tied her apron on and left the strings tangled. It was time
     for her shift, and she was beyond tired. After Declan had left, she’d hung around
     until the locker room opened at eight and then took a quick shower before heading
     back to her apartment. She’d tried to get some sleep but had been too wired to actually
     close her eyes for anything more than ten minutes at a time. “It was fucking great.
     I slept like a queen.”
    Lenny shook his head at her tone and held out one of his cigarettes in a peace offering.
    “I’m trying to quit.”
    But her hand was reaching for it even as she said those words.
    “I’ve quit before too. Twice.” Lenny flicked open his lighter and she leaned in. “Sometimes
     a good smoke is what you need to keep the nightmares at bay.”
    His eyes shifted away from her, and Cyn realized that he might have some demons of
     his own. They sat in silence until she finished puffing.
    “Hey, I’m here if you ever want to . . . you know.” Lenny shrugged.
    Cyn pretended she didn’t hear him.
    “Thanks for the cigarette,” she said instead. “You’ve officially broken my quitting
     streak.”
    Lenny grinned as he held up both middle fingers and flipped her off, a fresh smoke
     stuck between his lips. Cyn straightened her wig—brunette again tonight—and headed
     in to greet the customers.
    ~  ~  ~
    Three and a half hours later, only two customers had come in, and one of them ordered
     a slice of pie. Not even coffee or asoft drink to go with it. Just pie. And he was a cheapskate to boot.
    Cyn didn’t bother to use her mind mojo on him. If she kept making the customers leave
     five-dollar tips on two-dollar checks, someone was bound to start noticing. Lenny
     had already made a point to mention all the green she was bringing home.
    In between breaks, she snuck a couple more cigarettes and tried not to doze off. But
     it was a fight she was losing, and Marv caught her using her coat as a pillow behind
     the front counter.
    “I’m not paying you to sleep here. That’s what you have a bed for. If you’re really
     that tired, go home.”
    She couldn’t go home to her bed even if she wanted to. She didn’t have one.
    Stuffing her coat behind a box of extra napkins, she acted like she was counting them.
     “I can’t hear you. I’m too busy working.”
    “Working, my ass.” Marv grabbed a dust broom and pushed it across the floor. “I see
     that again, and you’re done.”
    Cyn poured on the charm. “Come on, Marv. Don’t be like that. You know I need the money.”
     He liked it when she acted like he was doing her a huge favor, when in reality he
     couldn’tget any other waitress to work the night shift, because he was so cheap.
    Lucky for him, she was desperate.
    “ Work. Don’t sleep.”
    Cyn stuffed a handful of napkins into the front pocket of her uniform. Functioning
     on autopilot, she checked the holder on each table and refilled the ones that were
     almost empty. It was another hour before the bell over the door jingled again.
    She didn’t bother looking up from the crossword puzzle she was halfheartedly filling
     in as she said, “Sit wherever you like. The floor’s open.”
    Then she saw it was the cop from Sleepy Hollow again. Declan.
    He had one finger on his menu like he was considering his choices, but he was watching
     her instead. Sitting at table seven. Next to the back door.
    Cyn’s throat went dry, and she had to cough to clear it. Why was he here? To ask her
     out on a date?
    Stay calm. Take his order. It’s no big deal.
    She picked up the coffeepot and put on her brightest smile. “Would you like a cup?”
    Her hand only trembled a little bit.
    “Sure thing.” His grin was big and bright too. “So we meet again.”
    “I guess that’s what happens when you come into the diner where I work.” For the second time. But she made sure to give