Hitting the Mark

Two Weeks Earlier Danni balanced the laundry basket on her hip as she stepped out of the dry Nevada heat, and into the humidity of the Save a Wash. No one did their laundry on a Wednesday afternoon, so it was the perfect time to study. For some reason, just starting school when most people her age would have been finishing made her feel a twinge unsure. Funny how going straight could do that to a person. She'd always felt cool and in control while on the grift. She'd been born to play the game. Or so her father had always told her. And taught her. Not worth thinking about now. Danni blinked to allow her eyes to adjust to the inside light, and set her basket down on an empty table. Her textbook lay on top of her dirty clothes. She had more than two years ahead of her, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She'd carefully pushed her change into the slot, when a shadow fell across her arm. "Do you have any dryer sheets? I must have left mine back at the hotel." Danni glanced up to match the sexy voice to the shadow. She had heard some pickup lines before, in fact, she'd heard that exact pickup line in the Laundromat, but never from someone like this. Someone who didn't need cheesy words because his very presence was an open invitation. Tall and dark and rugged. Her breath hitched. She'd always gone for the rebels. Long hair, no job and an air of total irresponsibility. Bonus points for lack of sensitivity, except for something useless like his bad music or his dirty poetry. Those were the kind of guys who rocked her world. But this wasn't a guy. This was a man. Despite the corporate cut to his dark hair, he exuded a jagged undercurrent of danger. No rebellionjust promise. She swallowed. This man was gulp worthy. A snug, navy T-shirt molded his proud chest and shoulders. Danni kept a tight rein on her eyes. Do not lower. She met his gaze. She found humor in the darkness of his brown eyes. And expectation. Oh yeah, he was waiting on her to answer. Dryer sheet. That was it. Time to work it. "For a dollar," she told him. He raised an eyebrow. "You want a dollar for one dryer sheet?" Danni shrugged. "You're welcome to go to the store." A touch of frustration mixed with the humor already in his eyes. He stuffed his fingers into the front pocket of his well-worn jeans. And they fit him well. Nice flatstomach, narrow hips. Fine-looking package. Okay, so she looked lower. Big deal. He pulled out a five. "I can even make you change," she said with a smile. She could imagine it right now. Slide him three bucks and a dryer sheet, pocket the extra. Daddy had taught her well. But she wouldn't. Because damn it, she was determined to be an honest person. Also, a very rude one. Rudeness kept people away, and that's how she liked it. It was the way it had to be. When people got close to you, they began expecting things. Wanting to know personal, private details. He pushed the money into her hand. His long, lean fingers warm and strong as he folded her fingers around the cash. "If you need it that badly, keep the whole five." The man took one of her sheets, turned his back and tossed it into one of the oversized dryers in the corner. He looked just as good from the back as he did from the front. Shoving the bill into her pocket, Danni was at a loss. She'd come out on top in this little encounter. Hadn't she? Danni grabbed her book and sat. Freeing her mind to the wide-open world of court reporting, she tried to forget the man. She should be memorizing the abbreviation for parenthesis. She had a mock deposition to study for. Uh-huh, that was irony there. Her gaze strayed to the man folding his socks. What if he started folding his underwear? What if he didn't? Despite the thinness of her T-shirt, she broke out in a light sweat. This wasMonroe, Jill is the author of 'Hitting the Mark ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373793082 and ISBN 0373793081.