I stand under the water, watching the paint swirl down the drain as it’s washed off my skin. My heart still feels like it’s pounding. I close my eyes, but all I see are Shade’s dark blue eyes. I’m still shocked that he chased me to begin with. I’m sure the man has a hundred suits and losing one won't dent his wardrobe.

I’m guessing he was chasing me more for his pride. I can’t believe I threw my paint all over him. In my defense, he was being a jerk, manhandling me as if he had every right to. Not to mention what he said about me working off the cost of his suit. That still made my blood boil, but at the same time it turned me on.

I flip the water off and grab a towel. In my time on the streets, hopping from shelter to shelter, I never used my body to get something. I’d stolen a few times, but only out of desperation and hunger. I dry off before wrapping the towel around me.

I’m in the employees’ bathroom at the community center. I half scream when I see Mr. Barker, the owner, standing before me. I stand there for a moment in shock before making sure my towel is covering everything. His eyes roam over me.

The man has always given me the creeps, but he doesn't pay half bad and I put up with him because I love it here. Not to mention my best friend works here and I also sneak sleep here at nights. That’s only possible because my best friend looks the other way. He is normally in charge of closing the place.

His eyes rake over my body like I’m naked. I don’t know why he’s in here. This is the women’s employee bathroom. “Mr. Barker?” I question. He licks his lips, and it takes everything in me to not take a step back.

“We need to talk.” He steps toward me. The smell of his cheap cologne fills the room. His jet-black hair, which I’m sure is dyed because he’s pushing his late fifties, is slicked back. The shirt he has on has a stain from—I’m guessing—his lunch. He locks his hands around the straps of his suspenders.

“Can we talk after I get dressed?”

“I know,” he continues, ignoring what I said. My heart pounds as I wonder what he’s talking about. Does he mean he knows about me staying here, or maybe he heard I threw paint on someone? He couldn’t know that. Not that it would matter, would it? It has to be about me staying here.

“I’m sorry. It was just a couple of nights,” I lie. It’s been a couple of months. “Please don’t fire me.” I love this job. It would be hard for me to find another one. I only have a high school diploma. I don't think I’ll be able to get another job doing what I love. I got to teach painting classes here to the kids. I also worked in the daycare area where parents left their children while they worked out or used the pool.

He gives me a creepy smile and closes more of the distance between us. He reaches out, running his finger down my cheek. All the hair on my body stands up in fear and I’m paralyzed. This man is my boss. I can’t push him or stomp on his foot. He’d call the cops and I’d be the one in jail. No one would believe the homeless girl over him.

“You can sleep here all you like.” A chill runs down my spine. “I’ll keep an eye on you.” He leans down, his mouth moving closer to mine. I jump back, my hands in a death grip on my towel. That creepy smile he has only gets bigger. “Sleep tight tonight, Charlie.” He winks at me before turning to leave.

I rush over to my bag and get dressed as fast as I can before putting all my stuff away. I pause when I realize I don’t have my painting notebook. Tears sting my eyes, but I dash them away and slip from the bathroom. I rush toward the basement door but pause when I get to it. My cot and stuff are all down there. I'm scared to go down. What if he traps me down there? No one will hear me scream.

“Want to tell me about the hottie chasing you down at the parade?” I turn at Fredrik’s voice. He stands there with his hands on his hips, his perfect eyebrows raised waiting for me to answer.

“No?”

“Spill.” He grabs me, locking our arms together as he walks back down the hallway. I know we’re headed for the gym. It’s likely full of kids playing. I know he showed up early tonight before his shift to grill me on this. Otherwise he’d still be at the parade making out with his new flavor of the week. He always has a new guy on his arm. I don't even try to keep up anymore.

I glance back at the basement door, debating if I should tell Fredrik about what happened, but I decide not to. He’s smiling right now. That hasn't been common lately with his grandma being sick. She moved into his little apartment with him so he could help her more. She isn't getting better, though. I don't want to kill his happy mood because I know he’ll worry and push for me to move in with him. He didn't have room for anyone extra before he even had his grandma move in. Now he really doesn't. His apartment is only a small studio.

“Want to spill about that kiss?” I elbow him. It wasn't a kiss-kiss. Just a peck on the lips really.

“Wanted to see if the man chasing you would get jelly.” He wiggles his eyebrows but doesn't continue.

I peek back over at him. “Did he?” I ask. Crap. I want to snatch my words back, knowing I just gave myself up.

“Oh. So now who wants information,” he teases me. I elbow him again. He fakes that it hurts.

I roll my eyes. “Just tell me,” I huff out.

“Super jealous.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “All right, I gave up the information, now you give us some.”

When we make it to the gym we both sit down on the beaches. A group of kids are playing basketball. They wave at us. I drop my backpack down onto the ground before telling him the whole story.

“So I’m not sure why he’d be jealous. He likely wants to throw me in jail or something.”

“You threw paint on Warren Shade?” Shock is written all over Fredrik’s face. I bite my lip and nod. He bursts into laughter.

“Hush.” I smack his arm.

“It doesn't matter. Not like he’ll find me anyway.”

“Oh, he’ll find you,” Fredrik finally says when he gets his laughter under control.

I shake my head. “He has no idea who I am.”

“A man like Warren Shade can find anything he wants to find.”

I drop my head into my hands in despair knowing he’s likely right. But at the moment Warren Shade is the least of my worries. I don’t even know where I’m going to sleep tonight. There is no way I’m ever sleeping in that basement again.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think he’s looking to throw you in jail.” I glance over at Fredrik who is still smiling. “I think he might throw you up against a wall and have his way with you, though.”

My face warms. “You’re crazy. I’m sure a man like Warren Shade has his pick of women. He doesn't need to go chasing after one.”

“We’ll see,” Fredrik says before he stands and exits the gym.