“Are things serious between you and Adelina?”

“What does she think about your career as a stripper?”

“Will the two of you move back to Australian when you decide to have kids?”

I hadn’t expected to have to deal with this kind of attention when I came to LA I was almost positive they had more interesting celebrities around. I was barely a celebrity at all anymore, and most of my fame—or notoriety—was in the sports circles. Or in the Vegas strip scene.

My face was familiar enough so I was getting noticed by paparazzi that had little or nothing else to focus on.

And it didn’t help that somebody—either Adelina or one of the media people who managed her—kept talking up the few short hours we’d spent together as if it’d been some earth-shattering meeting. There hadn’t even been anything particularly fascinating about the pictures, at least none that I’d seen.

Granted, I hadn’t paid that much attention to what was going on with social media. I didn’t really want to, either. I just wanted people to stop paying attention to me and let me get on with my life. I had enough other shit on my mind that I didn’t them harassing me on top of it.

“Can I help you?” The bright, vivacious question came from a round, perky redhead. She came out from behind a counter, lips pursed as she glanced past me. She tsked under her breath, then smiled at me again.

“I need a hat. Sunglasses.”

Less than ten minutes later, she sent me out through the side door which led to the store on the left. The cleverly designed shopping center had stores that opened into each other or spilled out the back into a courtyard, more than enough to throw a paparazzi or few off the scent.

I’d taken a few shops, then gone through the courtyard before crossing into another shop, then I’d backtracked.

The crew with cameras and cellphones had left, either bored already or having found a better target. Since I was finally on my own, and relatively anonymous, I slowed my pace and pulled my phone out.

I needed to breathe, and I wanted to sit down. One place came to mind where I could do both of those things.

* * *

One thing I’d discovered after years of living close to the ocean, it was always different, always changing. Though the ocean in front of me was still the Pacific, it didn’t resemble the body of water I knew back home.

But it was still the water.

I missed the water.

I missed the calm peace I’d always been able to find at the beach. It was one of the things I missed the most about Australia. I hadn’t realized just how much until now. Nevada was pretty short on beaches—and very short on the ocean.

I breathed in the scents of salt water, sun, tanning oil…all of it familiar.

I was going to find a place to put my feet in the sand and let the sun fry my brains until I didn’t have to think anymore.

Nearly an hour later, I was dozing, mind blissfully blank. I was relaxed enough I didn’t move when somebody’s shadow came between me and the sun, but then the shadow moved closer and an eerie prickling race across my awareness. I opened my eyes just as a slim figure started to bend over me.

She immediately jerked back, but her expression was blank. I frowned as I sat up, every one of my instincts sending warnings flashing through my mind.

“Hey.” Her low, borderline sultry voice didn’t match her appearance. She wasn’t even close to old enough to have that voice, nor was she old enough to look at me with such an appraising glance.

“You feeling lonely?” She smiled at me, a sweet ingenue’s smile that didn’t match the weary experience in her dark eyes.

“What?” Confused, I shook my head. She looked familiar. I couldn’t place why, but I had the damnedest feeling I should know her.

“Are…you…” She leaned in closer. “Lonely.”

She reached out and traced a finger down my arm. Her fingernails were short, chipped, and the nail polish was all but gone, the remnants of a weeks-old manicure. I could smell plain, fresh soap on her, but layered over it was a heavy dosing of some overpriced perfume. I also heard her belly growl, and my suspicion was replaced by pity.

“What’s your name?” I asked

“Daytin.” Lips curving in a smile, she added, “But you can call me whatever you want.”

* * *

I called Camry.

I’d convinced Daytin that the thing I’d like was some company for lunch and once we’d ordered, I’d gotten up to use the restroom. Now, leaning against the wall just outside the men’s room, I waited for Camry to answer.

What were the chances?

Good? Bad?

I had no idea.

How was the girl Camry had been searching for in Vegas – who was, as far as I was aware, supposed to be in rehab – sitting out there, waiting for a cheese pizza and a cherry sprite? And how was it possible that she’d happened upon me, of all people, while looking for someone to...give her some money?

She was clearly jonesing for a hit, and as much as I’d tried to forget what Camry had said about how Daytin usually earned money, I knew the girl hadn’t been simply asking me to give her a couple bucks. I didn’t know how she’d found me, but I was glad she had. It made me sick, thinking about what another man might have wanted from her.

What another man, in another time and place, would have wanted from another girl. One with haunted crystal blue eyes and a protective streak a mile wide.

I closed my eyes as Camry answered, “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Jacen.” I opened my eyes and launched into a quick explanation as to why I was calling. I could see the back of Daytin’s head from where I stood, and I didn’t want to leave her out there alone for long. Or that she’d see me on the phone and bolt.

“Listen, that friend of yours, the one you were looking for in Vegas?” I waited just a beat before forging on. “I thought she was in the clinic. The one where your sister-in-law works?”

“She is,” Camry said.

Shit. That’s what I thought.

“No, she’s not. She’s right in front of me. About twenty feet in front of me, to be exact.” Camry didn’t respond, so I offered, “I’m down at a pizza place on the beach.”

Three seconds later, she erupted.

“You’re where? And Daytin’s there? What...” Abruptly, Camry stopped speaking. That lasted for maybe ten seconds and then she sucked in a hard breath. “Let me call you back.”

“Not a good idea,” I warned her. “If she realizes I’m calling you, and you clearly didn’t know she’d left, I’m betting that would make her kind of nervous.”

“More than a little, yeah,” Camry agreed.

“Text me. You’ve got the number now, right?”

“Yes.” Agitated, she started to speak in short, sharp bursts. “I’ll do that. Try to keep her with you.”

I lowered the phone just as Daytin glanced back over her shoulder. Perfect timing, I thought as I smiled at her. I rejoined her at the table, nervous as hell, but not letting it show as I gave her a smile.

“Thanks for joining me for lunch. I’ve got this quirk about eating by myself. I always feel like people are staring at me and it’s even weirder being here in the States.”

She’d surprised me at the beach, so I’d fallen hard on my accent, and she’d assumed I was just there visiting from Australia. I was happy to let her think that, happy to let her assume I was some businessman. Unless she was playing me, which was also a possibility.

“We all have quirks,” she said, smiling brightly at me. She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Maybe after this, we can get a room, and I’ll tell you about some of mine? If you’ve got any more, you can show me. I like quirks. Anything you like, I’ll like.”

I tried not to show anything on my face but a smile. “Just some company for a meal sounds good.” Shit. If she thought I was blowing her off, she might decide she wanted drugs more than food and try to find someone who’d give her what she wanted. I didn’t know how long it would take to get Camry here but I had to stall. “I just...I do better when I’m not alone.”

“I’ll keep you from being lonely,” Daytin said, taking my hand between hers. “I’m real good at that.” Then she giggled, giving me a hopeful smile. “Do you think we can find a hotel room right after we’re done eating?”

I knew she was just looking for money, but I needed to make sure she knew I had absolutely no intention of sleeping with her. “I’m just looking for company for the meal.” Then like the idea had just dawned on me, I said, “Hey, I don’t know anything about the town. You want to be my tour guide for the day?”

I knew she wasn’t local, but she didn’t know I knew that.

She licked her lips and looked around nervously. “I could think about it. I’m kind of tired and was hoping...well, I kinda lost my place and was hoping I could crash with you.”

She gave me what I was sure was supposed to be a flirtatious smile.

Shit. How was I supposed to respond to that? “Oh, yeah, well if there’s something I can do to help...”

My phone buzzed and I picked it up. The message was from Camry, and it was simple and short.

KEEP HER THERE.

Immediately, I relaxed. Camry would know how to handle her friend. I set my phone back down and smiled up at the waitress who set down food that I was suddenly hungry to eat.

She made it through two pieces before she excused herself to go to the bathroom. I leaned back in my seat and drained my water, watching the cars going by on the street outside. I told myself the anticipation was only because I wanted to make sure Daytin was safe, but that little voice in the back of my head whispered that it was a lie. Even though I’d told Camry we should stay friends, I wanted to see her again.

Suddenly, I realized that five minutes had passed and Daytin hadn’t come back to the table. Shit. Was she taking too long or was that just me, as a guy, thinking five minutes was too long? What if she was in there primping or something? I’d look like a total ass if I barged in on her. Probably scare her away.

I looked at my watch and then over my shoulder at the restroom.

Five more minutes. I decided to give her five more minutes, and then I’d be able to play it off as a concern. Except as I watched the minutes tick by, my gut told me that it was already too late.

Daytin had already run.