The Mysterious Stranger (The Confidence Game 3)

“I assume people are full of compliments about your winning ways, but frankly, I don’t care for them,” she said stepping around Brute-boy, full-tilt Scarlett O’Hara.

She waited for a hand, a grab and it came; a heavy paw clapped down on her shoulder. “Aw look what you made me do,” he said.

She knew at least three ways to put this man on the ground with a broken bone to deal with. Maybe four. Just knowing she could do it, let off steam with some retaliatory violence was a comfort. The event was breaking up, the band was back on stage and she was no longer of any interest, but it was still too big a scene to create.

“Take your hand off me.”

“I assume people are full of what the fuck about your bad manners. Do as I fucking say.”

She ducked out from under Brute’s hand and faced him. If she put him on his back it would be out of character for Rosie Woods. Likewise if she broke his nose. “Lead on then.”

He was mid stride when she kicked the back of his knee out, yanking on his arm and putting him on his ass. He could yell all he liked. She kept moving as if it had nothing to do with her until she was standing in front of Orrin. He had a circle of admirers around him, three faces she recognized. Spencer, Zeke’s boss, Mike, and Beth. The woman looked straight through her, no ally.

“Ah Rosie,” said Orrin. “What happened to Daniel?”

She shouldn’t have dropped him. That flare of temper, so sudden bright and overwhelming it blocked out all reason was what got her into trouble when she split with Cal. She had to be better than that. And if she let emotion overtake her again she could make a mistake harder to wriggle out of.

She looked back over her shoulder as if surprised by the question and shrugged. “I guess he tripped.” If she was pressed she’d admit to helping him do that. “You wanted to see me.” Her feet wanted to curtsy. It would be in character for Rosie Woods to be flippant, but there was still too much of Rory Archer’s righteous anger in her limbs.

Orrin moved forward, putting distance between the two of them and his posse. “I have a present for you. Give me your hand.”

This would be interesting. She held out her hand and he placed an old iPod nano in it.

“That’s not mine.”

“You said you missed your tech. I thought you might like this.”

Rosie Woods was confused. Rory Archer wasn’t far behind her. “Why are you being kind to me? I don’t understand.” What was his game? Why a present, why this present? Why not her e-reader? Now that she might’ve learned to love him for.

“I want you to be happy here. I know you like to run. I thought you might like music in your ears.”

He knew about her running. On its own that wasn’t a problem, but it proved he was keeping track of her outside of work hours. She’d have to take more care on her nighttime expeditions. And God, if anyone had seen what happened in the barn...

She turned the iPod over. It was metallic pink and pocket-sized, fully charged. “It won’t work without the earbuds.” She held it out to him.

He put his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out a tangle of cords. Rosie Woods reached for them. Rory Archer wanted to wrap them around his neck and pull tight.

He yanked the buds out of her reach. “Why did your brother choose Cadence?”

She was left with her hand raised. “You can ask him.” Which of course was obvious. Orrin was slippery. Stay sharp.

“I’m asking you.”

She slapped her hand to her side. “He likes her. What’s the big deal?”

“Are you telling me the truth, Rosie?”

“You’re not going to give me the buds if I lie to you.”

He laughed and put the buds back in his pocket. “You have to earn them. Did you push Daniel over?”

He’d expect her to dodge responsibility. Better to keep him guessing. “Yes.”

He angled his head, studying her. “You’re a very good liar. The decay, your addiction, taught you that. You don’t need to lie in here. And never lie to me.”

“I took self-defense classes. I can show you.”

“Rosie.” H