Stilettos & Scoundrels (10 page)

“Brian
, I don’t know what to say,” I
stammered, trying to figure out how to fix this
.
I
wasn’t usually at a loss for words
,
but
I
didn’t want to be rude or hurt his feelings. “You’ve kind of taken me by surprise. I mean we haven’t seen each other or spoken in years. We don’t even know each other anymore. Why would you think we could instantly reconnect and
that
there would be something there?”

“Just forget it
,
Pres. I don’t want to deal with this, or you, right now. Thank
s
a lot.” He got up and walked angrily out of the coffee shop
,
muttering under his breath.
Probably about what a bitch I
was. But for the love of all things holy
,
w
hat the hell did he
expect? Thanks for what? I
knew Brian was being sarcastic when he said that, but was it necessary
?

I
looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed. It didn’t appear that anyone had
. They were
no doubt focused on
their own conversations, so I just sipped my
coffee nonchalantly and waited for Brian to cool off, come back in
, and finish his coffee. I decided I
would apologiz
e too and maybe we
could give
this friend thing a second try. I
would try to pay more attention to him and what he was saying
, at least long enough for me to get home. I
sat for a few minute
s and watched everyone around me
until I began to suspect that
he wasn’t coming back.
Nice.
I
hadn’t been back but for a few hours and
had already been fixed up by my mother with my
high school ex, argued with said ex
,
and gotten stranded. Some things never changed. All these years hadn’t mellowed either of
their tempers. Now I
was stuck without a ride home
, and I
doubted they had started a taxi
service since the last time I
was there. Especially
not
one that transported all
the way to the boonies where my parents lived. I resigned my
self to calling dear old Dad for a ride home and dreaded the thought because of the te
asing that was sure to come. I should make my mother come get me. It was her fault I
was in this mess to begin with. Although, knowing
my mother
, she would make
me
walk, as punishment for blowing things with Brian. Or she would spend the entire ride home criticizing
me until they
argue
d. I sighed. What made me so bad with relationships? I
should have been able to avoid upsetting Brian.

As I contemplated my
next step, not in any hurry to call home for a ride, a familiar face came into the coffee shop. Another high school buddy, Dirt Robinson, whose real name was Derrick. After eating dirt on a dare in fifth grade, he was given the nickname and it stuck, making him the coo
lest kid in junior high. I
wonder
ed if he still went by Dirt. I
couldn’t fathom calling him any
thing else, but as an adult, I
was sure it had lost some of its coolness. As he walked up to the counter
, he saw me
sitting at the table
,
broke into a wide smile
, and
walked over.

“Look what the cat dragged in. To what do we owe this honor that you would grace us with
your presence?” Dirt said to me with a mock bow. I
squealed and gave him a hug. Always great friends back in the day,
we had lost touch in subsequent years
. Last
I
had heard he was in the Army.

“It’s so good to see you
,
Dirt. I am actually here for work purposes, to interview Senator Daniels.”

“Why do you want to waste your time with that sack of crap?”

“T
ell me how you really feel,” I
said dryly. “I take it you don’t like the Senator.”

“He’s a pompous ass. He thinks he’s so superior because h
e thinks he
helps this town. I wish he’d stay away. He
makes me work
more every time he comes to town.” Dirt obviously had strong feelings about the Senator to go on such a tirade. Interesting information to file away for later.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at me
,
sister! I’m the law.”
I
took a
closer
look
at him and noticed he was wearing a Sheriff’s uniform. Finally
,
proof
that
something around this town
had
change
d—or proof that
maybe the town was going crazy.

“Are you freaking kidding me? You, a cop? They must have been really desperate.” In
our
past lives, Dirt had run with the rowdy crowd
,
s
pending
more
time partying
,
causing trouble
, and
breaking the law than worrying about other people doing the right thing
. I was shocked that
he was a cop now.
Nothing could have surprised me
more.
I
would have guessed that he would end up here
in
jai
l, but not running the jail. I
was mostly kidding. He wasn’t that bad
,
but thi
s was a stretch for the Dirt I
had known.

“Not only a cop, Presley, but an elected official. That means they
really
wanted me,” he said with a dorky grin, as he tried to be funny. “I guess I finally grew up and decided that I would try things on the right side of the law for a change. Once I tried it, I liked it. Since I know how a juvenile delinquent
’
s mind works
,
I can figure them out
.
I
t makes me very effective at my job
.
”
H
e laughed.
Having been one himself, I
could see how this might now work to his advantage. “Besides, not much serious crime happens here, so I have a lot of time to fish. I also have to admit the uniform looks
good on me.” He preened for me
.

I
laughed. “Still the same conceited jerk
,
I see. You don’t look half bad, Dirt, but Erik Estrad
a is still the sexiest cop,” I
teased.

“C’mon, Pres, you’re breaking my heart. How can you not find me drop dead gorgeous?” he said with exaggerated bravado.

I
agreed that he looked good in his uniform. His lanky frame had filled out, giving him a sinewy hardness. Just less than six feet tall, he had beautiful curly black hair, which had been long in high school and was now cut short, military style. And the most beautiful blue eyes. “So
, are you on duty now?” I
asked, “Or can you stay for a while?”

“Why? Planning on speeding on your way out of town?”

“Actually
,
I was hoping to bum a ride out of town from you. Even if it’s in a cop car, which is sort of weird.”

“How did you get here if you didn’t drive?” He looked at
me
quizzically. “This is pretty far from your parent
s’
house
,
and you never liked exercise before so I can’t imagine you walked here. Or do they drive you so crazy
that
you’re
staying
in
our
hotel?”

“Don’t ask.” I
sighed. “It’s a long, but not unfamiliar story.”

“Let me guess. You came here with Brian. You two got into a fight and he left you here.”

Shocked, I
asked,
“And how do you know all this? Are you psychic now as well? You must be a good cop.”

“I wish, it would make me a really good cop
,
but no
.
”
H
e laughed
again
. “I saw him storming out as I came in. Once I saw you in here, it was just like old times. You always did piss him off easily.”

“Me?” I
sputtered. “Why do you assume it’s my fault? He’s the idiot, how dare you assume it was my fault.”

“Because you should take it easy on him. He’s been in love with you for years. To the point
that
he’s
has put you on a pedestal
,
always talking about how wonderful you are and how you were the one who got away and all that crap. You should be more careful
about
his feelings.”

“Well, I know that now
.
Look
at you
,
Mr. Sensitive. But until he got mad and left me here, I had no idea he still had feelings for me. How in the hell was I supposed to know? That was years ago
,
and I have hardly even talked to him since then. I mean
,
why now
?
If he felt that way
,
why didn’t he ever try
to
call me
?” Not that I
would have wanted him
.

Maybe my
mother
didn’t
have as big of a hand in this a
s I
thought. This was weird. “You could have warned me.”

“Well
,
maybe if you ever came around
,
I would have warned you.” Dirt said teasingly.

“Whatever …so can you take me home or not?”

“Sure, let me grab the coffee I came in for
,
bossy
,
” he said and turned toward the c
ounter to get his drink. I stuck my
tongue out at his back
,
but it was all in fun. Even the revelation about Brian didn’t take away the fun of ha
nging out with Dirt. It made me somewhat sad I
had spent so little time here in the last years.

******

“Can we turn on
the lights and sirens?” I asked Dirt as he drove me
home. Never
insid
e a cop car before, I
found all its dials and knobs
very interesting
and kept playing with t
hings as he playfully swatted my
hands. The radio kept blasting out messages until he had to shut it off.

“No. And you’d better behave or I’ll put you in the back,” he jok
ed
.

“Fine. You take all the fun out of everything. So then, tell me. Any juicy gossip about the Senator I should know
?
Since you obviously don’t like him, any that you can spread would be helpful. I am interviewing him tomorrow and need all the i
nside scoop I can get.” I scooted sideways in my seat until I
faced him
,
givi
ng the shortened version of my old career, my new career, and why I
was in Alkon.

“He chases
other
women
,
though
his wife
doesn’t seem to care. I’m sure she would rather him leave her alone since who knows where he’s been. Besides the personal stuff, I question some of his campaign sources. I just don’t trust him. He seems
like he just
tell
s
you whatever he thinks you want to hear
,
and I know that
would
be considered normal for a politician in some circles
,
but I don’
t like it,” he looked over at me
and grinned.
“
That kind of politician thrives on the power, not the cause, and
tends to take up the cause of the biggest donation
. He’s too slick. I just don’t trust him,” he repeated.

“Well,
with those standards,
there aren’t too many politicians you can trust
,
”
I joked. As we pulled into my
parent
’
s driveway, the car lights flashed across the garage door and the front of the house. It looked as if there were still lights
on inside. It was probably my
mother waiting up to see how my
“date” with Brian went. Wouldn’t she be disappointed
. I thought I
should play with her and say I
spent time with Dirt. That might actually be fun. “Thanks for the ride.”