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Chapter Nine
Reanna didn’t pick up the extra shift because she couldn’t say no. After her talk with Shanda yesterday, she realized that she didn’t need to accommodate everyone. It was okay to put herself first at times.
When Jerry said he was staying the night in Boston, the last thing she wanted was to spend her night tossing and turning, missing him. With nothing good to watch on television, it seemed like fate when a fellow officer called out sick. If she was going to be awake anyway, might as well be making some money.
She’d meant to text Jerry and let him know, but for the first time in years, she’d left her personal cell phone in her bedroom on the charger. Since she didn’t need it on the job, Reanna never bothered going back for it. It only would’ve been a distraction, anyway.
For the most part, she couldn’t have picked up a better shift. That was, until an hour before it was time to clock out. That’s when it all went to hell.
She responded to a report of a black and white milking cow walking around on Route 95. It hadn’t been milked yet and couldn’t find its way back to the barn. Thankfully, traffic had been light, but still, in the name of safety for all drivers, Reanna had decided to get behind the cow and urge her off the highway. Reanna noticed that part of the fencing had come down. Most likely a tree had fallen on it during the storm the other night. It was a good thing that only one cow had found its way out.
Although she hadn’t looked, if she had to bet money, she’d swear that someone was videotaping the ridiculous fiasco. But the State Police kept any vehicles moving while Reanna continued nudging the cow in the right direction. Everything seemed to be working out just as she had planned. The cow was safe, the drivers were safe, but there was one part of the equation that she’d forgotten.
Reanna had thought one last slap on the rump would’ve sent the cow rushing back to the barn. To her dismay, that wasn’t what occurred. Instead, the cow decided to relieve itself. What seemed like gallons of hot urine had gushed out onto her. Without a change of uniform at the station, she had no choice but to suffer through her own stank. Going straight home wasn’t an option either, so the guys at the station suffered as well while she completed the dreaded report.
Her house never looked better, even though she practically had to drag her butt inside. All she wanted was a hot shower and a few hours of much-needed sleep. Even as she peeled off her still-wet uniform, she debated whether she should just burn the damn thing. But uniforms weren’t free, so she tossed it in the washing machine with double the amount of detergent and freshener the machine called for. What was the worst thing that could happen, the suds overflow out of the machine? If that happened, it’d be a sign to wash the floor as well.
Standing naked in the laundry room, she sniffed her arm and wrinkled her nose. All she could smell was cow. That meant it was her that stunk as well. She reached up and took her hair out of the pinned-up braid she always wore at work. She gave it another sniff, and her eyes rolled in disgust. “I smell worse than the mice did.”
Reanna made a mad dash upstairs. Thankfully, she no longer had any house guests. She didn’t care what Bobby would’ve thought, and Brenda only would’ve spent the next several days laughing at her. But if Jerry had been here, she’d be mortified. There was nothing sexy about this. Hell, he’d probably never touch me again. Since she couldn’t run from herself, she could only hope the smell would wash away.
First thing she did was crank that shower on high. She used just about every scent of soap she had and stayed there until there was no hot water remaining.
Getting out, she wrapped a large bath sheet around her and headed for her bed. Running her hands up her arms, they felt silky soft from all the scrubbing. It was almost as sweet as a spa treatment, but without any of the pampering.
It had been too long since Reanna had splurged on herself like that. She kept telling herself she’d do it again for a special occasion. Like everything in her life, that time just never seemed to come. Because I never make the time.
That was slowly changing now. Instead of running all around helping everyone else when she was off duty, she was spending time with Jerry. He’d planned the most amazing date with the race car, and she was trying to think of something that he might enjoy as well. Would a couple’s massage and spa day work? It sounded perfect. They could relax and have a stress-free and carefree day. But would Jerry actually like that?
She giggled as she remembered how he screamed when she ran her finger up the bottom of his foot. He was big, strong, powerful, and sexy, but also ticklish as heck. That might not be such a perfect date after all. Since Jerry hadn’t mentioned when they were going to see each other next, there was no reason for her to stay awake another moment, trying to plan. Jerry could afford to do anything he wanted himself. What could she do that would be…memorable?
Going to need more than sleep to be able to think of something special for him.
She couldn’t compete with what he could do, but it doesn’t take money to be thoughtful. With any luck, a brilliant idea would reveal itself as she slept.
As she slipped between her cool sheets, Jerry’s scent filled her nostrils. Reanna pulled the pillow from beneath her head, put in on the side of her, and snuggled it tightly. It wasn’t Jerry, but it would have to do. Given how exhausted she was, it was enough too. She never thought she’d think it, but she didn’t even have the energy to make love right now because with Jerry, there was no such thing as a quickie.
Reanna looked one last time at the alarm clock. It was almost eight in the morning. Jerry was probably on his way to the office. She didn’t want to speak for only a second. She wanted to hear how his night had been and tell him to have a good day. She’d also like to find out when they were going to see each other again. All that required time and energy, of which she had none.
She would get back up in a few hours and text him then. Maybe she’d feel more alive and he’d be free to talk.
Closing her eyes, she kicked off the sheet and enjoyed the feel of the ceiling fan blowing down on her still-damp, naked body. Reanna knew sleep wasn’t going to be an issue. She didn’t normally dream, except when she was this tired. She took one final, deep breath, slowly let it out, and drifted off.
Jerry approached her riding the cow, wearing nothing but a cowboy hat. He was tall and muscular, and he looked damn good, even on that. “Shouldn’t you be on a bull?” she asked.
Jerry shook his head. “No. They knock my balls around too much.” He extended a hand to her and said, “Come on. It’s a nice night for a ride.”
She looked at him and shook her head. “Where do you think we’re going to go on a cow?”
“To the drive-in movies,” he replied.
Reanna laughed. “The drive-in?”
“Yup. I’ve never been to one.”
She smiled. “And what makes you think they’ll let us in like that?”
“On a cow?” he asked
