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Today I was supposed to have my rescheduled interview with Officer Masterson, the longest serving cop on the force other than the Chief. He was known to be a hard ass, and that was just fine by me. I had no experience in the field. I didn’t want to take advantage of the nepotism afforded me by both of my pain-in-the-behind brothers being cops.
Okay, fine, I kind of did.
The dispatcher position paid better than my sister-in-law’s bakery. And I was already developing an aversion to buttercream frosting.
So was my waistline. My curves were growing exponentially after months working at the bakery. I had to say I liked my new shape up top. With a good bra, I was almost…incendiary in the right light.
In my bedroom, all alone, because no man had even seen my new buttercream-enhanced curves.
Go me.
But hey, I didn’t need a man for self-love. No, I did not. Not just of the toy-related variety, but the hell, yeah, I’m amazing, I deserve all the best things in life kind.
So what if I didn’t know what my actual career would be and so what that I had only just now finally moved out on my own? And so what that everyone in town was pairing off and I had better chances of hooking up with a pet at Kitten Around cat rescue’s speed dating event than with an actual man?
Not a boy. I was done with the college types. I wanted someone with hair on his chest and a full vocabulary and more skills than crushing beer cans against his skull on wet T-shirt night at Lucky’s bar in nearby Turnbull.
My phone chimed and I screeched and jumped off the park bench Mickey and I had camped on to eat our lunch half an hour ago. I grabbed my cardigan and ever present book, then looked at my phone. Closer to an hour now. Jeez.
Time sure flew when you were listing your many flaws and failures in life.
“Will you relax?” Mickey stood and reached up to undo my hair from its knot. I was tall, but my bestie was even taller. “Leave your hair down,” she commanded. “The sexy tousled look is in.” She flicked her fingers through it then cocked her head. “Are you even wearing makeup? I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
“It’s a job interview, not a date.”
“You never know when you’ll meet someone worthwhile.”
“I’m not looking to meet anyone.”
“Your lonely, crying va-jay-jay disagrees. Now put on some damn lipstick and give me your best warrior smile.”
I swapped my book for a quick makeup freshening and cleared my throat as a vision in shorts and a T-shirt across the street caught my eye. “Why do all the hot guys always like to run?”
Mickey went back to fussing with my hair as if there was any hope of corralling the honey-colored waves my mom had said I’d had even as a baby. Yes, I’d had a full head of hair, even at birth. “They’re hoping to show off their usually unimpressive muscles.”
Not all of the guys in town were dressed to work out. A handful of men wandered past dressed in an assortment of costumes from Chucky to the Grim Reaper, in deference to the holiday that had taken over the town.
The Cove was filled with spooks and goblins and most of the townsfolk were making plans for an exciting night.
Except me. My evening would consist of a horror movie, popcorn, and pajamas.
“Some guys look damn good in their workout wear.” Better than the guy fondling his scythe in any case.
“Huh? Who?”
“Hottie at three o’clock.” I let out a wistful sigh as I checked out Grant as he stopped to talk to a mama duck and her babies. You could take the vet out of Kensington Square….
Mickey perked up and slid a casual look to her right then let out a loud sound of disgust. “Him? Now I know you’re hard up.”
“Mick, the guy is hot as hell. You know it. I know it. What I don’t know is why he’s running near the lake when he lives in Kensington Square.”
“Probably annoyed everyone in his own town.” Mickey rolled his eyes. “Grant Thorn is only hot because he has that fake accent.”
“It’s not fake. He’s from Ireland.”
“Whatever.” Mickey threw back her shoulders and I did the same without thinking about it. “Your body is seriously banging in that dress. Belt around your tiny waist, curves busting out all over. In a good way,” she added hurriedly as I scowled.
“Sure.”
