Page 40 of Hot to Trot

"Ah, right on time," Rick said. Scarlet turned to watch Adam stroll their way. Though he wore a pristine, pressed uniform, his gait was lazy and rolling. Almost seductive. Something fluttered in her belly.

"Afternoon, ladies." Adam set his hat on a sofa table, unveiling golden hair that glinted in the late-afternoon sunlight pouring through the unadorned windows. He was altogether yummy, yum, yum.

"We were about to go over the center's protocol with Scarlet. Do you have anything first?" Rick asked Adam.

Adam glanced at Scarlet. She hadn't spoken a word to him since he'd ripped himself away from the cell bars and paid the pizza guy. After Drake had left, Adam had handed her a loaded paper plate, another can of soda, then moved his center of operations to the front of the station. When Scarlet awoke the next morning, stiff from attempting sleep on the narrow bunk, another officer had greeted her and led her to the bathroom. She'd seen Adam briefly in the courtroom where he'd remained silent, only nodding his head at the judge's directives.

"I have a few papers for you to sign, mostly stating you understand the conditions of the sentence and agree to comply.”He waved a manila folder before setting it on the low coffee table.

Scarlet picked up the folder and leafed through it as Rick began explaining how the center worked. With half an ear, she learned the clients were well-screened and held to a certain standard of behavior while learning she couldn't drink alcohol or carry a firearm without violating the terms of probation. Well, there went her Saturday night.

After Scarlet scratched her name on the appropriate lines in the documentation, Kate took her on a tour of the facility, which included classrooms, sleeping quarters, and a separate building outfitted with all the supplies necessary to run an auto-detail shop along with a... boxing ring?

"What's that for?" Scarlet pointed toward the ring.

Kate smiled. ''Oh, that. Well, Rick swears the clients like to take out their anger by beating the crap out of each other. But I think he really bought it for himself. And Adam."

"Adam?"

"Yeah, he and Rick box at least once a week."

"Box?"

"What are you? A parrot?" Kate said, waddling toward the rear of the metal building. Fans were mounted in the corners and a miniature gym lurked behind the boxing ring, replete with weight benches, an elliptical machine, and a treadmill.

"Nope. Vampire queen," Scarlet said.

Kate snorted and continued her tour. "So this is where the guys work and work out. On Wednesdays and Saturdays we run an auto detail shop. We make enough money to cover entertainment costs, equipment, and give them some money to send home to their families. The guys like the ring and weights. Guess it does give them release. This program can be extreme by digging into a lot of stuff they don't want to talk about. Intensive therapy about relationships, guilt, and things no one shouldsuffer through." Kate rubbed her lower back. Scarlet had nearly a foot on the diminutive Kate, whose distended belly jutted forward. The woman had to have perpetual backaches. Probably spasms, too.

"So what do you think?" Georges said, materializing at Scarlet's elbow. She squeaked. For a big fellow, he had an incredible talent for stealth.

"It sounds like a program that works."

Kate nodded. "It does, for the most part."

"So?" Scarlet said.

"So what?" Kate asked.

"What do I do now?"

"Oh." Kate snapped to attention. "Georges, let's take Scarlet to meet the guys."

He saluted yet again, making Scarlet wonder if he'd been in the military. He led her out to the long back porch of the main building. There was a nice flagstone patio with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. Adam stood waiting.

"Can I speak with Ms. Rose before she gets started?" he asked. It hadn't really sounded like a question. More of a command.

"Sure," Kate said, before turning to Scarlet. "Come on inside when you're finished."

Scarlet nodded, and Georges and Kate left her alone with the sexy cop who kicked off weird sensations inside her a mere four days ago. Part of her was pleased she would have time alone with Adam. Part of her wanted to get everything over with so she could move on with her life. Go to L.A. Or back to New York. Anywhere but this little Texas town where she treaded water.

For a moment, Adam didn't speak. He seemed captivated by the way an old wooden fence zigzagged the property. Finally he turned to her. "This won't be easy."

"Not much in life is," she responded, kicking the weather-worn footstool sitting in front of a chair.

"About that night in the holding cell-"

"Think nothing of it." She waved a hand. "It was no biggie. A moment of insanity. One we can't repeat."

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