Page 149 of Sin With Me

“She looks a bit out of place.”

“She’ll adjust. Emma will be staying with me for a while.” Hopefully for much longer than she expects.

“Make sure you introduce her around town, Eric. You know how jealous the girls will get if they find out you’re off the market.”

“Thanks for the advice, Mr. Front.”

Didn’t he know I never truly let myself be on the market? None of the women in Ogden could ever hold my interest for long enough, the way Emma did. But then again none of them were dancing nearly naked when I first saw them either. Emma was so different and fresh, no wise man would let that one go – so why was she still single? I ordered a few dozen cuts of steak and ribs, packing the frozen pieces of meat in the cooler in my trunk. Just as I finished stacking the remainder of groceries, a hard and loud slap on my back shook through me. “Look what the cat dragged intotown.”

“Hey, buddy.” I shook my friend’s hand before giving him a man hug. “It’s been a while.”

“What are you doing here? Couldn’t get your shopping delivered?”

While it was true that my parents had often brought my groceries on their way to visit, I’d mostly avoided the town. Whenever I came here, I had the odd sensation that I’d somehow run into Huntz.

“Don’t make it sound like I’m some sort of a spoiledbrat.”

“Never would, brother.” Derek often referred to me as his brother. The one-year difference in our ages, made it feel as if we were twins sometimes. We’d become good friends while away from home, both being forced to return from serving our country too early. So much connected us since childhood, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to explain to anyone how we’d become so close. But once you lived through what we had, there was no way that bond could be broken.

“Derek, I need a favor.”

“You know you can ask me anything. I’m indebted to you for the rest of mylife.”

“You would have done the same. And I would have done much more than I did if I couldhave.”

“What’sup?”

“It’s Annabelle. I need you to check up on her in San Francisco. But keep it to yourself. If she finds out I sent you, she’llflip.”

“Your little sister? How old is she now?” I knew exactly where my friend’s mind was drifting.

“She’s my little sister. You’ll keep your hands to yourself.”

“Of course.”

“And your dick in your pants.”

“Hey, if she’s your sister, she’s like my sister. Besides, I remember her as a freckled kid, so I doubt she’s mytype.”

“Are you calling Annabelleugly?”

“No, I’m calling her not mytype.”

“Fine, whatever. Just check up on her, will ya? Make sure she’s not in any trouble.”

“Something I should know about?” The concern crossing his forehead in the form of straight lines reminded me what a good officer he was. His instinct out in the field had only failed him once – and for that reason we were both back on homesoil.

“No, everything is fine,” I lied. “I just haven’t heard from her in a while, and this thing I need to clear up is taking up mytime.”

“By ‘this thing,’ you mean this blonde sex-goddess you brought back from the city? And why is she here playing dress-up?”

I followed Derek’s gaze toward the window where Emma and the cashier, Missy, were chatting as if they’d known each other for years. I’d never seen Missy be so open with anyone before. It looked like Emma was fitting in with the town’s most difficult girl quite well. The girl I’d heard had been hanging around with Derek’s younger brother Blake enough to start rumors of them being anitem.

Looking at Emma from behind the glass, part of me wanted to know where she was planning on wearing all those clothes she was buying. I mean, I was sure the outfits would last for the next ten Halloween parties she’d go to. Yet as I watched her face, studying each piece of clothing and chatting up Missy, I couldn’t help but think that Emma was in her full investigative mode, even while blending in with the town. And was that nerves I noted in Missy’s body language? Why was she so anxious and sweating?

“I’m branching out, dude. She’s keen on learning all about cowboys, and I intend on teaching her everything I know.” I couldn’t hide the coy smile on my face, but also felt guilt tug at my stomach for the way I’d referred toEmma.

“You mean you haven’t scored yet? What’s wrong withher?”

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