Page 3 of For the Promise

“Have you seen the prices of beverages at this place? Outrageous. Do you want to ask questions or pick a person or thing first?”

“Ask questions.”

I try to come up with a person Dakota will never guess. It’s kind of mean thinking of a legend she doesn’t know yet, but it’s a game. And I’m determined to win. It’s possible I may be a little competitive. Okay. Fine. More than a little.

“I’m ready.”

Dakota studies me for a few seconds. “Are you real or imaginary?”

“Yes or no questions only.”

“Are you imaginary?”

“Kinda.”

She glares at me. “If I can only ask yes or no questions, you can only answer with yes or no.”

“Fine,” I huff. “Yes.”

“Are you a mermaid?”

“Obviously, she’s a mermaid,” some man behind me says. “She has long, beautiful hair.”

I try to ignore him, but he pushes his way forward until he’s standing next to me in the line. “What’s your name, mermaid?”

“Not interested. I’m talking to my friend.” I give him my back but he maneuvers himself until he’s in front of me.

“No budging in the line.” I’m dead serious. Budging in line is a sin. It causes havoc with time management.

“There’s no reason to play hard to get. It’s mermaid karaoke season. You’re a mermaid. I’m a smuggler. Let’s get together.”

“Mermaid karaoke season has nothing to do with me.”

I’m not lying to get rid of him. I’m a resident of Smuggler’s Hideaway. I’m not some woman on vacation on the island dressing up as a mermaid and singing karaoke at theBootleggerbar in a bid to catch a smuggler.

I have no interest in catching a man – smuggler or not. Men are sneaky creatures who are not to be trusted. Rage pokes at me as memories of why men are not to be trusted try to push to the forefront of my mind.

I shove them down. It’s my day off and I’m spending it with my best friend. This is not the appropriate moment to reflect on what a fool I was.

“Fine. If you want me to chase you, I’ll chase you,” the man says.

“I do not want you to chase me. I want you to go back to where you were in line and pretend I don’t exist.”

His gaze rakes over my body. It is not a cursory gaze. It’s a slimy ‘I bet I know how you look without clothes on’-gaze. My stomach nearly gurgles as revulsion fills me.

“Sorry, doll, but you’re impossible to forget.”

I roll my eyes. “Go feed your cheesy lines to someone else. I’m not interested.”

“You don’t have to be a bitch.”

I widen my eyes. “I’m being a bitch because I asked you to leave us alone and when you refused, I tell you I’m not interested? Whatever.” I give him my back. I’m not wasting my time on him anymore.

“Where were we?” I ask Dakota.

She glares at the man. “Teaching this piece of trash a lesson.”

I bark out a laugh. “I knew we were best friends for a reason.”

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