Page 5 of Out to Get Her
“Right.” Erin assessed the woman in front of her. She vaguely remembered Samantha Keller. Sam, everyone called her. She was two years ahead of Erin and ran with a completely different crowd. More like Samantha ran with an actual crowd and Erin ran with herself, mostly. “I’m not trying to be rude, but I don’t get why you care whether or not Addie serves me up for lunch.”
Samantha smiled. A beautiful, wide smile that brightened her rich, tanned complexion. “Would you believe I’m not a big fan of unnecessary paperwork?”
It was Erin’s turn to smile. That she could relate to.
Although her fuzzy memories of Samantha didn’t line up with that statement. She remembered her as the type to fall in line and care about grades and all of that.
“You remember me?” Erin was used to people remembering the rumors about her, but not actually her. “I didn’t think we had any classes together.”
“Just an art class. And you went out with one of my friends right before you left town. Julie Myers.”
Oof. That she remembered.
Specifically, she remembered it not ending well. None of her relationships here had ended well, so at least she’d left a consistent reputation behind.
“I wasn’t sure it was you at first.” That smile again. “But when you said why you were here… well, your BLT cravings are pretty notorious.”
Erin suddenly remembered that she’d broken up with Julie Myers over a BLT. Julie had tried not to cry, but tears spilled out anyway while Erin finished her sandwich. Addie really did make a killer BLT.
She could remember that breakup sandwich, but she couldn’t remember much about Samantha Keller. She’d spent most of her own high school days experimenting with whatever she could get her hands on. Anything that got her high and made it easier to forget she lived in this place. She kept to herself and ignored most of her classmates, so it wasn’t a surprise that she didn’t remember much about Samantha besides her name.
But that smile and that handshake and those sweet, soulful eyes kind of made Erin wish she could remember more.
Probably better this way, though. Nothing good could come from crushing on a cop. Especially a cop fromthistown withthatlast name. Even if Samantha clearly didn’t use it anymore.
Plus, the new name indicated that this woman was probably married.
A married cop was definitely off the menu.
“Well, I’d better high-tail it out of here before Addie shows up.”
Sam’s smile faded. “I’m sorry about your grandfather. I remember you two were close.”
Close. Yeah, they’d been close. Closest she’d been to anyone since her parents died all those years ago.
“Thanks.” She cleared her throat and pointed at her car. “I’d better get to the house. Lots to do.”
“Right. Well, it was good seeing you again.”
“Yeah, you too,” Erin said. “Thanks for the warning. About Addie and all.”
“No problem. You take care.”
Erin managed to pull herself away from that smile and walked back to her car, where she turned on the ignition and cranked up the air conditioner. While she waited for the car to cool off from its brief stay in the unbearable August heat, Erin took a big swig of Dr. Pepper.
Her stomach growled. At least it had the courtesy to wait until she was in the car.
She watched as Samantha walked in the opposite direction toward the back of the restaurant. The woman made even gross khaki cop pants look good. Like… real good.
Too bad she was a cop.
And a Keller.
A married Keller at that.
While Erin was admiring the woman’s ass, Adeline Weaver walked out from the back of her restaurant. She met up with Samantha and began rattling on about something, her hands flailing in the air as she spoke.
That was enough of a cue for Erin.
