Page 44 of Out to Get Her
“Addie’s good people,” Erin said reluctantly. “Don’t tell her I said that.”
Samantha nodded. “She’s tough as a cane stalk, but she has her soft spots. And her love language is definitely food.”
Erin dove into her sandwich while Samantha mixed her rice and shrimp as the scent of the rich, garlicky sauce made her mouth water.
“So what happened with your tire?” she asked. “I thought it was just a nail?”
“Nope. Clearly intentional, according to Frank. But that’s all I got,” Erin said. “What’s your story? Why did Addie send me here, and why does everyone keep asking me if I saw the news?”
Samantha wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. Stalling? Maybe. But what did she care? The whole town, except for Erin, already knew the truth. Erin would hear it eventually. Not that she had any reason to be concerned about what Erin thought, anyway.
Keep telling yourself that.
“Good news for the town: they’ll get Jordan Fonseca as their Chief of Police.”
Erin stared her down, trying to puzzle through what Samantha had just said. “I don’t get why that’s good news. Or how that happened. Did I miss the election? I thought it was next weekend?”
“It is. But it’s a done deal now.” She sighed and tossed her napkin on the table. “I blew it.”
“Blew what? I tried to stop by the station to thank you for holding my key, but they said you were at some appearance or something.”
“It was supposed to be a nothing event. Shake a few hands. Make a short speech for a good cause. Smile. Go home.”
Dexter pawed at her leg, so Samantha picked him up. He settled in on her lap, eying her half-eaten container of food.
“I’m guessing it didn’t go exactly as planned. What happened?”
Samantha scratched Dexter’s neck. “My ex happened. And Jordan Fonseca, who my ex is obviously financing in this race.” She shook her head. “I let him get under my skin, and when reporters started asking me about Paul’s case, I just… froze.”
“What an asshat.” Erin’s face projected fury, but she reined it in and said, “I’m sorry. But I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you think.”
“Oh, it was bad. Why do you think everyone’s vaguely referring to the news?”
Erin grimaced. “But it’s just one thing.”
“That’s all it takes.”
“I don’t believe that.” Erin shook her head. “Of course, I don’t believe one cop can save the whole system, but I can tell that you believe it. And you somehow make the people around here believe it, too. They’ll all have your back on Election Day the same way you always have theirs every other day.”
Samantha scoffed. “Nathan was right. They deserve better.”
“Nowthatis a load of bullshit.” Erin held up both of her hands. “Sorry, but I don’t see what you ever saw in that slimy turd.”
Samantha shrugged. It was the question she’d been asking herself over and over for years. “I was young. Didn’t know what I really wanted, and he had a plan for me so I didn’t have to come up with one myself.”
Erin’s lips eased into a sad but sympathetic smile. “I get that.” She tilted her head, like Dexter when he was trying to figure her out. “And now?”
Samantha was pretty certain she knew the real question behind that, but she wasn’t as certain she was ready to give the real answer. Or at least the full one.
Yes, she was also attracted to women.
Yes, she was definitely attracted to the woman sitting in front of her right now.
“Now I’m not so young,” Samantha said instead. “And now I know what I want.”
Erin’s smile stretched wider, her bottom lip jutting out just a little more.
Stop looking at her lips, Samantha kept reminding herself.
