The Reluctant Bachelorette (18 page)

As twilight descended, they packed up and climbed back down
the rickety latter. During the drive back, “Coming to America” by Neil Diamond
came on the radio. Greg’s flew to the volume knob, turning it up. He joined in,
belting out the lyrics.

Taycee laughed. Wrinkled shirts, yard sales, games, and now
Neil Diamond. Greg was a riot.

When the song came to an end, he turned down the volume. “I
love Neil Diamond.”

“So I noticed.”

“He sings Christmas songs too, you know.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Don’t you find it strange that a Jewish guy sings Christmas
songs?”

Taycee bit her lip to keep from smiling. “Very.” Not that
she’d ever given it any thought before.

Red and blue flashing lights lit up the dark sky behind them,
accompanied by a shrieking siren. Taycee looked over her shoulder and rolled
her eyes. The siren? Really Ralph?

“What did I do wrong?” Greg squinted at the speedometer as he
slowed to a stop. “I wasn’t speeding.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just Ralph,” said Taycee. “I’ve known him
forever.” Megan jumped from the back of the car to get a better camera angle as
several people exited the diner down the street. A live audience. Awesome.

Moments later, Ralph peered through the window, shining a
flashlight in the car. “Your license and registration, please.”

“Ralph,” Taycee said, leaning closer. “What’s the problem?”

A bright light zoomed in on her face, blinding her. “Taycee,
that you in there?”

Her hand went up, shielding her eyes. “Yeah, it’s me. Mind
turning that thing off?”

The light faded as Ralph holstered it at his side.

“Greg wasn’t speeding, was he?” Taycee said.

“A little. But I was more concerned with the swerving.” He
nodded at Greg. “I’m going to need your license and registration. Then I’d
appreciate it if you would both get out of the vehicle.”

“You’ve got to be joking,” said Greg. “I wasn’t swerving or
speeding.”

“Sir, I need you to get out of the vehicle.”

Taycee leaned even closer, her eyebrow raised. “C’mon, Ralph.
You know me. I never drink and Greg hasn’t been drinking either.”

“I would never drink and drive,” spluttered Greg, as if the
implication alone was horrifying. “I am a law-abiding citizen.”

“Great, then you won’t mind getting out.” Ralph opened the
driver’s door and waited.

Taycee’s hand rested on Greg’s arm, keeping him in the car.
This had gone far enough. Ralph was being ridiculous and she refused to play
along. “We’ve done nothing wrong, Ralph and you know it. Are you sure it isn’t
you who’s drunk?”

Probably not the smartest thing to say because Ralph’s expression
hardened. His gaze flickered to Megan’s camera and then back to Taycee.
Evidently he didn’t like being accused of drinking while on camera, especially
while on duty. Well too bad for him. Taycee didn’t like being accused either.

“Unless you’d like me to update your mug shots, Ms. Emerson,”
Ralph said, “I suggest you get out of the car now.”

Taycee’s mouth fell open. He did not just bring that up now.
It had been over seven years. Seven! She’d been a teenager, for crying out
loud. So much for thinking Ralph was a decent person. No Christmas poinsettia
for him this year.

“Mug shots?” Greg’s horrified eyes turned on Taycee. “What’s
he talking about?”

“Please. It happened a long time ago.” Taycee glared at Ralph.
“It’s not even on my record anymore.”

“Will you two please step out of the car?” Ralph asked again.

“Fine.” Taycee shoved open her door and got out, walking
around to confront Ralph head on. “Would you like me to walk the line or touch
my nose? Or are you planning to use the breathalyzer?”

Greg got out of the car and folded his arms, staring at Taycee
with accusing eyes. “How long ago, exactly, and why did they need mug shots?”

“Walking the line should be sufficient,” Ralph said politely.

Taycee started forward, and then stopped. “Wait a minute. Why
do I have to do it? I wasn’t driving.”

“And I’m not drunk!” Greg practically shouted. “Now will
someone please explain about the mug shots!”

“Oh for the love of Pete!” Taycee threw up her arms, shooting
Ralph another glare. “In high school, I participated in a silly prank, okay? We
spelled out the name of our school on a rival’s football field with Roundup and
got caught.”

“You vandalized a school?” Greg looked appalled. “What were
you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking, obviously,” said Taycee. “It’s called a
mistake, Greg. Surely you’ve made a mistake before.”

“Not bad enough to get a police record!”

“Taycee’s right,” Ralph interrupted. “She doesn’t need to walk
the line, but you do.”

“No way,” said Greg. “I’m not about to be humiliated for
something I haven’t done wrong.”

Ralph reached for his belt. “All right. I’ll have to cuff you
and take you in.”

Taycee let out a breath of frustration. “Greg, just walk the
dumb line so we can get out of here. And Ralph, I’m warning you . . .”

Greg glared at Taycee before he finally capitulated and walked
several steps in a straight line. Then he turned to Ralph and spat, “There.
Satisfied?”

“Looks like you two are good to go,” said Ralph, scribbling
who knows what on his notepad. “Sorry to have troubled you, but I have a
responsibility to keep our streets safe. Enjoy the rest of your night.” He
plodded back to his car.

Without a word, Greg climbed in his car and waited for Taycee
to do the same. They drove the last few blocks to her place in silence. When he
walked her to her door, Taycee let out a breath and laid a hand on his arm.
“Listen, Greg, I’m sorry about Ralph and that whole scene back there. But thank
you for today. Up until a few minutes ago, I had a great time.”

“No problem.” Greg barely even looked at her.

Taycee waited another few seconds. When he said nothing more,
she gave up and opened her door. Once inside her apartment, she resisted the
urge to slam the door shut and leaned against it instead. How had she let
things get so out of control? Why didn’t she just get out of the car when
asked? Walk the line? Make Greg walk the line? Instead, she had to try and
prove that she could talk the local sheriff out of giving them a ticket, like
some sort of cliché hick-town girl.

Taycee walked over to her couch and plopped down on it,
resting her forehead on her palms. What a night.

A light tap sounded her door.

Taycee groaned. What now? “It’s open,” she called.

The door swung open and Jessa’s voice intruded, “Hey Tace.
Ready for your postdate interview?”

L
uke squinted out the diner window
and
into the bright morning sunlight. According to Liza, Sterling should have been
here by now. His orange juice swirled in one hand while his fingers tapped the
table with the other. C’mon, Sterling. Show yourself.

Although Ralph had gone a little overboard and things had
gotten out of hand last night—at least according to Ralph—Luke was far from
feeling sorry. The whole Missy fiasco aside, he could still smell the stench of
manure every time he stepped out his front door. It now seemed to surround his
house, and he couldn’t open his window at night like he used to.

Yeah, Taycee definitely deserved it. And then some.

One more prank, and he’d call it even. Although Taycee tried
to hide it, Luke knew she struggled with Sterling. The opening social and video
recaps of their dates made it obvious. The spitting issue. The forced
conversation. The fact they seemed to have very little in common. It all
combined to make Sterling the perfect choice.

Now all Luke needed was a few minutes alone with him.

“Hey, Luke.” Liza stood next to his elbow, water pitcher in
hand. “Need a refill?”

He eyed his nearly full glass, but nodded anyway. “Sure.
Thanks.”

“No problem.” Her hand rested on his shoulder as she slowly
poured the orange juice. “So, how ya been?”

“Good. And you?”

“Fine, thanks.” She sank onto the bench across from him and
leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. “My feet are killing me. You
don’t mind if I rest them for a sec, do you?”

“Sure, go ahead.“ Luke peered out the window once more, but
still no sign of Sterling.

“How’s business?”

“It’s going okay. Not as busy as I’d like, but things will
pick up when I start advertising in neighboring towns.” Something he should be
working on right now, in fact—if it wasn’t for Taycee and his inability to quit
thinking and plotting about her.

“I just love animals.” Liza smiled. “In fact, I’d love to come
and watch you work sometime.”

For whatever reason, a mental picture of Missy hovering at his
side came to mind—an experience he didn’t want to repeat anytime soon. “You’re
a pet owner?” Luke asked. She didn’t strike him as the type.

Liza shook her head. “Not right now, but I had a cat growing
up.”

“I’ve always been a dog person myself.”

“You have a dog?”

“When I was younger,” Luke said. “Maybe once I’m settled I’ll
consider getting another.”

“You’re not settled yet?” Liza perked up. “Need any help?”

Luke swirled his juice once again, darting another glance out
the window. “No, but thanks for the offer. The house doesn’t need much work,
and what it does need I can get done in my spare time.”

“I’m happy to make you curtains if you need them. Or anything
like that. I’m actually pretty good at sewing.”

Luke’s gaze rested on Liza’s bright pink fingernail polish,
making him think of pink frilly curtains. “Uh, thanks, but I’m more of a wooden
blinds kind of a guy. If I think of anything I need though, I’ll let you know.”

“All right.” Liza’s fingers fiddled under her chin. After a
moment of silence, she blurted, “Would you like to go out some time? With me?”

Luke blinked. Go out with Liza? The thought had never occurred
to him, not that he’d had much time to think about dating in general—beyond the
bachelorette show and Taycee, that is. But now with Liza sitting across from
him and asking him out, Luke still wasn’t interested. Not in Liza. Not in
Missy. Only in Taycee—the girl who’d arranged for fifteen yards of manure to be
dumped in his driveway and had asked Missy Green to make a move on him.

Go figure.

Luke glanced up and caught Liza watching him expectantly.
Waiting. Oh right. She wanted to go out. “Um, yeah that would be fun. But I’ve
actually got a lot going on right now. Can I take a rain check?”

Liza nodded and stood just as the diner door opened and Sterling
walked in. “Sure, just let me know when.”

“Will do.”

Liza headed over to Sterling and took his order. When Sterling
eyed the room for a place to sit, Luke gestured to the seat across from him.
“Want to join me?”

“Uh, okay.” Sterling sat down with a wary expression on his
face. “Did you need something?” Spittle landed on the table between them.

“Nope.” Luke pushed his juice aside, out of range. “It’s just
that I know you have a date coming up with Taycee in a few days, so I thought
I’d offer you the use of my horses if you want them.”

“Why?”

Luke shrugged as he reached for his wallet, tossing some bills
onto the counter. “She loves to ride. I was planning to take her myself, but
now that I’m off the show, I figured why not let someone else do it? But if you
already have other plans, I can always see if Jake wants to use them.”

It was almost comical the way Sterling’s expression changed
from wary to eager the moment Luke mentioned Jake. He leaned across the table.
“No, no. I mean, I’d love to take her riding. I just don’t have a lot of
experience with horses. Will that be a problem?”

Luke waved the concern aside. “Not at all. They used to be
trail horses and are trained for inexperienced riders. There’s even a nice
trail through the woods behind my house. All you have to do is point them in
that direction, and they’ll take you straight to a beautiful meadow.”

“Really?”

“Really, really.”

Sterling smiled and nodded. “Okay. Yeah, that sounds nice. Let
me think about it, and I’ll let you know.”

“Sure.” Luke stood and dropped a business card on the table.
“That’s my number. Give me a call if you’re interested. I can have them saddled
and ready to go whenever.”

Sterling picked up the card. “Thanks, Luke. That’s really nice
of you.”

“No problem.” Luke patted Sterling’s shoulder as he left the
diner with a smile. Despite the spitting issue, Sterling seemed like a decent
guy—someone who was about to get a lucky break in the form of some extra time
with Taycee Lynne.

And he’d have Luke to thank for it.