“I like how you think, Mr. Policeman.”
“Angelo wants to know if you’ve closed out the register yet,” Brandy said, coming up next to me. Her gaze darted between Dylan and me.
“Brandy, this is Dylan Conrad, our new police chief. Dylan, Brandy Morrison, waitress extraordinaire.” Brandy was a tiny thing, maybe five foot, long brown hair she always wore in a single braid down her back, and soulful brown eyes. She was as shy as a mouse except when waiting tables, then look out. She was born to be a waitress, and if you asked her, she’d tell you that was all she ever wanted to do.
“A pleasure, Brandy,” Dylan said, holding out his hand.
Her cheeks turned pink as she shook his hand. “Me, too,” she mumbled.
Dylan and I exchanged an amused glance. Brandy was a sweetheart, and I loved her. Taking pity on her, I said, “Go tell Angelo I’ll be closed out in five.”
She took off like her little butt was on fire.
Dylan watched her go. “What just happened?”
“Put a hot guy in front of her and she gets tongue-tied unless she’s taking your food order.”
His eyes shifted to mine. “You think I’m hot?”
I snorted. “Hotter than a firecracker lit at both ends.” I walked away to his laughter.
“Red?”
“Yeah?” I kept going but glanced at him over my shoulder.
“Bet I can make you go boom.” He winked, then walked out.
There wasn’t any doubt in my mind, and Saturday night I was going to test that claim firsthand.
20
~ Dylan ~
Hoo. Hoo. Hoo.
Unable to sleep, I listened to my owl. I’d gone to Vincennes to see if I could get Jenny to come home with me tonight. There’d been no visits from my ghost while Jenny slept in my arms, and I selfishly wanted her with me every night.
Instead I’d left without asking her. Christine was my problem to deal with. When Jenny was in this bed with me, it would be because it was what we both wanted, not for her to stand sentry while I slept.
Hoo. Hoo. Hoo.
Was he out hunting? I hoped he had success finding a mouse. As I drifted off, I imagined I was flying through the night with him. When I was a kid, I used to have flying dreams but hadn’t had one as an adult. They were fun, and I wished I still had them. After having one, I’d wake up exhilarated, as if I were on top of the world. I hadn’t felt like that in a long time. A few times with Jenny I’d come close to believing I could be happy again.
The owl swiveled his head, studying me with big round eyes. “Hoo,” he said.
I looked down at the ground, far below. Even asleep, I knew I was dreaming, but I held on to the illusion. “I just want to fly with you for a few minutes.”
The owl blinked, and I took that as acceptance. We flew over the tops of trees, down into the valley, and then traveled up the side of the mountain looking for mice.
“There,” I said, pointing to the ground in a clearing where a mouse scurried across the grass. The owl swooped down as I hovered above, excited about his catch.
“You can’t fly, Dylan. Silly man.”
“Yet I am. Go away, Christine.”
She yanked on my arm, bringing me back to the bed.“I can’t go away. We have unfinished business.”
Maybe we did.“I’m sorry for not being there for you when you needed me. I live with that regret every day.”
