“No way, keep this investigation on the up and up, clean and legal,” the captain said, then paused. “Get close to this Taylor character, get inside his head, use whatever means necessary and do it quickly, I want to know who he really is and what he’s doing in this town. The festival should be a perfect way for you to get closer, find him and stick to him, you’re an attractive woman, use that if you have to, and don’t say a word to me about ethics. I’m losing my patience.”
The window went dark a second later, and she realized it was possible to be hung up on many different ways with today’s technology, then slowly closed her computer, shakingher head. There was zero chance she was going to embarrass herself by coming onto Taylor; that was a dangerous game she didn’t want to play. Her attraction to him was barely under control; it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge. She’d have to find another way to get the answers they needed, and as much as she hated to admit it, Captain Strattler was right, she wasn’t going to find them in her apartment.
Grabbing her phone, she punched in Valerie’s number, already dreading what she was about to do. “Hey, it’s Emily,” she said when her new friend picked up. “If that invitation to join you at the parade tomorrow is still open, I’d love to come.”
“Oh, Emily, that would be great. We’re going to have so much fun,” Valerie said. “Kim and Peggy are coming too. I can’t wait for you to meet them. You’re all going to get along great.”
She wasn’t sure she had the energy for new friends, but she kept it to herself. “I can’t wait to meet them,” she said, faking some excitement. Where should we meet?”
“My apartment at eight a.m.
We have to get there early to get good seats,” Valerie said. “We’ll take coffee and doughnuts to have for breakfast while we wait.”
CHAPTER 8
***TAYLOR***
Aloud knock on his door woke Taylor on Saturday morning. “Rise and shine, it’s almost parade time,” Ryan called. I brought coffee and a breakfast burrito. I’m coming in. Don’t hurt me.”
He groaned and pulled the pillow over his head. “I just got to sleep, you idiot. Leave me alone,” he mumbled. I’m not going to that stupid parade; I’m going to stay here and sleep.”
“Sorry, buddy, you have to go, it’s in the rules, and you knew that when you joined the fraternity. Besides, it's for a good cause, you don’t want to let those kids at the orphanage down,” Ryan said, setting the steaming mug down on the nightstand. “Come on, drink some of that, you’ll feel better.”
“Founders day, what a joke, it’s just a way for the businesses around here to make money, the charity thing is just a cover,” he grumbled, sitting up. “We’re the ones doing all the work, building floats, setting up booths, cleaning up all the mess, I’m glad this is the last year I have to do this.”
“Oh, come on, it’s a lot of fun too,” Ryan said, handing him the mug. “It’s a hoot dressing up and being in the parade,we made a lot of money with our booth last year, and the dance is really fun. Try to look on the bright side.”
“If you’d only gotten a few hours of sleep last night,” he growled. “You’d see that there’s no bright side.”
“Hey, don’t take it out on me, I’m just the messenger,” he said. “It’s not my fault you took that job at the hotel working overnights. You could always come back and work with me delivering pizza again if you hate it so much.”
Hating that he’d lied to his friends about his job, he took another gulp of the scalding coffee. “What’s in that burrito?” he asked, hoping to change the subject before he had to lie again. “I’m starving.”
Ryan laughed. “I knew that you’d come around,” he said, handing over the foil-wrapped package. “Eat up, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”
By the time the parade had wound its way halfway through the route they were supposed to follow, Taylor was having fun even if he did feel like an idiot in the Hawaiian shirt, lei, and grass skirt he’d been forced to wear. The sidewalks were lined with people cheering and waving their arms, hoping to catch one of the cheap leis they were tossing into the crowd as they slowly crept down the street, and it was fun watching people’s faces when they caught one.
As they approached an especially large group of people, he reached into the bag at his feet to be prepared, but to his disappointment, it was empty. He turned to find Hattie and a new bag, but Malcolm was already there, holding one out to him with a big smile. Without a word, he took the bag and turned back to the crowd, and Malcolm did the same, but facing the other side of the street. He was only halfway through the bag when the float came to a stop, and he had a chance to catch his breath.
“Phew, I don’t know about you, but I could use a break,” Malcolm said, rubbing his arm. “Hopefully we’re stoppedwhile one of the bands plays for the judges. That should give us a few minutes.”
Taylor grabbed his water bottle, took a big swig, and wiped the sweat from his brow. “This is fun, but it’s a lot of work,” he said. “How much further do we have to go?”
“A couple more miles, I think,” Malcolm said. “Just think, this is the last time we’ll have to do this. That’s a little sad.”
He wasn’t sure that he agreed, but before he could say anything, he caught a scent on the breeze that he knew belonged to only one person. Scanning the crowd, he finally spotted Emily ahead of them, standing with three other women, and a wave of warmth washed over him. Caught completely unprepared, desire quickly spread through him making his entire body tingle, and he sucked in a shocked breath.
“Hey, you look like you just saw a ghost,” Malcolm said. You’re white as a sheet. Maybe you should drink some more water.”
He did as he was told when a bottle was shoved into his hand, but the water didn’t help, his body was awake, tingling and tightening as he watched Emily laughing with her friends. Cursing under his breath, he tore his eyes away, wishing he could find someplace to hide, suddenly feeling very exposed in his silly outfit.
“Emily is here,” he said, thinking about jumping off the float and losing himself in the crowd. “I look like an idiot; she can’t see me like this.”
“Hold on, you mean the Emily from class, the one you’ve been complaining about for two weeks?” Malcolm said, scanning the crowd. “Where is she?”
“Down the block in front of us,” he said, ducking behind Malcolm when she looked their way. “She’s got black hair and she’s wearing a red tank top with some jeans.”
Malcolm searched the crowd again, “You mean the onewith the three blondes?” he asked, then let out a low whistle. “Dude, she’s hot, you didn’t share that little fact when you were bitching and moaning about her.”
