The punk glared at us, but thought better of engaging. He backed away and disappeared into the crowd.
"How the hell are you?" I said to Shane.
It had been a long time since I'd seen him. Probably a decade. He was still built like a Mack truck and stood about 6’2”. His short dark hair was faded on the sides, and he’d grown a full bushy beard that looked like a cattle guard on a freight train. With narrow brooding eyes and bulging biceps, he was not a guy you wanted to get into a bar fight with.
By breaking it up, I had probably saved the other guy from a trip to the hospital. An old Navy buddy, Shane Dalton could be lethal.
"A cop, huh?" Shane said, amused.
I shrugged.
"Figures.”
"What about you? What are you up to these days?"
"A little of this, a little of that," he said with a mischievous grin.
"I didn't know you were in town.”
"Well, I thought I'd come back and spend a little time with my family. Have you met my sister, Riley?" he asked, motioning to the beautiful redhead with emerald eyes who splattered my drinks.
"We just bumped into each other," I said.
"I’d apologize, but it's not my fault," she said, extending her hand.
I took it. It was nice and soft. I didn't mind holding it.
"That's okay,” I replied. “I have no doubt Shane instigated the confrontation. Therefore, he can buy me and my friends another round.”
Shane grinned. "What are you drinking?”
I told him, and he ambled to the bar to make things right.
Riley and I stared at each other for an awkward moment. She was easy on the eyes.
"How do you two know each other?” she asked.
I told her.
"Ah, another adrenaline junkie.”
I laughed. "You could say.”
She just shook her head. "I hope you have more self-control than he does.”
"I like to think I'm able to moderate my addiction."
She laughed. "Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery.”
"I don't think there is a recovery.”
"Is that why you're a cop?”
I gave it some consideration. "I wanted to make a difference. The adrenaline rush is just a perk.”
"Andareyou making a difference?”
"I like to think so. Don't get me wrong, it's not all sunshine and roses. There are boring stakeouts, paperwork, and the ones that get away.”
