Page 31 of Dr. Sexypants

Instead, I sat back and watched how the group interacted. Adam and Brian talked about some of the things they’d been dealing with at the police station, and Brian expressed how excited he was to get his truck back tomorrow once Adam’s brother got into town with it.

Prompting Jade to pat his arm and say, “Don’t get crazy. You still need to take it easy.”

He rolled his eyes and replied, “I’m sure I can handle the short drive from your house to the station.”

“I don’t disagree. Except you and I both know that would turn into driving your truck—since Angus still won’t give you the keys to a patrol car—to check out a noise complaint or a barking dog that no one else has time for.”

Adam supplied with a grin. “Or Mrs. Stillson complaining about Mr. Lockhart’s porch light being too bright…”

“Jesus, is she back to doing that?”

“Yep.”

Brian turned to Jade with a cocky grin. “But I wouldn’t know about that, since I’m being a good boy and staying put at my desk like I’ve been instructed by my boss.”

Lainey interrupted with, “Oh! Oh!” as she danced in her seat while she looked at her phone.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Jessica, the girl I offered the job to, can start in the morning!”

“That is good news.” Cuz I sure as heck wasn’t getting up early again tomorrow.

Jade commented, “I really liked her.”

Lainey nodded. “Me, too. I’m excited for her to start.”

Brian asked, “Is she from around here?” at the same time Katelyn inquired, “How old is she?”

“She’s twenty-two, and I think lives in Haven Springs, but she might have gone to that small, evangelical Christian school they started a while back.”

“What’s her last name?”

“Bradbury.”

Rob looked over at Justin. “Didn’t we go to school with an Andruw and Dale Bradbury?”

“Yeah, I think we were right in between them, grade-wise. Andy was a year older and Dale was two years younger.”

“I went to school with a Mary Bradury, and she had an older brother, Aaron,” Brian offered. “I wonder if they’re any relation.”

Lainey asked, “Were they super religious?”

“Maybe their parents were,” Justin said, “but I know I saw Andy drinking at parties, so I don’t think the kids were—or at least he wasn’t.”

Brian added, “The same with Mary and Aaron.”

Jade responded, “Well, if Jessica went to a small, private Christian school instead of public school, and she’s the baby of the family, she might have been more sheltered. She had to ask her parents if she could take the job, even when she’s bringing her newborn daughter with her.”

Lainey quickly defended her. “It’s because she doesn’t have a car.” Jade looked at her sister with pursed lips until Lainey conceded, “But there might have been more to it than just transportation.”

Justin offered, “If she still lives at home, and her parents are helping her out, maybe she was just being respectful.”

Jade cocked her head. “I hadn’t considered that.”

He shrugged. “Just a thought.”

“So, Justin….” Lainey looked at him with glassy eyes and a big grin, so I braced myself for whatever was about to come out of her drunk mouth. “Why doesn’t the hometown hero have a girlfriend?”