by Quinn, Lucy
“What?” he asked, his lips curved in amusement.
Dora took a moment to take in his sapphire blue eyes, sandy blond hair that was just a little too long and hanging in his eyes, and his long and lean frame with broad shoulders. She was willing to bet he was all muscle under the T-shirt he wore. Hadn’t Lindy from work once told her she saw him at the gym working out every Tuesday and Thursday?
“Dora?” Luke prompted, pulling her out of her infatuation haze.
“Sorry.” She shook her head as if clearing cobwebs. “We’re here to find something for a bachelorette party. Our friend is getting married for the third time, and we figured we’d better up our game if we’re going to top the last party we threw for her.” Dora knew she was rambling. Luke Landucci, head chef of Sandbar, Pensacola’s hottest new seafood restaurant, just did something to her. Every time she’d ever spoken to him, her insides melted and her lady parts tingled. This night was no different.
Luke’s lips spread into a grin. “Imagine that. I’m here to pick up something for a bachelor party. What do you think? Edibles? Everything else seems… way too personal.”
“Those boobie pops might work,” Dora said, staring at the penis pops, edible undies, and flavored lubes while trying to fight the blush that was already heating her cheeks.
He chuckled. “Yeah. It’s an obvious choice, but it might work.”
“Dora! Did you see this?” Evie said, appearing from another aisle holding a large sparkling purple penis. “Look. It’s the new version of the pink Rabbit you got last year. Remember?” Sunshine let out a little bark of agreement. Evie smiled and continued, “I talked you into buying it after—”
“We were invited to a different bachelorette party,” Dora quickly finished for her. Evie had actually talked Dora into buying that Rabbit after a particularly long dry spell, followed by a horrible blind date where the guy had called his mother no less than seven times during dinner to get advice on everything from what kind of wine to order to how long he should wait to ask Dora out again. Needless to say, Dora told him they weren’t a match and promptly took Evie’s advice on the battery-operated purchase.
“Riiiight,” Evie said, nodding. “Bachelorette party. The bride kept goosing everyone with it. I remember because Trace had been out of town and it was the most action I’d had in weeks.” She winked at Luke and then glanced back and forth between the two of them. “Hey, Dora? Why haven’t you and Luke ever gotten together? I bet he’s a lot more fun than any Rabbit.”
“Evie!” Dora hissed, ready for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. Her face burned, and she was certain she’d turned beet-red.
“That’s a really good question,” Luke said, his eyes sparkling with interest. “What do you say, Dora? Shall we move past appetizers?” He was referring to the way she’d sit at the bar in his restaurant before the dinner rush and he’d bring her samples of new recipes to try. She’d thought they’d been flirting, but she wasn’t sure if it was only her.
He asked, “Are you busy tomorrow night?”
“I—um,” Dora stammered, completely taken off guard. What if he was just teasing because of what Evie had said?
“We could go to Crabs and take a walk on the beach afterward.”
Seriously? Why was Luke finally asking her out now when she couldn’t go? Of course, she couldn’t explain why, so she said, “I’m sorry. Evie and I have a thing.” Regret pulsed through her veins. If she wasn’t desperate to clear her name, she’d have jumped at the chance. Heck, she’d probably have jumped right into his arms considering her level of chill was nonexistent. “Raincheck?”
He blinked, and the mischief vanished from his gorgeous gaze. Was that disappointment that just flashed in his eyes? He blinked again and gave her an easy smile. “Sure. Next time. I’ll call you.”
“Okay,” Dora said, her heart sinking as she watched him walk over to the counter and purchase a handful of boobie pops. As he left the store with his shopping bag in hand, Dora let out a sigh.
“I can’t believe you turned him down,” Evie said incredulously. “Are you crazy? We don’t have a thing tomorrow. Why didn’t you take him up on dinner?”
“I can’t,” Dora said in a hushed whisper. “I’m supposed to be laying low, remember? Weren’t you just the one who said I might have someone following me? Bringing Luke into this mess is just wrong. Once we clear my name, then we’ll see.”
“We’ll see,” Evie mimicked and frowned at her friend. “You’ve got a good reason for turning him down this time, but you and I both know that you’ll never go out with him unless he tracks you down and asks you again. I saw the way he looked when you shot him down. Want to bet how likely it is he’ll try again?”
“He said he’d call me,” Dora said, staring at the sparkly purple rabbit, but even she knew he wouldn’t.
“Uh-huh. Sure, Dora. Once a man tastes a tiny bit of rejection, they retreat. You’re going to have to make the first move if you want a little cookin’ in your kitchen.”
Dora swallowed. “I know you’re probably right, but I can’t do that. If he really wants a date with me, he’ll ask again.” She said the words, but she didn’t believe them. It wasn’t as if Dora was asked out every day. She wasn’t Evie for goodness sake.
“And you say I’m the one who’s scared?” Evie tsked, balling her hands into fists and holding them at her waist. “At least I’m not too scared to have a relationship. You know, one of these days you’re going to have to finally get over your college boyfriend. That ass. He never deserved you.”
“Stop. I know this is coming from a place of love, but you do know that I’m perfectly fine on my own, right?” Dora asked.
“Sure. As long as you have Mr. Sparkly here,” Evie said, waving the purple dildo.
Dora held her hands up, frustrated because she would have said yes to Luke, and now her chance with him was gone. “Stop! I can’t deal with this right now. Can we please remember why we came here?”
Evie glanced around and then shrugged. “Sure. We were getting to that.” She cut her gaze to the clerk and chuckled. “Lucky for us the cutie behind the counter is totally into me after our vibrator conversation,” she said under her breath. “Let me go find out what he thinks of Mr. Sparkly here. I’ll get him over to the display of these bad boys. You check and see if Billy’s hiding out.”
“I’m on it,” Dora said as Sunshine lifted her head, watching as Evie sauntered over to the counter. True to her word, within moments she’d lured the cashier over to the massive display of fake penises and batted her eyelashes at him while she asked about size, speed, and customer satisfaction.
Dora chuckled to herself and tried to appear invisible as she snuck into the back room. It was just a cluttered office with an attached bathroom that smelled so bad it made her eyes water.
“Oh no, Sunshine,” she said to the little dog. “I’m afraid of what we might find in there.”
Sunshine let out a small whimper and tucked her nose into Dora’s chest.
“You said it, sister,” Dora said. She took a few steps back from the bathroom, sucked in a deep breath, and then strode forward, pushing the door all the way open.
The bathroom was empty. The only thing that remained was a broken toilet that appeared to be clogged with human waste. “Oh, gah! Gross.”
Sunshine whined.
“I know. We’re going,” Dora whispered to the dog. After checking a small storage closet that was filled to the gills, Dora slipped back out into the store, careful to step silently until she made it to the corner next to the register as if she’d always been there.
“You know,” she heard Evie say. “I think I’m going to sleep on it for a night or two. Then I’ll be back.”
“It’s going to be the Mr. Sparkly,” the clerk said with a fair amount of confidence. “It always is.”
Evie giggled and flipped her hair. “Do you have personal experience with this bad boy?”
The clerk’s pale face turned br
ight red and he started to stammer.
Dora felt a pang of sympathy for the young man, having been in a similar sticky situation moments ago. “Evie, we better get going. We’re going to be late.”
“Right.” She gave the clerk one last flirty smile, and then met Dora near the front door and leaned in, whispering, “No luck?”
Dora shook her head. “No luck.”
Chapter 12
The cool sea breeze chilled Dora’s skin once they made it back outside. And she was the one wearing a sweatshirt. Poor Evie wrapped her arms around herself and started to powerwalk toward her little bug. She was moving so fast, Dora, who was the taller of the two, was having trouble keeping up.
“Jeez, slow down, would ya?” Dora said, trotting to catch up with her and doing her best to not jostle Sunshine. “I’m carrying precious cargo.”
Evie glanced over at her pup and her eyes softened. “She’s such a good girl. Can you believe how sweet she is when we’re out?”
“She a natural at the car rides, that’s for sure,” Dora said, walking around to the passenger side of the car. “But I think her adventure is over for the night. None of the other businesses are open right now.”
“All right. Let’s get home and—”
“Hold it right there,” an angry voice called from the shadows.
Dora froze, squinting into the darkness, trying to make out who was there while Sunshine’s entire body vibrated as she let out a low growl.
“Get in the car, Dora,” Evie demanded, already reaching for her door handle.
A gunshot fired, and Dora’s heart nearly stopped as she heard the bullet whiz by, thankfully missing both of them. “Let’s get out of here!” she yelled as she tried to pull her door open.
“I said to stop right there.” Footsteps echoed on the pavement as the man approached them.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Evie said, holding her arms up in the air. “But we don’t have any money. We’re broke. There’s nothing to take.” She glanced at her little car and winced.
“The only thing I want is the flash drive,” Brian said, finally stepping into the light shining down from the lamppost.
“What?” Dora asked, eyes widening as she held up her hands, trying to make it seem as if she was shocked, which wasn’t hard because she never expected him to hold her at gunpoint. “Brian? Why do you have a gun on us? I—I told you, the guys who robbed Billy got it.”
Brian narrowed his eyes at her and sneered. “Cut the act, Dora. I know you’re not stupid. Don’t insult me by assuming I am.”
“I—I’m not—”
“Yes, you are. Now just tell me where the damn flash drive is.”
Slowly, Dora shook her head and tried to scan the area. Was Brian alone? Where was his patrol car? And why had he fired at them? To scare them? She prayed that was all he’d intended. Though she knew that firing his gun without cause was a gross violation of the police force, and if anyone cared, he’d be in big trouble.
“I don’t understand, Brian.” Dora asked. “Do you think I’m in on the scheme?”
“I have my suspicions, Dora.” Brian jerked his head back toward the shadowed area of the parking lot. “The patrol car is just over there. Let’s say we go down to the station and get this sorted out.”
Fear turned Dora’s insides cold. If they got into Brian’s car, would he really take them to the station? Or would she and Evie end up in some warehouse, tied up on a stone floor until they told him where to find the flash drive? Because she was pretty sure he was the dirty cop.
“Can’t you just take her statement?” Evie asked, her voice strangely calm.
“We’ll all be more comfortable and”—he scanned his gaze over her barely dressed body—“and a little warmer I suspect. That’s a little scandalous even for you, isn’t it, Evie?”
“It’s my new look,” she said defiantly. If there was one thing Evie hated, it was when men tried to tell her how to dress or shamed her for her short skirts. “Got a problem with that, Officer Brian?”
“Nope. But I bet Trace won’t appreciate his girl walking around like a two-bit hooker,” he said with a chuckle.
“Why you—” Evie lunged for him, her arms outstretched as if she was going to tackle him or scratch his eyes out.
“Evie! No!” Dora called, her heart in her throat as she watched her bestie try to assault an officer of the law.
“Arf!” Sunshine jumped out of Dora’s hands and ran toward Evie, but just before she reached her mistress’s side, she turned and also lunged for Brian, her teeth bared. Unlike Evie, Sunshine actually made contact, and Brian let out a yelp and kicked out, catching the dog’s back end with his boot. Sunshine went flying about ten feet.
Evie spun just before she got to Brian and changed course, reaching down to pick up her small dog, who was now panting and glaring at Brian.
“That’s it,” Brian said, recklessly waving his firearm in Evie and then Dora’s direction. “Both of you, in the car. Right now, or I’m calling back up. If that happens, then your chance to tell your story will be delayed, and you both will be processed through the system.” He glared at Sunshine. “And that one will end up at animal control. If you’re lucky, they won’t adopt her out before you’re released.”
“Why, you no good, dirty, piece of monkey spit!” Evie said, clutching Sunshine. “What is wrong with you, you sick bastard?”
He sneered at her and then held out his leg. “Looks like your little beast drew blood. I believe they kill dogs who bite around these parts.”
Dora stared down at his pasty white ankle and rolled her eyes when she saw the tiniest trickle of blood. “You probably scraped your leg on Sunshine’s collar when you kicked her.”
“Shut up and get in the car.” He circled around, still holding his gun, so that Dora and Evie had no choice but to walk toward the cruiser that was still sitting in the shadows.
Chapter 13
The back of Brian’s patrol car had an odor of urine so strong even Sunshine crinkled her nose. Dora gave the pup a sympathetic look.
“Jeez, Brian,” Evie said. “Get an air freshener already. Maybe one of those candle ones, like ocean calm. Or if fruity is your thing, they have a Tahiti sunset that has the relaxing aroma of coconut. Might chill out the perps, you know what I’m saying? There’s always new car smell, too.” She chuckled as Brian pulled out onto the highway.
Dora’s stomach sank when she realized they were headed in the opposite direction of the police station.
Evie continued her riff, “But that’s such a crock, right? Who even knows what that smells like? Because no fool buys a brand-new car these days. Although…” Evie took a moment to glance around at the torn leather of the back seat and frowned as her gaze fixated on a dark stain on the carpet that Dora really hoped wasn’t blood. “Have you seen the state of this back seat lately? It might be time for you to trade this puppy, no offense Sunshine, in. Or at least get it de—”
“Shut! Up!” Brian finally yelled.
Dora and Evie exchanged wide-eyed glances, and Dora knew her friend was rambling this time because she was nervous. She reached over and grabbed Evie’s hand to squeeze it tight, and Sunshine let out a small whine as she laid her head on her paws in Evie’s lap.
Dora asked, “Where are you taking us?”
“Hmpf,” Brian’s eyes appeared darker than Dora remembered as he glared at her in the rearview mirror. “You see far too much for your own good.”
Dora was afraid that wasn’t entirely true, because if she’d had sharper eyes, she would have noticed the money laundering scheme of Marco’s a lot sooner and figured out Brian was a crook instead of the nice guy next door.
Evie let out a huff of exasperation. “You really have to stop underestimating people.” She winked at Dora. “Even I know you’re not taking us the right way for the police station.”
Dora never liked the way Evie downplayed her intelligence, especially when she was feeling depressed about her late
st loss of employment, but she had to admit Evie did know how to use the fact that most people thought she was a ditzy blonde to her advantage. And it might come in handy. She nudged Evie with her elbow and mouthed, Way to go.
She eyed Sunshine, who was fast becoming a solid member of their team. Dora still wasn’t sure how the tiny dog knew how to sort mail, but she was positive everyone would underestimate the little ball of fur too.
Her mind raced as she tried to figure out the best way to get them free. While she didn’t think Brian would kill them, she also hadn’t believed he’d hold her at gunpoint either. No, it was best if she prepared for the worst. Glancing down at her shoes, she recalled how earlier she’d joked she could use one of the stilettos she was wearing as a weapon, and at the moment, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
She reached down, pulled a shoe from her foot, and gripped it tightly in her hand as Brian slowed the car. Evie was wearing heels too, although they were platforms, but she took Dora’s lead and removed a shoe as well.
Brian pulled into the strip mall where Evie used to work and drove around back to the service entrances. He parked the car close to a door that read, Price Dry Cleaners, where Evie had worked until two days earlier.
Evie’s jaw dropped. “Fred is on the take?”
Brian turned to look over his seat at Dora and chuckled. He tapped his temple as if they were still buddies. “Rocket scientist, that one.”
Sunshine growled at Brian as Dora gripped her shoe tighter, and she felt her anger flood her veins along with the adrenaline she was going to need to help her overpower the jerk who had just insulted her best friend.
Brian was still laughing to himself as he got out of the car and greeted a man who’d emerged from the dry cleaners. The guy was wearing a T-shirt that was so tight it was on the verge of ripping if he flexed, and the solid mass of muscle it revealed, as well as the gun strapped to his side, made things very clear. Two high heels were not going to be effective weapons.
“Damn it,” Dora muttered. “Put your shoe back on.”