by B. L Wilson
“Elizabeth Gilmore, you should have told me!” Susan hissed as she watched her father disappear behind the massive dark oak doors of the courtroom.
“I’m sorry for keeping it a secret, Love. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I felt you had enough to deal with testifying on Johnny’s behalf yourself.” Liz glanced at Susan. She noticed the folded arms and the stubbornness in her jaw line. “I wasn’t trying to keep secrets, Love, honest.”
Susan didn’t budge from her position.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Liz’s finger worried the bridge of her nose.
Susan silently stared at Liz for a few seconds longer until she became uncomfortable and stood up. “Just how sorry are you?” she asked, looking Liz up and down with a merry twinkle in her eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Liz asked nervously, glancing at Susan.
“I think when police officers screw up, we should hold them to stricter standards than the rest of us.”
“Meaning? Explain, please?” Liz asked, noting Susan’s stubborn stance and the twinkle in her eyes.
A thoughtful look flitted across Susan’s face, but she still didn’t relax her stance. “I bet I could devise some special means of punishment for the officer in question.”
“Such as?” Liz asked, playing along and pretending to be nervous.
Susan tapped her lower lip as she studied the tall sergeant standing anxiously in front of her. “I’d need some time to come up with something good. Meanwhile, I have a few ideas.”
“Oh?” Liz replied, trying to show no fear.
Susan nodded. “Yes, but we’d have to discuss my options thoroughly over a little wine and a candlelit dinner. I might have to demonstrate a few of the finer points of my plan. You know, just to make sure you understood them.”
Liz finally let Susan know she’d caught on to the game and tried to hide a smile. “I love the way your mind works, Woman. When would this discussion take place?”
“The sooner, the better, don’t you think?” Susan continued to study Liz. She noted the slight smile and the gleam in Liz’s eyes before she added, “I mean, we can’t have undisciplined officers of your rank running wild in the streets, can we?”
Liz shook her head no and then solemnly agreed with Susan. “No, I don’t suppose we can. It could cause too much chaos in a small town like Woodsville. Would tonight be too soon to start this plan of yours?”
Susan shrugged. “I don’t know. What do you think?”
“Tonight sounds about right, but we might want to wait until this court stuff is over, then you can devote yourself totally to my redemption,” Liz said, grinning.
“Hmm, you might have something there, Sergeant. An undisciplined officer like you may need my undivided attention for months, perhaps years even,” Susan replied as she looked Liz up and down again.
Liz nodded with vigor. “You know, I was thinking the same thing.” She glanced into dancing hazel eyes and grinned broadly.
In an expensive restaurant somewhere in New York City, another Gilmore was having problems expressing his desire to his ladylove as they sat down to enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner. Jake cleared his throat and then ran a finger around his seemingly tight shirt collar.
“My father thinks that you’d make a fine daughter-in-law, Jen.”
“Oh?” Jen said, disappointed that Jake didn’t say she’d make him a fine wife.
Jake nodded and then added, “Yes and he’s crazy about Danny, too!”
“That’s nice Jake. I like your dad a lot.”
Large brown eyes stared at Jake and he felt lost for a moment. What was wrong with him? He and Jen had been going out for nearly a year. He ought to be better at this. Why in God’s name did he mention his father? Christ! He’d been rehearsing this proposal for the last month. Why couldn’t he just say it? He was in love with Jen. Every time he thought about marriage to her, he grinned and started acting stupid. The men in his squad said if he didn’t ask her tonight, they all were going to quit because he was acting like the village idiot of the precinct. He kept screwing up their paperwork. He forgot to sign leave requests. He missed the timeframes to submit requests for raises and promotions. The men and women he supervised were ready to riot if he didn’t get it together and just ask her. He scratched the back of his head and then stroked his goatee.
Jake stared at Jen nervously, unsure of what to say next. Christ, his mind just went blank. “Hmm, Jen, I was wondering. I mean that I… Would you, ah…?” he stuttered as he studied the woman he was in love with. She was the one he wanted to share the rest of his life with, but all he could come up with was the next stupid thing that popped into his head. “The guys at work said if I don’t do this tonight, they’ll all quit. I mean…” He sighed at his own stupidity. “Oh hell, just say it, Stupid.” His face flushed. “Not you, Jen. It is you. I love you and I want to marry you. Would you…I mean…?”
Jen smiled at him, then said... “Shut up, Jake, and just kiss me, please!”
Jake leaned in to the kiss as soft lips met his. The kiss deepened as their tongues played tag with each other. He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. “You still didn’t answer my question, Jen.”
“Jake, when Danny died, I thought I’d never want another man in my life. I didn’t think anyone could replace him here,” Jen pointed to her heart, then her head. “I realize nobody can do that.”
Jake’s eyes widened and then he frowned.
“No, Honey, that’s not what I meant. I love you, Jake, but there will always be a tiny place in my heart for Danny’s memory. I hope you can accept that.” Jen looked into dark eyes that reminded her of soft, velvety summer nights.
Jake nodded.
Jen caressed his cheek and said. “I love you. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Jake’s face broke into a wide grin as she held her hand out and he slipped an engagement ring on her finger. “Would you mind if I adopted Danny? I don’t want to change his name or anything. I know I could never fill…” Jake felt a sweet finger across his lips before he could finish the rest of his speech.
Jen nodded. “I know, Sweetie. The answer is, yes. Danny couldn’t have a better father.”
Jake looked at Jen and he could see the love in her eyes. He cupped her face and kissed her deeply.
Liz’s bedroom phone rang. Her hand brushed against a smooth shoulder as she fumbled to find the phone. She felt the warm, soft skin of a naked breast pressed into her chest when she picked up the phone. She heard Susan sigh before she turned over and tried to go back to sleep. “Hullo?”
“It’s Jake, Lizzie,” he said, trying to contain his excitement.
“Hey, Jake, what’s up?” Liz asked, sensing that something was wrong. “You’re okay, aren’t you?” She felt a hand stroking her breast, then pinching her nipple. She stifled a moan as the hand traveled down her chest and brushed against her scar. She cleared her throat and then tried to move away from Susan’s wandering hand.
“I got something important I wanna tell you, Lizzie,” Jake said, taking a deep breath. “Wanna come to an engagement party?”
Liz bit her lower lip when she felt Susan’s hand rubbing her scar lightly. “Sorry, Jake. I couldn’t understand you. Say that again.”
“Jen agreed to marry me tonight.”
“That’s great! You gonna tell Daddy or do I?” Liz asked.
“I figured to call you first and then him, Kiddo.”
“Okay, Jake. When is the wedding?”
Jake chuckled. “Whoa, slow down! Gimme time to get used to my engagement first, Lizzie.”
“Jake, I couldn’t be happier for you and Jen. Give her my love and kiss little Danny for me.”
Jake smiled into the phone. “Will do, Kid. Tell Susan for me, Lizzie.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell Susan,” Liz promised. “Bye, Jake.” She closed her eyes once she felt Susan gently stroking her scar. “God, Susan, that feels…sweet Jesus…oh my…” Fingers entered her core and she b
ucked upward against the wayward finger.
“That’s it, My Darling. You’re almost there, Lizzie,” Susan whispered, offering encouragement. “Move with me, Sugar,” she spoke in low tones, then licked the rim of Liz’s ear.
Lights exploded in Liz’s mind and she called out Susan’s name.
Later, when the two women lay holding each other, Liz told Susan that Jake proposed to Jen and she accepted.
“Funny how things work out, isn’t it, Lizzie?” Susan said as she snuggled against her chest.
“Huh?” Liz frowned, waiting for an explanation.
Susan sighed. “Well, your brother found somebody to make him happy. He’s marrying Jen. My brother hasn’t found the happiness he struggled so hard to find, but at least we managed to buy him time.”
“And Johnny found a sister he didn’t know he had, Love. Don’t forget that.” Liz smiled at Susan, then kissed her hand.
“You, my darling sergeant, are a wonder. Who’d ever believe that I’d find happiness with the woman who wanted to throw me under the jail and have light airmailed in? I believe that was the phrase you used when you stopped me for speeding.” Laughing hazel eyes gazed into dark ones.
“Yeah, I did say that, didn’t I? It seems like a million years ago, Love. You could always discipline me again for saying it,” Liz said as she winked and then kissed Susan.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for purchasing Mink Too, all the riches in the world can’t buy love. I’m glad my novel tickled your interest enough to purchase it.
Which characters do you like the most? Is Susan Drummond the snotty, bratty rich woman who is suddenly thrust into fending for herself and running her father’s company after years of being spoiled by her daddy, your favorite character? Why do you like her? Or do you like Sergeant Liz Gilmore, the attractive, honest, upright, ticket-writing cop who can’t stand the speeders but especially the arrogant Drummond woman that she’s had to issue warnings instead of tickets, better than the woman with the Mink Too vanity plate?
How about Susan’s clever, scheming best friend, Johnny Flint, who has been in love with her from childhood? He knows she’s gay, but he doesn’t care. He wants Susan and her company any way he can have them, including in death. What do you think of Liz’s ex-cop father Jake Senior and her brother Lieutenant Jake Junior? Do you like their relationship? Don’t leave out Susan’s daddy Owen Drummond, the keeper of secrets. He’s indirectly responsible for at least three murders and as many attempted murders, including his own daughter’s. How do you feel about him?
Were you able to forgive Owen Drummond for not telling Susan or Johnny Flint who they really were to each other? Could you understand why Johnny Flint did what he did? Do you like the ending? Would you want to read a sequel?
I have a favor to ask of you. I’d love to hear your feedback… loved the book, hated the book, or what I could do to improve it. Reviews are difficult to come by these days. You, the reader, now have the power to make or break a book. If you have the time to post a few words, I’d greatly appreciate it if you would.
You can also subscribe to my blog to learn more about me, my latest books and events: http://wilsonbluez.com
The final page has links to more of my books.
With a great deal of appreciation,
BL Wilson
More books by BL Wilson
DIVERGENT INTERESTS
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MUFFIN, it’s never too late for love
ADAM, a mother’s love last forever
LITTLE HELLION, love tames a wild heart
HORSEWOMAN, is love more than a one-trick pony?
UNFINISHED BUSINESS, a romantic tale of old loves and new ones
BAYOU BOUNTY, no matter the twists and turns, the trail always leads back to the heart
BOOKS, BALLS and DOGS, an Ohio love story
SINKHOLES Part1, love always finds a way
SINKHOLES Part 2, love always finds a way
TIGER EYES, can a woman change her stripes?
BELLY FIRES, even death can’t kill the flames of passion
SECOND CHANCES, at love and murder
BUILDINGS, a New York love story
SAFE HAVEN
OLD MAN PETERSON, murder it’s all in the family
I’M YOUR BABY TONIGHT but what about tomorrow?