Crossroads
Ignoring the governor’s
calls, Little spent the next week talking with Faye over quite a few delicious dinners.
Tonight, he didn’t want to
leave. “You’re beautiful.” Many opportunities had arisen to slake his desires
yet he found no one as refreshing and sexy as Faye. “Come to my hotel?” She
nodded. Lit bumped the table when he stood and knocked over the saltshaker. Bad
luck or lousy timing, his phone picked that moment to chirp. Walking around the
table, he pulled Faye up and into his arms. “I have to go.”
“Will I see you again?”
The governor first.He
kissed her lips softly and whispered, “I want to come back.”
“I’ll be here.”
Turning, Lit strode away
from Faye and out the door.
Little was once again
escorted to the small office where he paced as he waited.
Shaw arrived, slammed the
door closed, and snapped, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
Lit sucked in a deep breath.
“The truth or I’ll discover it on my own.”
“I was told you’d ask no
questions.” The body of the man responsible for wresting the state from the
brink of bankruptcy crumpled dejectedly into the chair behind his desk. “My son
met Faye at a university function and he talked about her incessantly on his
last visit home.”
“Go on.”
“He’ll become suspicious if
I pry but their involvement is…it’s inappropriate.”
Falling into the seat
flanking the desk, Lit clenched and unclenched his fist. “Damn you for thinking
she’s not good enough.”
“You misunderstand.” The
governor’s hands shook. “Faye is my daughter.”
So much for my stance on
need-to-know.
“My wife was sick in the
hospital for months before she died. I had a toddler on my hands… Hell, I don’t
expect anyone to understand how lonely and scared I was when I sought solace in
another woman’s arms.” He closed misty green eyes and sighed. “It doesn’t
excuse what we did.”
“What a damn mess.”
Shaw stood and walked to
peer out the window. “I need to keep this quiet.”
“What if her mother decides
to tell her?”
“She won’t. Faye’s mother
never expected anything.” Shoulders slumped. “She’s a real treasure.”
“Trésor.”
“She already worked there. I
purchased and had the restaurant redecorated before giving it to her so she
wouldn’t return to Birmingham.” Thinning gray hair and a telltale tremble
epitomized the dire toll Martin Shaw’s deceitfulness had taken. “She picked the
name.” A wan smile tugged his lips as he stared out the window and slipped into
the past forgetting about Little Merrick.
“Christ.” Lit left unnoticed.
On the drive to his place, he had thought about his two tours in the
military after which he used the majority of time to build a solid reputation
as a private investigator for anyone willing to purchase his services. Nearing
forty, he’d barely made time for the occasional one nightstand but enough money
had been amassed to live comfortably for the rest of his days.
Little had reminisced long enough.
He shoved the readdressed envelope containing the governor's last check into his mailbox, raised the tiny red flag,
and headed back to Eddystone.
Entering Trésor, Lit
grimaced as he conjured the vision in his mind of sitting at the crossroads.
Faye rounded the bar. “I’m
glad you came back.”
“So am I, but we need to
talk.”
Damn if anything is running
over my ass.
Enjoy
your weekend and if the opportunity arises –
Growl and roar-it’s okay to let
the beast out.
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