My eyebrows rose. "I haven't decided what my plans are."
"I have." He turned and leaned back against the porch railing so he could better see me. "I've been given some time off, so to speak, by my department. I'm sure you understand why."
I nodded sheepishly.
"I thought I'd stick around Sinful. There've been some rumors of drug runners moving into the area, and I want to do some poking around on my own. Maybe I can find out a thing or two that will help me out with my superiors. I'd like to do what I can to save my reputation before I'm forever known around the office as Agent Sleepy."
I winced. "But what does that have to do with me?" I asked.
"One of the suspects is throwing a big wedding for his niece next weekend. I've wrangled an invitation. But I need to fly under the radar, so to speak."
I couldn't help but smile. How did a man with a massive snake tattooed around his upper body think he was going to fly under anyone's radar? "I see."
"I need a date for the wedding."
I waited for him to say more but he stayed silent. "You want me to find a date for you?"
He shook his head. "You're my date for the wedding."
I stared at him. He had to be kidding.
"I'm serious."
"Maybe you are, but that doesn't mean I have to agree."
It was his turn to smile. "Actually, there are two very good reasons why you might want to reconsider. The first is that I'm going to be much more likely to forgive you for your part in humiliating me if you help me out."
"You'd be willing to forgive and forget?" Frankly, that was a tad more generous than I'd have been under the circumstances.
"I forget nothing. But I might forgive you."
"And the second reason I should consider posing as your date?"
"I have something I think you want."
I frowned. Surely he wasn't...no, he wouldn't speak to a lady like that. Would he? I was half afraid to ask. "Such as?"
He glanced toward his truck parked out on the street. "Agree to be my date for the wedding and I'll show you."
I blew out a long breath. What to do, what to do? A part of me was anxious to leave Sinful behind and get back to my life in Boston where things were a little more prim and proper. On the other hand, I found myself curiously attached to my aunt and Gertie. I even thought I could grow to like Fortune over time, although that depended on how out of control her delusions got. On top of that, I owed Agent Mayeux something for my part in embarrassing him in front of his colleagues. After all, it was one wedding and one reception. One evening. It couldn't be any more difficult than the night in the bayou I'd just been survived."Okay, I'll do it."
He nodded, looking awfully self-satisfied with himself. "Stay here, I'll be right back."
I watched as he jogged to his truck. I'm embarrassed to admit that I completely agreed with Gertie. The man had a fine posterior. But as he headed back toward me, my thoughts of his physique flew out of my mind. Instead, I stared at the fluffy white bundle in his arms.
I shot to my feet and ran down the steps to meet him. I hardly dared hope. "Priscilla?"
He held her out to me and I gratefully took her. I held her up so I could look into her beautiful emerald eyes. It was her! My sweet baby girl was alive and well. I hugged her to me and nuzzled my face in her fur. She allowed me to love on her for a moment but then squirmed out of my arms and sauntered over to the front steps where she sat and stared at the door.
"It looks like she's not very happy with you," he said.
That comment showed how little he knew about cats. It wasn't about a cat loving you. It was about a cat condescending to let you love it. He must be a dog man. I smiled up at him. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Just help me out at the wedding. And don't even think about slipping anything into my food or drink. I'll be watching you like a hawk."
That was an unsettling thought. But never mind, it was worth it to have Priscilla back with me. And then another thought occurred to me. "Wait, why does she smell so good? You found her on Number Two, right?"
He shrugged. "We stopped at the groomer's on the way over."
I didn't try to hide my delight. "Thank you." I touched my heart. "Really, thank you. I promise to be the perfect date for the wedding. Just tell me when it is and I'll be ready."
He took a few steps toward me. "I'll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning."
He was close enough now that I had to tilt my head back in order to see his face. "Tomorrow? I thought you said the wedding was next weekend."
He shook his head. "The wedding's not until then, but I told you I want to fly under the radar, not stick out. So I'm going to spend the week in Sinful being seen out and about with my girl—that's you by the way—while I start poking around."
Before I knew what he was about to do, he leaned down and brushed a kiss across my cheek. "Just in case anyone is watching," he said in a low voice. He jogged back to his truck and waved goodbye as he drove away.
Oh dear. Drug dealers? His girl? A kiss? What had I just gotten myself into?
A Note from Caroline
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I enjoyed writing it and hope that you enjoyed reading it enough to pick up the next in my Miss Prim and Proper Series, A Bayou Wedding.
Thanks to Jana DeLeon for her generosity in sharing her Miss Fortune world with other writers!
To learn more about my other books, please visit my website -
www.carolinemickelson.com
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One Night in the Bayou Page 8
