Rumor Has It

“I don’t know whether to be flattered or worried about that.”

Troy laughed. “Maybe a little of both.” He winked. “I saw you Saturday night renewing one particular acquaintance from our high school days. Taylor Reed?”

Dylan cleared his throat and folded in the flaps of the empty box. “It was good to see Taylor again.”

“Made me want to be a high school student again, just so I could be in her class.” Troy laughed. “Teachers weren’t that hot-looking when we were students, were they?”

Dylan frowned. “I’m sure Taylor’s an excellent teacher.”

“Oh, sure. An excellent teacher who’s also a real babe.” Troy clapped him on the back. “I’ve got to hand it to you—you didn’t waste any time picking up where you left off with her.”

“Taylor and I are just good friends.”

Apparently, Troy didn’t believe this any more than he had when they’d been in school. “Sure, buddy. And from the looks of things, you’re going to be even better friends very soon.” He chuckled. “Or did you get lucky Saturday night?”

Had Troy always been this annoying? Dylan glared at him. “Did you stop by for something in particular? I’m pretty busy here.”

Troy took a step back. “Hey, no need to cop a big-city attitude around here. What you do is your business. I was just being friendly.”

Dylan forced himself to relax. He leaned back against the desk. “Sorry. I guess I’m tired from the move and all.”

“Sure. I understand. I stopped by to see if you wanted to have lunch at the Rotary meeting. I can introduce you to some of the members. You said you wanted to be involved and this group will give you a good picture of everything that’s going on.”

He nodded. “Sure. That sounds good.”

“All right. I’ll stop by here about eleven-thirty and we’ll walk over together. It’s upstairs at the café.” He nodded in the direction of Courthouse Café.

“Great. I’ll look forward to it.”

“So about Taylor Reed—”

He was saved by the ringing of the telephone. He gave Troy an apologetic look and picked up the receiver. “Dylan Gates speaking.”

“Oh, hello, Dylan.” Taylor’s voice was breathy. At her first words, his heart beat faster. “I thought maybe your secretary would answer.”

“I don’t have one yet. Do you know any good candidates?” He waved and mouthed a silent “goodbye” to Troy as the agent backed out of the room.

“I don’t know. I’ll have to ask around.”

“How did you get my number?” he asked. “I just had the phone connected this morning.”

“Sylvia Piper—she used to be Sylvia Ramos—works in new accounts at the phone company. She gave it to me.” She laughed. “One of the advantages of small-town living.”

Her laughter sent heat curling through his middle. How was it even a woman’s laughter could be erotic? “I’m glad you called.”

“You are?” She sounded surprised.

“Why shouldn’t I be?” He leaned over and shut the door to his office, then lowered his voice. “I had a great time Saturday night.”

“M-me, too.”

“So are you ready to do it again?”

“Are you?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m ready.” Ready to see every gorgeous curve of her body, to smell the sex-and-spice scent of her skin, to hear her moan with passion, to taste her sweetness—to discover what made Taylor Reed want to relive things that had never happened ten years ago. To sort out his own mixed-up feelings for her that he’d carried around all these years. “Do you have a rumor picked out for us to tackle next?”

“I was thinking…Inspiration Point.”

The words sent a rush of nostalgia through him. “Is that place still around?”

She laughed. “It’s still there. Do you want to go there…this evening?”

Making out in the car at Inspiration Point. He hadn’t done anything like that since…since high school. He grinned. That was the point, wasn’t it? To relive those times and discover what inspiration they offered for the present. “I’ll pick you up at six.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Her voice was a soft purr, sparking desire. Who said high schoolers were the only ones at the mercy of raging hormones? Dylan felt almost as if he’d been transported back ten years, to the days when he’d been an awkward, perpetually horny boy mooning after the girl of his dreams.

The difference was, this time the girl was right where he wanted her. And he knew exactly what to do with her.

FOR THE FIFTH TIME in as many minutes, Taylor checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Was her lipstick straight? Did she look all right? She was still wearing the skirt and blouse she’d worn to school this morning. Should she change into something dressier? Or maybe she should go for a more casual look….

She shook her head and turned away from the mirror. It didn’t matter what she wore tonight. Dylan had seen her naked and liked what he’d seen. Apparently very much…

The thought sent a shiver of anticipation through her. Knowing she’d see him again tonight had lent a delicious edge to the day. While she lectured her students on the symbolism in Beowulf, she’d pictured Dylan as the monster-slaying hero and herself as the woman waiting to welcome him home. Tonight they’d attempt to create a different kind of fantasy….

She picked up the blue leather diary from the bar and flipped it open to the spot she’d marked.

November 26, 1993. All morning, I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing people giggling and whispering behind my back. Finally, after second period social studies, I’d had enough. I slammed my locker shut and asked Ashly Crumley, who was standing two doors down, what was so damn funny. She just blinked at me and got all huffy. “There’s no need to use profanity,” she sniffed, and prissed away.

If she’d heard what I was thinking about her just then, her ears would have been burning, I tell you!

Of course, right then, Alyson walked by and smirked. “I heard you and Dylan had a really good time up on Inspiration Point Saturday night,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to ask, but I had to, you know? “What did we do up on Inspiration Point?” I asked.

She laughed. “Don’t pretend you don’t know. It’s all over town how Old Mullet Face Mullins caught you both stark-naked in the back seat of Dylan’s mom and dad’s Crown Victoria.”

Honestly, where do people come up with these stories? I was home alone—as usual—on Saturday night.

Just then, the man himself walked by. Dylan, I mean. He sort of glanced at me and mumbled “Hi,” then hurried away. I stared after him, feeling all sick to my stomach. Couldn’t he even come over and talk to me? Would that have killed him?

Even after all that, I guess it’s pretty pathetic that I would have gone out with him last Saturday if he’d asked me. I must be insane!

She shut the book. She’d been crazy, all right. As crazy as any other lovesick teenager. And as Mindy had made her realize, she’d carried a little of that craziness over into her adult life. Why hadn’t she seen before how silly it was to be still mooning over Dylan after all these years? Good thing this opportunity had come up to get over him once and for all.

The doorbell rang and she jumped, her heart speeding up. She smoothed a hand over her hair and straightened her skirt, then went to open the door.