Sky Full of Promise

Dom followed her outside where the cold Oklahoma day forced her to stop and put on her black coat. The sun was shining and the sky was blue, but the cold wind turned her cheeks and the tip of her cute turned-up nose red.

“How did you know where I was?” she asked, flipping up the collar of her coat.

“Your mom.”

She nodded. “Of course. I don’t even know why I asked. She fills in for me at the shop all the time. When I need backup.”

Interesting choice of law enforcement lingo. But the majority of her family was in that line of work. “Can I buy you lunch?”

She shook her head. “I’ve already used up my lunch hour on family business.”

“You wouldn’t be trying to duck me, would you?”

“What was your first clue?”

“Since you’re the boss, you should be able to take as much time off as you want. Especially with your mom as backup. You know. That whole force-of-nature thing you told me about. Seems to me your business is in good hands.”

“Pretty good logic. But there’s one flaw in your theory. What makes you think my mom doesn’t have to be somewhere?”

“Does she?”

“No. She’s a retired schoolteacher. And since my dad retired from his security consulting business she’s been looking for reasons to get out of the house. Too much togetherness, I suppose. But I don’t want to take advantage. I told her I would be back in an hour.”

He leaned a shoulder against the post holding up the sidewalk overhang. “There’s this handy little invention. You may have heard of it. It’s called a telephone. Many are portable and can be used from any location where there’s cell reception.”

“You’re a real comedian,” she said, but started laughing. “I have one of those handy, dandy gizmos. But I don’t choose to use it. I choose to get back to work.”

“So you are running away from me.”

“That would be cowardly.”

“If the shoe fits.” He lifted one eyebrow. “Have you made up your mind yet? You said you’d sleep on it. Are you going to help me out?”

She turned worried gray eyes on him. “I think it’s a bad idea, Dom.”

“It’s a good idea.” He angled his chin toward the fire-damaged courthouse. “You said yourself that family sticks together.”

She slung her purse strap over her shoulder. “Explain to me how deceiving your mother and grandmother is sticking together.”

“It’s for the greater good.”

Equal parts of exhilaration and irritation coursed through him. Debating with her was more stimulating than anything he’d done in quite some time. Her gray eyes turned darker as anger swirled in their depths—like a stormy sky about to let loose. He found himself holding his breath in anticipation.

“It’s a lie and that’s wrong.” She shook her head. “No matter how you try to whitewash it, it’s just plain dishonest. Truth, good—deceit, bad.”

“That all depends on how you look at it.” He shrugged. “I say they’ll thank me for it.”

“At the same time they’re giving me the hate glare.”

“You won’t be around to see it.” He felt a prick of something that could only be disappointment at the thought of her not being around, as in he wouldn’t see her. “Look, Sky, bottom line, it would mean a lot to me if you would do this favor. I need an answer. Will you or won’t you be my fiancée?”

As he asked the question, two older women walked by. They stared questioningly at Sky. She looked as though she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her. “Hi, Hazel. Hello, Ruthanne.”

“Who’s the handsome stranger?” the silver-haired woman asked.

“A friend,” Sky answered. “Nice to see you both,” she said as they continued down the sidewalk. When they were out of sight, she glared at him. “Now see what you’ve done? Those two are the biggest gossips in Black Arrow. In an hour, everyone in town will think I’m your fiancée.”

“What a coincidence. I’ve got an engagement party that needs a fiancée. How about it?”

“Can we talk about this later? And privately?”