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“I’m not going to lie to you, Chase,” said Odelia. “She might. Or she might sneak up on you from behind when you least expect it and give you a wedgie in front of your colleagues.” She grinned. “Good luck, babe. You’re going to need it. And whatever you do—never, ever let your guarddown. Ever.”

Chase closed his eyes and hung his head.“Just what I needed. War with the Watch.”

Chapter 33

After spending a long day at the office, Charlene was walking back to her car when she noticed the lone figure leaning against her vehicle. Her jaw set, she continued walking, vowing to ignore the figure and the giant bouquet of flowers he was holding in his meaty hands.

Earlier that day more flowers had been delivered at her office than probably during any time in the history of Town Hall, and even Charlene’s secretary Imelda had been charmed and told her boss that maybe, just maybe, she should lighten up and give this guy another chance.

But Charlene was of the opinion that when a man shows his true colors, it doesn’t matter how many chances you give him, the end result will always be the same: tragedy. And she didn’t need that kind of drama in her life. Not now, not ever.

“Go away, Alec,” she said. “I don’t want your flowers and I don’t want your apologies. Just leave me alone.”

“But Charlene,” said Alec, his voice a little husky. He looked sweaty, and Charlene momentarily weakened when she realized he must have been out there for ages, waiting for her to finish the kind of long days she liked to keep.

“That’s Madam Mayor to you, Chief Lip,” she said, and pressed her key fob to open her car door.

“I just want to say I never meant to say you’re old, Charlene. To me you’ll always be a young blossom, and as far as looks are concerned, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I just meant that we all grow older, and there’s no point in wishing we were ten years younger, or twenty years younger, because we can’t turn back time—that’s just the way it is. And it doesn’t even matter because you’ll always be beautiful to me, now, and twenty years from now, or even forty. I love you, Charlene, and I’m sorry I hurt you.”

‘Aww,’ said the little angel on her right shoulder. ‘Isn’t that just the sweetest, kindest, loveliest thing anyone has ever said to you, Charlene?’

‘Don’t listen to this bozo, Charlene,’ said her little demon. ‘He obviously doesn’t mean a word he says. He’s just trying to get under your skin so he can make you feel bad. He’s a big jerk, that’s what he is. Just tell him to take a hike.’

‘Oh, go on,’ said the little angel. ‘Kiss and make up already, before you lose this fella.’

‘Tell him to go and boil his head. Charlene, no, don’t you dare. Don’t you—Charlene!’

But Charlene had made up her mind. It was those puppy-dog eyes. She had always been a sucker for puppy-dog eyes. And that cute face, of course. Her big teddy bear…

So she brushed the little demon from her shoulder, patted her little angel on the head and said,“Do you really mean that, Alec?”

“Every single word,” he said, and she could tell that he did, the big softie.

“Oh, Alec,” she said. “I’m sorry. I think I may have overreacted.”

“Does that mean you forgive me?” he asked, panting a little, like an overweight puppy.

“C’mere,” she said, and melted into the big man’s arms. Temperatures were still soaring, even this late in the day, but the warmth she felt wasn’t from the sun, but the relief she felt that things were all right again with the world, and with her big man.

“I’m sorry, Charlene,” he said croakily.

“No, I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I’m not used to men being nice to me. So when you say something like that thing you said last night, I just assume it’s a nasty crack.”

“It wasn’t a nasty crack,” he said softly.

“I see that now.”

“This is new for me, too, you know,” he spoke into her hair, as he drew slow circles on her back. “I think it’s new for us both. And it’ll probably take some getting used to.”

“It’ll take a little time for me to learn to trust you,” she murmured, and then they kissed.

And Wilbur Vickery, who chose that moment to walk by, scoffed,“I’m a much better kisser than that,” spat a wad of spit on the hot asphalt, which slightly sizzled, and walked on, muttering dark oaths under his breath about oafish dudes and unreliable dudettes.

“Oh, we finally identified that unfortunate woman,” said Alec as they both got into her car and she turned the AC up high.

“You did? And? Was it Vicky Gardner?”

“Nah. Joanne Whittler, a fitness instructor from Hampton Keys. Went missing three days ago.”

“No idea how she got here?”

“Not yet. It’s up to the Hampton Keys police now.”

“Good,” said Charlene, and gave her man a warm smile. “I’m cooking for you tonight. Anything you like.”

“Anything?” he said, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree.

She laughed. If there was anything she knew about her boyfriend it was that he loved to eat.“Anything at all.”

“How about a light meal and then straight to bed?” he suggested, his eyes dancing playfully.