Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Roxie mentioned you’re planning on shadowing her for a couple of days.”
It was part of the reason for coming in early. “Yes. I’ve done a lot of research, but it was all on paper. This is my first time playing a police officer. I did a couple of ride-alongs in LA, but there’s a huge difference in big-city policing and small-town.”
“Yes. I suspect Armie naps far more often than the LAPD chief.” He relaxed back. “You can probably learn everything you need to know in about two days. This job is as much about controlling chaos as it is any kind of actual law enforcement. As you learned earlier today.”
“Do you have to stop a lot of water hose attacks?”
His lips curled up. “Far more than I expected. We’ve got some feisty citizens around here. One of the good things about small-town policing is you get to know the people. They aren’t just strangers on the street. They’re your neighbors. You get to know the character of the people you’re supposed to protect and serve, and they get to know you. I think it’s made me far more sympathetic than I would have been had I joined a larger department.”
“It sounds nice. Like you’re one big family.”
He nodded. “Yes, one big dysfunctional family that likes to have lots of parties. That’s where the chaos usually happens.”
There was a gasp and then Lisa Guidry was putting an ice-cold bottle of beer in front of Brynn. “Our parties and festivals are wonderful. There’s very little chaos and a whole lot of fried deliciousness. This town knows how to throw a festival.”
Major frowned up at Lisa. “You should know. Did Josie Trahan ever get her hair extension back?”
Lisa blushed. “Now, Major, you know that woman was going after my husband and I’d had a little strawberry wine.”
“You’d had a lot of strawberry wine,” Major countered. “And I heard Josie is back in town, so I will be watching you at the Crawfish Festival.”
Lisa’s nose wrinkled at the thought. “She better keep her overly manicured paws off my man or we’ll have trouble. Have you had a chance to look over the menu or is Major trying to make his second date of the night go better than the first?”
She hadn’t even looked at it. “I’m not picky. Bring me whatever you would order.”
“And I’ll take the étouffée.” Major hadn’t looked at the menu, either, but then, he might have it memorized.
Lisa promised to return and walked away to put in their orders.
And now something Lisa had said actually penetrated her brain. “You were on a date?”
He finally took a drink of his beer, and she realized he’d been waiting for the arrival of her beer before enjoying his own. “Nope. Do you remember Mrs. Henshaw’s granddaughter?”
“The one I ruined you for?” She was still impressed with how Major had stopped that fight before it ended in tragedy.
“Turns out she’s got a girlfriend and has no interest at all in my virtue. They are having dinner behind us in the dining room. So she had a date. I did not.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” She wasn’t showing the proper sympathy. “Are you sad about it?”
“Nah,” Major replied. “It’s not the first time someone’s taken one look at me and walked away. Probably won’t be the last.”
She flashed him a frown because she was calling bullshit on that. “That’s never happened.”
“Oh, it did,” Major insisted. “I once got set up with a friend’s cousin. It was about a year ago, and we met out at the Fillin’ Station. Now, before you turn your nose up, you should know they make an excellent chicken-fried steak, and it’s great for people watching because the dining room is in the middle of the convenience portion of the gas station. The best seat is by the sundries aisle. Do not let them seat you by the windows. You’d think that would be a great spot because you get to watch people pump gas, but it’s also by the bathrooms, and you don’t want that.”
“Oh, I have got to see this place.” She liked how his accent was coming out now that he was relaxed. It wasn’t a Cajun accent. It had a bit of Texas twang to it. “But I still don’t see how a woman turns you down based on looks. You’re not exactly a monster.”
“I was to this woman. She walked in, realized I was sitting at the table, and ran the other way.”
“Did you chase her?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Seriously? I was joking. You chased her?”
“She was wanted for five home robberies around the parish. I think her cousin was trying to get her in trouble so he set her up on a blind date with me,” Major pointed out. “Anyway, she pled out and got two years minimum security, and I spent the night filling out paperwork. Fun times. It still wasn’t my worst date ever.”