The Patriot Girl (13 page)

What a beautiful day for her friends to be flying home. No threatening thunderstorms, only sunshine and a warm breeze. MaKayla found a spot in the airport parking lot and headed inside.

Duke and Jodi were on the escalator heading down to the baggage carousel. Apparently their flight had arrived early.

Their red faces and glowing smiles provided evidence of a successful trip. MaKayla was sure she would be subjected to unwanted tales of how they had spiced up their already erotic relationship.

She ran to her best friend and embraced her as if they’d been apart for six months, rather than six days. “I’ve missed you two.” She turned to hug Duke also.

“We’ve missed you too.” Jodi hooked MaKayla’s elbow while they waited for the luggage. “How does Alex like school?”

“He’s settling in. He’s worried about me being lonely, of course.”

Jodi had to hear every detail about what Alex ate, talked about, and thought of his roommate. MaKayla shared what she could remember.

“You look different.” Jodi moved her friend’s chin from side to side. “Have you been saddling up and getting bucked?”

She’d been getting bucked all right, but not in the fun way Jodi would approve. She pushed her friend’s hand from her face, but still held on to it. “I haven’t been saddling anything. Too much has happened.”

Duke collected their luggage then escorted both ladies through the automatic doors.

“Good news first, Sara had a baby boy. She named him Buck after her grandfather…who is now my new client.”

“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful. He’s going back on the road?”

“Not sure about that. Right now he’s asked me to help him promote his new ‘greatest hits’ album. I don’t know if he’ll have some new songs on there.”

MaKayla opened her trunk and waited for Duke to arrange the bags neatly before she unlocked the car and sat behind the wheel.

“Are Sara and the baby home? How are they?” Jodi asked.

“Her grandparents say they’re home and doing great. I was thinking you and I could visit them this weekend.”

Jodi buckled her passenger’s side seatbelt. “Of course.”

MaKayla put the key in the ignition but turned so she could talk with Duke in the back seat too. “Ready for the bad news?”

Silence, of course. No one was ever ready for bad news. Jodi’s hand reached out and touched MaKayla’s knee—a sign that her heart had plunged into her stomach too. Which bad news should she reveal first, Dustin or her night noises? “It seems that someone has been stalking my house.”

Duke’s deep all-business police voice sounded. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve been hearing noises outside—different from the normal kids-cutting-through-the-yard noises. Sam and Dustin came by Monday at two in the morning. Dustin found a cigarette butt on my back porch. But creepier than that was the rose petals left on my car seat, with the dome light left on.”

“I’m back now.” Duke touched her shoulder. “I’ll patrol your area until we get to the bottom of this. It might be that prick from the bank. I’ll feel better when he’s in custody.”

Jodi tapped MaKayla’s leg. “What else happened?”

“Guess what I found out about Dustin?”

“The cowboy from the bank robbery?”

She nodded. “Yes. Dustin’s first name is Harold—Harold James.”

“
The
Harry James, from Paul’s accident?”

MaKayla nodded. “Still believe he’d make a good lovemaking partner for me?”

“Yes. He’s not as conservative as Paul was. He’ll show you a good time.” Jodi’s tongue pushed out the side of her cheek, and she giggled.

MaKayla’s eyes darted right—making sure Duke hadn’t seen the gesture. How embarrassing if he had.

“Wait. This won’t affect your PR deal, will it? What happened with the contract Friday night?”

“I’m still going to represent his club. But it will be business only. So there’ll be”—she pointed to Jodi’s mouth—“none of
that
.”

Duke leaned forward and rubbed her shoulder. “You know, Mackey, the accident wasn’t his fault. I worked that case. That intersection is a deathtrap for anyone, especially in the rain.”

Her family and friends could talk to her until they were blue in the face about the accident being no one’s fault. The past would always surface. Why didn’t they understand that?

Friendship was the only thing she and Dustin could ever have. Although, had he not been the voice of reason the other morning when she suggested they make love, their relationship would have reached the next level. Now that she knew her judgment clouded when he kissed her, she’d be sure to never let that happen again.

She turned around, started the vehicle’s engine, and headed to her friends’ place. “Dustin also closed Paul’s case. The insurance company will pay all his medical bills. That’s all he’s asking for.”

“Oh, honey, you must be so relieved. I guess he’s okay from the coma he was in.”

“Seems to be, except that he doesn’t remember a thing from the accident.” MaKayla filled them in on how she had stormed out after beating his chest the night he’d told her who he was.

Jodi pointed a finger. “He seems like such a good man. Together you two can let the past go and move on.”

“Did you know he had a daughter?”

“Yes. I’ve seen her at the club.”

MaKayla glanced at her friend. “I know her mother passed away. Do you know anything else about her?”

“No. You might find this hard to believe, but I like to mind my own business.”

MaKayla laughed out loud. That sure wasn’t the case when it came to her and Alex. “Oh…and I’m pretty sure Alex and Tammy made love.”

“Had sex?” Jodi laughed. “Oh, honey, he’s growing up. There’s just no way you were going to stop it.”

“I know. And the biggest news of all...I saw my mother cry. Can you believe she cried?”

“People get soft in their old age.” Jodi sighed. “What happened?”

“Rainbow died.” MaKayla glanced at Duke in her rearview mirror. “Okay. Enough about what’s happened here. Tell me about your trip.”

Jodi described the wonderful time they had for the rest of the ride home.

Dalton, Tennessee, was never the same when MaKayla’s friends weren’t occupying space in the area. Having them back home safe and sound made her world complete. And knowing Duke would be back on patrol soon, she’d be able to sleep better.

****

On Monday afternoon MaKayla sat at the kitchen table and dialed the radio station’s phone number. With Jodi back in charge work had quickly returned to normal. Today she’d been able to leave at four.

There shouldn’t be any reason not to catch Charlie Peterson at the station. There was still forty-five minutes until his Drive at Five show started. She hoped that would give him plenty of time to speak with her.

Three rings sounded before a voice came on the line asking her to hold. The music gave her time to preheat her oven for a pizza and put on the teakettle.

Her phone clicked. Call waiting was sometimes a blessing, but now that she was on hold, she hated to click over. It could be Alex. If she answered quickly, she could still stay on hold.

She clicked over. “Hello?”

“Hey, MaKayla. It’s Dustin.”

“Hi. I’m on the other line. Are you home or at the club?”

“At the club.”

“I’ll call you back.” She clicked back over to hear the music still playing. The last two times she’d phoned the station she hadn’t been able to convince the woman she was important enough for Charlie Peterson’s ear. She had to approach this differently. October was only a few days away. She had to make this happen soon.

“WCMJ radio. How may I help you?”

Perfect. A new voice answering. “Hello. My name is MaKayla Adams with M & M Public Relations. I’m calling on behalf of a couple clients, Buck Wilson and Dustin James. Is Mr. Peterson available?”

“Hold, please.” It was less than a minute before the woman came back on the line. “Ms. Adams, I’ll connect you now.”

“Thank you.”
Finally.
Buck’s name had to have gotten the man’s attention. She should have done that from the beginning. Lesson learned.

“Peterson.”

“Good evening, Mr. Peterson. My name’s MaKayla—”

“What about Buck Wilson?”

What a crab.
He acted so pleasant on the air. Better not to upset him. She’d hate for him to hang up on her and send her back to square one.

“Mr. Wilson will be signing his new CD at the grand opening of a new nightclub in Dalton called No Bulls. Would you be interested in interviewing the owner the night before the event?”

“Get me Buck and you’re on.”

“I was thinking maybe the owner, Dustin James, could do an interview on your show to talk about some of the events happening at No Bulls.”

“No Bulls. What kind of name is that? I’m not interested unless Buck’s the main guest. Send me an event schedule and I’ll get back to you.”

“I’d be happy to send an event calendar. I think your listeners would enjoy a call-in segment where they could give suggestions on what events they’d like to see at the club, other than Buck’s CD signing.”

Use your pitch, MaKayla. Throw that line far enough for him to bite.

“What if we were able to offer a private, fifteen minute interview with Buck Wilson for a lucky listener? Mr. James could do the giveaway on the air.”

For once Charlie didn’t cut her off.
Hooked!
Now all she needed to do was reel him in.

“Mr. Peterson, No Bulls is more than your average country and western nightclub. It’s a cowboy’s dream and an opportunity for every local musician.”

“I’m listening.”

She explained the old rodeo and music memorabilia. “There will be open mic night twice a week. A scout from Buck Wilson’s record company will visit every now and again looking for new talent.”

After ten minutes of questions and answers, his tone had softened. “Okay, I can fit your nightclub dude in two weeks from this Friday.”

“I’ll take it.” She bit her knuckle to stop the scream. She’d done it. “Thank you, Mr. Peterson. I’m looking forward to meeting you.”

When the phone went dead, she screeched. “Oh my gosh!” As the excitement withdrew and reality began to set in, her heart pounded. “Two weeks!” Had she given herself enough time to get press kits and announcements together?

She’d have to teach Dustin how to get his message points across,
and
try to break him of his finger tapping. A few mock interviews with him wouldn’t hurt. The banter would get him ready for the give-and-take exchange between him and Charlie Peterson. This short phone conversation with the DJ had shown her that Charlie might be a real jackass with Dustin. Her job was to make Dustin aware of such situations, and prepare him for anything.

She fumbled through her purse and pulled out Buck’s business card. He had mentioned the end of October but hadn’t given her a definite date. With a little luck, he’d be available for a signing and the fifteen-minute private interview.

Then she needed to return Dustin’s phone call and set up an appointment with him.

****

Sitting at the bar, Dustin glanced up at his best friend. Jesse Love’s blond hair and oval features hadn’t changed since they’d met at the age of twelve.

It had been good, and cheaper, having him back home. Phone calls to California had been expensive, especially after Liz’s death. If Jesse hadn’t convinced Dustin that being a single parent was, indeed, not the end of the world, he’d have spent the last three years in therapy.

He drummed his fingers against the wooden counter top. “What do you think about mixing business with pleasure?”

Jesse stopped washing the counter, leaned forward, and stared Dustin in the eyes. “I love ya, man, but you’re not my type.”

“Not you.” Dustin laughed, placed his beer cap between his thumb and forefinger, and tried to carom it off his friend’s head—as usual, with no luck. “I’m talking about MaKayla. I think after you get to know her, you’ll see she’s special.”

Laughing, Jesse snapped the bottle cap like a pro and hit Dustin’s shoulder. “I’ve never seen you so freaked out. She’s a woman, Dustin. The opposite sex causes heartbreaks and sleepless nights. They’re bitches when you don’t call them twenty-four-seven. And besides, this one blames you for the death of her husband. You don’t stand a chance.”

“Yeah,” Dustin spat out. He used to share the same attitudes about women, but that was before fate tossed MaKayla into his arms. There had to be a way to get past her husband’s ghost.

His tapping fingers came to a screeching halt when the woman in question walked through the door of No Bulls.

The air conditioner above the door blew her long hair in a wild tangle over her shoulders. Her yellow top molded to her breasts, the bar covered his view of the rest of her. He couldn’t wait to get a glimpse of what she was wearing below her waist—maybe a short, bare-legs-showing skirt.

Sliding off the stool, he made his way up the aisle to meet her. “Hey.” He lifted her hand to his lips. How was he supposed to go three months of being a good boy?

“Good evening.” She removed her hand from his. “I hope you like what I’ve come up with.”

He glanced at her tight-fitting jeans and black cowboy boots, admiring what she had come up with. However, he doubted that’s what she was talking about. She was here on business.

There was no doubt he’d approve her work no matter what her plan. While Jesse owned twenty-five percent of No Bulls, Dustin would bet his portion of the bar that her ideas for promotions were a lot better than his own. There wasn’t anything she could do to make him
not
appreciate her presence.

He escorted her to the two barstools closest to the wall. This way she had a better view of the entire place. “MaKayla, this is my best friend and business partner, Jesse Love.”

They shook hands.

“Don’t you own For The Love of Cars garage down the road?”

Jesse nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“My son Alex takes his car there. He’s very impressed that you have a girl working for you.”