“Where the hell are you?” Pat questioned.
Owen shook his head, realizing he hadn’t heard a word. “It’s Halloween. I hate Halloween.”
“Thank God you don’t have kids.” Pat shook his head. “Halloween is great, minus the candy. It’s the candy that makes them go nuts.”
“Are you saying Courtney’s cake made Jake go along with her little prank?”
Pat laughed.
Loudly.
“I don’t see what’s so funny. Your son lured raccoons into her garage.” Owen purposely left out the dangers of a burglar. Technically, one had nothing to do with the other.
“Lured?” Pat cleared his throat. “He’s got a mega crush on her. Hell, he’d put a potato in your exhaust pipe if he thought it would get her attention.”
Owen scowled. “So, because he’s got his first crush, and she asked him to do it, that makes it okay?”
“You’re just jealous of your own nephew,” Pat said, clearly trying to stop laughing, but failing miserably.
“Jealous? Yeah, right. Try concerned, like you should be.” Amazingly, Owen said that with a straight face. He wasn’t so old he’d forgotten what it was like to be a kid, but it did annoy him that Courtney had used Jake, of all people. Hell, she should have just invited him over for dinner. He might have gone. Maybe.
You probably would have chickened out because love scares you.
No, it doesn’t.
You’re afraid she’ll leave you again.
I wish your voice in my head would go away.
I think I need to prove my existence again.
No. Really. That’s okay.
Pat lowered his chin and raised his left eyebrow. Owen hated that. It reminded him of their dad. “I appropriately punished Jake, especially for going after the cake, which she had told him was off limits. But let’s get real here. The only person you’re upset with is yourself because you can’t see past your own nose to know what is good for you.”
“We’re not talking about me here, we’re talking about what your son did and how it is potentially dangerous and wrong. He needs to know that.”
“Now that’s bullshit,” Pat said.
“He broke into—”
“Stop right there.” Pat held up his hand. “He had permission to be there.”
“To be part of some childish prank that could have resulted in me going in there armed and shooting someone.”
Pat laughed.
“It’s not funny.”
“No. But you’re not upset over what your nephew did. You’re upset with Courtney.”
Owen rolled his eyes. “I still can’t believe she could be so irresponsible. What was she thinking? I mean, using an impressionable kid like that and for what?”
“Ahhh, now that’s where the problem is. You’re pissed because she had to trick you to get you into the sack. But from what I can gather, it worked. Good for Courtney.”
“Tricks are for kids,” Owen said. He felt foolish for falling for it. More foolish because sex was probably all she really wanted. She sure as hell wasn’t the settling down type. Hell, she’d probably stay here for a few months and then pack up and leave, realizing this sleepy little town didn’t do it for her.
Just like he didn’t.
“Come on. It’s not like the rest of this town hasn’t noticed there’s still a spark between you two.”
“I’m not going to listen to any more of this.” Owen tossed a few bills on the table. “I’ve got work to do.”
Pat reached across the table and grabbed Owen’s arm. “Be honest with yourself. You’re only mad because she had to play a childish prank to get you to notice her, not because of what happened.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Owen muttered, finally admitting to himself what really had him over the rails.
“And you’re frustrated because part of you is very glad she did it.” Pat removed his hand.
“No. I’m not. I don’t like games, especially when it comes to relationships. No relationship built on that could possibly last.” What the fuck? Did I just say relationship?
You did. And don’t cuss. I don’t like foul mouths.
Sorry, Lilly.
Good. You believe.
Nope.
You said my name.
And now I’m going to ignore you.
Pat chuckled. “She controlled the situation, the seduction, and that bugs you. God forbid Big O isn’t in control of everything.”
“For the record, I did the seducing.”
Pat burst out laughing again.
“Why is that so funny to you?” Owen let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m the one who smothered her in frosting and then licked it off.”
“TMI man, TMI. Besides, that is not a seduction. That is a stupid, childish prank. You just did it so you could feel her up,” Pat said with a smug grin.
“Ha, ha.”
“You know, when it comes to women, you’re a total moron.”
“Am not.” Owen ran a hand across his head. As a teen, he’d been relatively confident with girls. Hell, who was he kidding? The only girl he had any confidence with had been Courtney. It had always been her. After she moved, he couldn’t ask a girl out to save his life. Talk about being a dork. He turned into the king of dorks.
Now that she’d returned, the dorkiness continued. She made him feel like a stupid kid. But if she wanted to go out or something, she could have just asked. “Drop the subject of Courtney. You know how I feel about pranks, especially on Halloween.”
“I know. Something bad always happens on Halloween.” Pat let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re a good cop. This town loves you, and other than last year’s unfortunate car accident, nothing really horrible has ever happened on Halloween.”
“Have you forgotten about Mr. McGiver’s garage?” That was the Halloween Courtney moved away.
“It wasn’t a big deal, Owen.”
“It was a dumb idea, and I regret it,” he said, continuing with the argument.
You were mad because you found out Courtney was moving that night. Your other
