Startled, she jumped at the deep voice coming from behind her. A handsome, suntanned face peered at her, and a wide grin greeted her through an open car window. The face was vaguely familiar. There was a flashing red light on top of the car, and a big silver badge painted on the side. The officer wore a neat, khaki uniform and sunglasses.
"Jeez, in trouble with the law already and I just got here." Maddy muttered under breath and walked over to the car with hands held up in mock surrender. "Sorry, officer, I didn't know it was against the law to talk to your self here in Nielsen. Just arrived and got turned around."
"Yes, ma'am, I know. I know everyone hereabouts and you, as the saying goes, I'd remember." Looking her up and down with admiring deep blue eyes, he got out and motioned for her to put her hands down. A glint of recognition crossed his face.
"So? What did I do to deserve the flashing lights?" Maddy was too tired to be very deferential.
"If there's anything against the law here, I'd say it was having eyes the color of yours." He was flirting with her outrageously as he stared, the grin never faltering.
"Is that a cop-type compliment or just a typical come on?" Brazenly she folded her arms and leaned against the fender of his car.
She guessed he was at least six foot two of pure masculinity in a neat, tan uniform. Broad shoulders attached to muscular arms, neatly pressed uniform, a huge gun on his hip. This was a very attractive man and he hadn't even taken his sunglasses off. He walked around a bit, stretching his legs and leaned next to Maddy against the car. She looked away and wished her heart wouldn't flutter so.
The way she was feeling right now, there was nothing she would love more than a good-natured exchange, especially with a handsome, if not rather smug, man. Pausing, she glanced back at her dusty car and ran a hand through her tousled red hair. Maddy readjusted the emerald green shirt that slid provocatively over her shoulder. She could see the interest in those brilliant blue eyes moving up and down her figure from the short skirt to the silky shirt constantly showing off a creamy shoulder.
Whoa, Girl.Let’s not get anything started here we can’t control. Just who was this guy, anyway? Why did he look so familiar?
"Well, ma'am, I was just making rounds when I saw you pull in. You looked a little lost," He said casually, readjusting his sunglasses.
"I am not lost, and it's Miss." She said, “I was just getting my bearings. It's been a long time since I was here and I'm supposed to meet a realtor named Leland Lancaster." Maddy wished she didn't talk so fast, it made her sound nervous. The officer listened and seemed deep in thought.
"Yeah, his office is just down the street. Say, I know who you are now. I heard you might be coming in. So, is it really you?" He stood upright, grinning and apparently momentarily lost for words.
"Well, I know who I am, but who do you think I am?" Maddy knew she was being sassy, but she was tired and more than curious. Her heart lurched and uneasily she shifted from one foot to the other. Then the realization hit her. If this was who she thought it was, her stomach now joined her heart in bouncing like a ping-pong ball. Alec McKay. This was her first love. Well, that answered a lot of the questions she had. The first boy who ever kissed her, anyway, and the boy who never wrote to her? Well, maybe once or twice. That memory made her prickle.
"You still have the same habits, always on the move. And those big emerald green eyes never miss a thing. Nobody had eyes like you." He gently pushed a strand of her hair out of her eye. This time his voice was low and husky and made her heart flutter at the familiarity.
"I'm hardly the same girl. If you had bothered to write years ago, you might know me, at least a little. Too late now, I'm all grown up."
"I'll say you are." Deputy McKay took his glasses off and looked at her appraisingly.
Steadily his eyes locked on her. Something about the light hair, impish smile and knowing way he had about him when he looked at her made her feel fifteen again. His whole personality said teasing, sweet, sexy; and now all that in an adult version. It was him, and she did remember. “Well, this is a surprise,” she said. Now how was she going to handle it? The deep blue of his eyes and the smile made her remember the honesty and trust they'd once shared. Could it still be that way or was he just trying to impress her?
I’m too suspicious, she chided herself, give the guy a chance. Give yourself a chance..
"Sorry, I was just thinking. Madeline Morris, haven't said that name in a long time. Junior High, I think. How many years has it been? I guess you could hardly be expected to remember me." He sounded hopeful rather than disappointed.
The big, brawny deputy stood before her holding his hands out in recognition as if expecting a hug.
As if she would ever forget that grin and the easy way
he smiled. But she wasn't going to admit it, not yet. She held her emotions in check.
"Oh, yes, I think-- Oh, of course I remember you, Alec."
"Well, wouldn't expect you to remember me right off, I wasn't a great pen pal, was I?"
“I can’t really remember.” She shrugged.
"I remember I kissed you under the oak tree in front
of the pavilion. Right over there, remember?" He pointed to a classic white bandstand that still stood in the middle of town.
"Yes, I remember. A girl always remembers her first kiss." She looked at his hand still holding
