Page 31

Story: Grimm County Wishes

“Exactly. You were turning tricks long before I came out. You got anyone in here?”

“No.”

“Nick, you see anything in your sweep around the park?”

“Few needles, nothing else.”

Al sighed, placing his hands on his tactical belt. “I don’t have anything to bring you in on, so for now I’m going to let you off with a warning. Keep your dealings inside your trailer, and you should be okay.”

“I’ve been real hungry lately. Maybe you can give me some money before you leave.”

“Sorry. I’m all out.”

“That’s not what I heard. I heard you’re on all kinds of TV shows now.”

“I’m not funding your habit. Call me if you ever go to rehab.”

“Oh, you think you’re so much better than me? Why the hell do you think you’re on those TV shows? It’s not your brains, that’s for sure. It’s your body. That’s all anybody will ever want you for.”

“Let’s go.” Nick grabbed his arm and pulled him down the steps.

“Not so much different from dear old mom, are ya, son?” she shouted as he got back into the patrol car.

Fuck.Maybe she was right.

Chapter 23

“Now, that’s gonna leave a scar,” Shane spoke into Diane’s camera as they stood next to the racetrack at Johnny’s Fun Park.

Al winced along with the rest of the crew as Desiree’s go-kart tumbled into the hay bales on turn three. Today’s group date began with a high-speed chase. A drone flew around the track, dangling a giant picture of Al’s face. The first woman to make twenty laps would win a one-on-one snack break.

Delilah’s nails dug into Al’s arm as they walked to the first aid tent. Since only one person could fit into the go-kart, she’d been sidelined for the challenge.

“Oh my god, are you bleeding? Where’s your cut?” Delilah shrieked as the medic wiped a red substance from her sister’s forehead. “Don’t worry, no matter how bad it is, I’ll make a matching one.”

The medic’s eyes widened as he looked between the two twins. “Actually, it’s just some paint from the steering wheel.”

Al peeled Delila’s hand from his arm and squatted next to Desiree. “Are you going to be okay?” He might not want to marry the woman, er, women, but he didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of him.

Desiree nodded. “Yeah, maybe a small bruise, but that’s all. And depending on how it looks, we’ve got enough makeup to either cover it up or put a matching one on Delilah.”

Al chuckled and stood up. “I’m glad to hear it. You ladies sit tight and I’ll have them send over a couple of snow cones.”

After coordinating their snacks, he walked back to Shane and Diane. “Good news. It was touch and go for a few seconds, but you can all relax. The twins are still identical.” He looked over the lens to wink at Diane, who was struggling to control her laughter.

“Paige’s competitive nature has put her at an advantage in this challenge. She’s already lapped most of the girls, and the only one even close to catching up is Iona.” Shane continued to narrate the race for the camera while Al slipped away to find Jeannie.

He found her lounging on top of a picnic table underneath the giant shade canopy. The temperature was in the high seventies today, and she’d embraced the warmer weather with a pair of cutoff shorts with a long-sleeved baseball tee. The simple outfit shouldn’t have been so sexy, but who was he kidding? This was Jeannie. Everything she wore was sexy.

He cleared his throat, hoping she wouldn’t notice the bulge in his pants as he sat next to her.

“What happened to Mercedes? I thought she was about even with Paige before Desiree crashed.”

“Disqualified for cheating.” Jeannie pushed her sunglasses into her hair and her eyes twinkled as she continued. “She had a bottle of Silly String and shot it at Paige. It’s against the rules to distract the other drivers.”

“Silly String?”

“Yup. Pulled it right out of her titties.”