Page 74 of The Matchmaker Club

Hank and Frank usually patrolled separately, taking turns with nights off. I was hoping it was Hank. He’d just tell me to get on home. Frank watched too many cop shows and his head was a little too big for that hat of his.

He got out of the vehicle, and I instantly knew who it was by the way he pulled up his pants by the belt. Not to mention he was a good foot shorter than the other, and a lot skinnier. Frank.

Great.

He flashed his light directly in my eyes, and I turned away. “Geez Frank, will you watch where you shine that thing?”

Frank came closer and flashed the light over me again. “Well, if it isn’t Taylor Reed. And what brings you out here after closing hours?”

“I was just taking a drive and felt like looking over the water.” I smiled. “It’s really pretty at night.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You come alone?”

“Yup. Just me.”

“Ah-huh.” He started to walk around, flashing the light in different directions.

“See,” I said. “No one else here but us.”

“Ow.” A faint yelp from Lucas sounded from the dock, and I instantly let out a howl to cover it up.

His flashlight was on me again. “What in the hell was that about?”

I shrugged. “It’s a full moon. Haven’t you ever howled at a full moon before?”

He stepped closer. “Are you high or something?”

“No. This is just my everyday weird self.”

“Open your eyes wider.”

I did as I was told.

He scrutinized them a few seconds and then backed away. “You go on home now, and don’t let me catch you up here after hours again, or I’ll cuff you for trespassing. You got that?”

“I got it. Thank you.” I stood there, waiting for him to leave.

“Well, whatcha waitin’ for. Get on outta here.”

This was not good.

“Yeah, okay.” I pulled my keys out of my pocket and headed toward Blush with Frank just behind me.

I started up the car and did a three-point turn. Frank hopped in the SUV just before I started down the dirt road. Unsurprisingly, he followed me as I turned onto the main road.

Hopefully, Lucas saw where I tossed his clothes, but I wasn’t sure. I wanted so badly to call his phone to help him locate it, but if Frank saw that phone glow from my car, he would arrest me for distracted driving.

Frank followed for another mile before turning onto Willow Road, probably to try and catch some after-hours out-of-towners with letters in hand to the Matchmaker. I pulled over and waited a few seconds before grabbing my phone. I called Lucas, but no answer. I turned around and headed back to the lake.

As soon as I pulled up the dirt road, headlights beamed onto Lucas, stark naked with his hands covering his front and scampering toward the woods. I shook my head and let out a laugh before getting out of the car. “Lucas, it’s me.”

He poked his head out from behind a tree. “I still can’t find my clothes.”

I grabbed my phone and turned on the flashlight. “We gotta hurry. If Frank comes back, my ass will go to jail. And so will yours, for indecent exposure.”

He took my phone and scanned around him. “Found them!”

He reached down, and I noticed the vine wrapping around the tree and weaving through the bushes. “Lucas! Don’t touch anything and get the hell out of there.”