Free Hazards on the Hardwood (Hazards and Hijinks) by Patty A. Gammons Page A

social standards you can leave me immediately. What do you say? Just one cup?”
    Sparky knew better than to fall for this dashing man. She did take note that his hair was much too perfect. Upon further investigation she figured out that he wore a hairpiece. But it certainly didn’t detract from his looks at all. It made him a little bit more interesting. He was drawing her in like a magnet. He definitely had some guts. Daring to approach her and with no fear apparent, he’d been forward and asked her to coffee.
    “Think fast Sparky.” She thought. Before she realized it, she’d accepted his offer.
    “Yes I would love to have a cup of coffee with you but I don’t think we’ve exchanged names yet.” She said rather softly.
    “My name is Edward Haversham. I am from right here in New York City.”
    “My name is Sparky Farnum, of the famous Farnum family of Surrey.” She snickered.
    “Well my goodness. Am I in the presence of royalty? I should have worn a better suit. I’m not sure I should be speaking casually to such a one as your highness.” He grinned and his charming smile softened Sparky’s apprehension. “He was a smooth one.” She thought as she tried to remain composed.
    Sparky remembered the exchange that took place that day as if it had just happened. It tugged at her heart that it all started over a piece of luggage. “Louis darling what did you do?” She spoke as if Louis Vuitton were right there in the room with her.
    Shaken back into the present she had to call her half-brother, Landon Mills. He lived in Las Vegas currently. Landon was such a brat. He had been the offspring of her “mum” and her step-dad, Nigel Mills. Landon took after her step-dad more than she wished he did. Nigel was a barrister and a good one too. Landon had followed the law trail himself and moved to the states as soon as he graduated and into Harvard Law School. He was a smart one! Why he’d decided to practice in Las Vegas was something Sparky could never figure out. But he was prospering and he was also a fabulous ballroom dancer. It ran in their family. Several competitions were won by different family members. Landon even participated in a couple of contests that Sparky entered. They had laughed when they saw each other lining up for their dances. He was an excellent competitor in the fox trot and quickstep. “I could never do the quick step.” Sparky thought and giggled slightly. My heels would get caught in all those feathery gowns. “Pure disaster…better to samba and rumba!”
    She would call Landon tomorrow. She had to get some sleep now. Edward was still in the other room on the computer; no doubt emailing some of his co-conspirators. She figured he probably had others in on his plan. He never had the guts to do something by himself.
    Sparky grabbed a bite to eat said her “goodnights” to her dear sweet Edward and retired to her bedroom. “I would hate to give all of this luxury up.” She thought as she looked around the lavish boudoir. Satin sheets adorned the bed, elegant lighting, textured walls with expensive paintings from famous U.S. artists, the lush carpet, the walk-in closet that housed all her fine clothes and shoes. “She had it good,” she thought as her eyes glanced around the room. She would have to count the cost of giving up all this elegance for a life crime-free. She definitely had food for thought.
    It was time to make a decision and stick with it. No more hiding behind the mask of adoration. The REAL Sparky was about to immerge for the first time in their married life.
    Noises surrounded Sparky as she awakened the next morning. The alarm had not been set. “What on earth was that noise?” She was still groggy.
    “I’ve told you no! Don’t toy with me Max. I am the customer here. You do things according to the way I want it. I made it perfectly clear that the compound had to be mixed by my requested specifications. Nothing else will have the same effect.” Edward sounded