Free No Such Thing as a Lost Cause by Shelly Fredman Page B

step.
     I mean, that was really uncalled for.
    “Brandy, I hate to leave you here like this,” Mike said, “but I’ve got to get back
     to the precinct.” He took a few steps and stopped, the corners of his mouth forming
     a grim smile. “Are you gonna be okay?”
    “Peachy.”
    “Do you want me to call DiCarlo?”
    My brain flashed back to Bobby and the blonde at the gym and shook my head. “I’m fine,
     Mike. Really. Thank you for all your help tonight.”
    Mike gave my shoulder an awkward pat and climbed into his patrol car. The neighbors
     had moved back into their own homes, satisfied that the Brandy Show was done for the
     night. I sat down on the front step and considered my options.
    I could go to John’s, but I didn’t want to risk running into Garrett. Uncle Frankie
     was still at the gym, and Fran and Janine were having dinner at their mother’s. Paulie?
     He’d only get upset and blow things all out of proportion. After all, nobody died,
     and the house is still standing. In the scheme of things, this was no big deal.
    The rain that had threatened for days began to fall in hard, fat drops. It ran in
     rivulets down my face and saturated the fake fur from the Godfrey costume. It clung
     to my body, emitting an odor akin to raw sewage.
    I reached up and swept my sopping wet bangs off my forehead. Too late, I remembered
     the temporary color Carla had put in my hair to give me a “saucy little lift.” She’d
     promised it would wash right out with water, and it did, leaving splotches of brown
     dye on my cheeks and hands. Icing on the cake.
    The puppy nudged up against my leg, settling in next to me, and nuzzled me with her
     warm, wet nose. She trusted me to take care of her, and I was failing her miserably.
     I’d never felt more frightened or alone in my life.
    I slumped against the back of the step and closed my eyes. And in the next moment,
     the voice of a slightly fallen angel caressed my soul.
    “Hello, Darlin’.”
    My eyes flew open and Nick stood in front of me. He wore a dirt-encrusted, sandy-colored
     tee shirt and desert-camo pants. His wavy, dark hair was tucked behind his ears, and
     the rough beginnings of a beard graced his normally clean shaven chin. Dried mud was
     caked to the sides of his boots, and he had a deep gash over his right eye that said
     his time away hadn’t been all fun and games.
    “Oh!” I yelped and leaped to my feet knocking Godfrey’s dismembered head clear into
     the gutter. Nick stretched out an arm to steady me. Even in the limited light from
     the moon I could tell that his sinewy biceps were a sun-soaked brown.
    “I didn’t mean to scare you, Angel.” His eyes were tired but he cut me a smile that
     was so damn sexy I could’ve done it with him right there on the lawn, in front of
     God and Mrs. Gentile. As if on cue, he cupped my face in his hands like I was the
     most precious thing on the planet and kissed me.
    I swooned. How corny is that? But that kiss was the first good thing to happen to
     me in weeks, and I was determined to enjoy it.
    A minute later, Adrian started barking and snapped me back to reality. I took a deep
     breath striving to appear confident and in control, which was difficult enough dressed
     as a St. Bernard with hair dye running down my face. Only now, the puppy had gotten
     up and was walking in concentric circles around me, her leash expertly trapping my
     legs. I pitched forward and Nick tightened his grasp on my arm, and pulled me back
     toward him.
    “Who’s your new friend?”
    “Long story,” I said, tugging on a stray tuft of fake dog fur. “I, um, actually had
     a different outfit planned for your homecoming, but then I decided to go with this.”
    “Ah, furry porn chic, an interesting choice,” he joked, but his eyes were trained
     on the wreckage that used to be my front door. “I’d heard you had some unexpected
     company tonight,” Nick continued. He kept his voice calm, but I felt an almost