I rub the tension at the back of my neck. It was a rough night and I slept like shit. I was hoping to hear Addie’s voice—for some reason, I thought that might help. That didn’t work out and I know it was just a text, but something seemed different with her. I shrug it off. After the hell of yesterday and reminder of just what kind of hell a woman can put a man through, I’m just being paranoid. Just because Linda was certifiably insane, it doesn’t mean Addie is.

Addie is completely different from Linda. She’s sweet, funny, and completely drama free…

“I thought I’d find you here.”

I jerk my head up quick to see Addie standing at my desk and she’s mad… No. She’s pissed. Her face is even red with the emotion. That should be enough to set off alarm bells, but instead I find myself looking at the way the dress she’s wearing clings to her curves. It’s a summer dress in white and lilac and rather simple to be honest, but damn she makes that dress look good. I try to get my head in the conversation though, because if there’s one thing I know, it’s a woman who is upset is a dangerous thing to behold.

“Well, this is where I work, Princess Addie,” I tell her with a grin, though I’m holding back on the charm because she looks like she wants to punch me.

“Don’t you do that!”

“Do what?”

“Call me that! My name is Adelle and you can’t call me that either.”

“Addie, I’m not sure what’s going on here—”

“I said my name is Adelle!”

“Well, Adelle, maybe you’d like to explain what’s got your panties in a bunch—”

“I said you couldn’t call me that!” she screeches. “And don’t talk about my panties. My panties have nothing to do with you anymore! They never did!” she looks around the room—which is way too crowded for this shouting match, but there’s not much I can do. At least five of the other deputies are in the office. Not to mention Luka and the Mayor are in his office. Correction. They were in Luka’s office. The door just opened.

Great… just great. When will I learn that women destroy a man? The last thing I need is the new Mayor witnessing this shit. It’s not going to end well. I’m sure he doesn’t want a deputy on the force that causes drama like this in a public office.

“Addie maybe we could talk about this out—”

“I said, don’t call me Addie! You lost that privilege! And just so everyone knows, he never got into my panties!”

I hold my head down and pinch the bridge of my nose, thinking I should have skipped cereal this morning and went straight for the Jack Daniels.

“Princess? What’s going on?”

My head jerks up and this time I’m eyeing the Mayor. Princess? Motherfucker, does she have every man in the world on a string? I really know how to pick them. I’m going to move to Tibet and become a freaking monk. That has to be an easier life.

“Crap. You’re here? Why are you here? You said you were going to a business meeting this morning!” She sounds flustered, and I guess I can take solace in the fact her sugar daddy has caught her fooling around on him. No wonder he keeps her on as landscaper. She’s obviously trimming more than his hedges.

“I do,” he responds. “With Sheriff Luka—”

“Well, you’ll just have to get in line. I have some things to say to him and they can’t wait.”

“You do?” Luka asks.

I say nothing. At this point, I’m just being quiet, waiting for this shit-show to end.

“I do! You’re such an asshole! How could you do this?” Addie asks, only this time she’s not looking at Luka, she’s looking at me. I start not to answer, but really I’m grieving the loss of my dog. I have Tani looking at local shelters and faxing pictures of Kong to them, but so far she’s come up with nothing. Linda is deranged. She probably had Kong put down. If I didn’t feel so broken, I’d want to kill her. Right now, I just want to make it my mission never to see the bitch again in my lifetime. If I do, I’m not sure I can be held responsible for what I’d do to her.

“It’s been a long fucking night, Princess, and so far the day isn’t getting much better. So maybe you could explain to me what in the fuck you think I’ve done to you exactly?” I literally growl the words. I stand up too, because I’m done with letting women stand over me and scream. Linda pulled that shit all the time and I let her get away with it. I’m done with that too. I don’t know how much more I’m supposed to take, but I’ve had it with women.

Completely had it.

“Oh, you know what you’ve done!” she yells. I’ll be surprised if they don’t hear her across the street at the diner.

So much for trying to get out of this with a little dignity.

“No, I actually don’t, so enlighten me,” I invite.

“You’re really going to play dumb?”

“He doesn’t normally have to play too hard,” Mom chimes in helpfully.

The moment I hear my mother’s voice I want to leave. Nothing good—absolutely nothing—can come of this.

“I—” Addie stumbles on her next tirade to look at my Mom. “Who are you?”

“Black’s mother,” she replies and fuck she’s brought that damn Chihuahua. I look at the little dog and he instantly snarls at me.

“Is that your dog?” Addie asks, momentarily sidetracked.

“No, it’s Black’s. Ain’t he cute?” Mom asks petting it like it deserves to be praised. Damn thing curls into Mom’s hand like it doesn’t have a care in the world.

“That’s your dog?” Addie asks, her eyes round.

“Do you want to tell me why you hate me? Or am I just supposed to guess?” I ask her instead, but then my head jerks back to Mom.

“Mom! Did you dye that damn dog’s skin pink again? I told you to take that shit out of it!” I growl, wanting nothing to remind me of Linda at all—if I can manage it.

“What? Of course not.”

“Then why is—”

“It has to wear off. Besides, I think it makes Kong look adorable.”

“That damn thing is not Kong!”

“Do you always talk to your mother like that? I’m learning more and more about you and with each new thing, I dislike you more!” Addie says and I let out a sound that’s a mix between exasperation, frustration and irritation all rolled into one.

“What has Black done, sweetie?”

“My name is Addie, you can call me that. He can’t.”

“Oh that’s a sweet name. Do you have a middle name?”

“What? Umm… no,” Addie responds and this time she looks confused. It’s about time somebody is other than me.

“You should totally add one. I’ll think of one for you.”

“I… uh… okay.”

At this point Addie looks shell shocked and everyone—including the damn Mayor—is standing around waiting to see what happens next. I just really want it over with, so I give her a nudge.

“You were telling me what I possibly could have done to piss you off into such epic proportions that you felt the need to come down to my place of employment and give me hell. Maybe you could get on with it, before we all turn gray-headed,” I prompt.

My voice must have been too loud. All at once the little pink mongrel jumps out of Mom’s hands and lunges at me. I catch him mostly on instinct and he bites my chest—which would have been alright because he’s little, I mean, how sharp can his teeth be? The problem comes in when he bites into my damn nipple and even through my shirt the damned thing’s teeth seem to penetrate. He slings his head back and forth like he’s trying to kill a damn snake. I yank him hard and Christ!... I wouldn’t be surprised if the dog didn’t rip through my skin. I literally throw him down on my desk. Addie and Mom both reach for the dog at the same time. Addie seems to win the fight and takes the damn thing in her arms, holding it against her breasts. The damn thing turns and licks Addie’s hand where she’s petting his head and curls into her palm.

“Oh, you poor baby,” Addie coos and it whimpers!

“Jesus Fu—”

“Black don’t you finish that! You’re not so old that I can’t take lye soap to your damn mouth,” Mom yells and the little pink nightmare turns at me and snarls. Addie just lets her eyes shoot daggers at me. I can hear Luka laughing in the background, but I don’t look at him, because I have no inclination to see Addie’s sugar daddy standing beside him.

“Even your dog hates you!” Addie declares and I just roll my eyes heavenward at this point.

“If you can’t tell me why you’re upset then—”

“I’ll tell you why I’m upset,” she huffs. I do my best to pay attention, but I’m rubbing my nipple through my shirt. I’m pretty sure it’s now pierced—by a damn dog’s tooth!

“Finally,”— that’s said by my mother and even though she’s echoing my thoughts, I’m worried.

“I met Petal!”

“So?” I ask, because I was lost before, but now I’m completely lost.

“I met Petal!” she yells—again.

“You don’t like my sweet Petal? She’s a good girl. Hasn’t always had the best of tastes of course, but—” Ida Sue starts, while I’m just frowning.

“Ida Sue—”

“It’s mom now, Orange. And you know I love you, let’s not rehash dirty laundry, shall we? Especially in front of my new grand-pup!”

“Grand-pup?” Luka laughs.

“And I met your children!” Addie cries.

“What the hell?”

“Your children?!?!”

Before I can decipher who is saying what, Addie’s hand comes out and slaps the hell out of me. I hold the side of my face, the skin burning from her hit. I narrow my eyes at her. I’d never hurt a woman, but the urge to pull her over my lap and smack her ass raw is there.

“I don’t know what kind of woman you thought I was, but I can assure you I don’t agree to sleep with a man lightly! I sure wouldn’t sleep with a married man!”

“Married?” Mom asks, but my eyes are trained on Addie trying to figure out exactly what in the hell is going on.

“Thank God I didn’t agree to go to a hotel with you. You have roommates! That’s rich! Did you get a good laugh about that one? It’s not roommates, you asshole, it’s a wife and kids!”

“I’m not laughing about any of this shit. I still don’t know what you’re yammering on about!” I say through grinded teeth.

“Yammering? You know what? I feel sorry for Petal! She must be a saint to put up with your ass!”

“I—”

“I’m sorry I ever met you!”

“You didn’t meet me! You almost ran over me!”

“And I should have kept going! I would have done Petal a favor!”

“What—”

“You can go to hell, Luka-Parrish-they-call-me-Black! They probably call you Black because of your black heart!” I fall back against my chair, sitting down as Addie storms out.

“She thinks you’re me…” Luka says, sounding puzzled. “Why would she think you are me?”

“Why have you been trying to sleep with my daughter?” the Mayor asks, and I jerk my head up to look at him.

“Your daughter?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“I think we’ve got some problems here…” the Mayor says.

“I’ll say so,” Mom says, still staring out the door. “That girl just kidnapped my grand-pup.”

Luka starts laughing and I just lay my head down on the desk, wondering if I can book a flight to Tibet today….