I must have been more exhausted than I realized because I slept all day. I woke up feeling refreshed, but with a delicious soreness between my legs that was all about Grayson. My nap had been long overdue, but it hadn’t given me any clarity. At least, it hadn’t given me any peace of mind. I wanted to text Grayson a bunch of heart emojis and find out when we could have hot sex again.

Down, Lucy.

I still thought it was a terrible idea. I had to be strong. I had to remember why I didn’t date cops.

I was having a hard time remembering my reasons.

I threw on some clothes and drove over to my grandmother’s home. Just looking at the faded yellow house made me feel better. I parked under the shade of a massive live oak tree with hanging moss and climbed the worn wooden steps to the front door. I let myself in, and the screen door banged shut behind me.

“Grandma?” I called down the hall, looking for her.

“I’m in here, Lucy!” Her voice was faint.

I followed the sound of her voice to the kitchen. Pausing in the doorway, I looked with loving eyes at the figure of my grandmother, doing what she loved best. She was canning vegetables from her garden, and the room was a steamy mess.

“Hey, baby!” Grandma used tongs to lower a mason jar into a batch of steaming water, so I crossed the room and bent to give her a kiss on her wrinkled cheek.

“Canning tomatoes?” I leaned back to observe her work.

“You know it. That way we can have the best soups and sauces this winter.” She wiped her hands on a floral dish towel.

“What brings you by? Not that I’m complaining. You know I love to see you.” She sat down at the kitchen counter and started peeling tomatoes.

“I wanted to check in with you, and maybe eat a fried pie.” I poked around the kitchen cabinets while I talked.

“Check the covered plate next to the stove.” Grandma was a peeling machine.

If I tried to peel anything that fast, I would cut off a finger or two.

I uncovered the plate and found my prize – one chocolate fried pie. I stuck it in the microwave for twenty seconds and poured a tall glass of milk while I waited. I was starving because I had slept through both breakfast and lunch.

When my pie was heated, I joined her at the counter to eat and watch her work.

We talked about her canning for a while. I learned all that she had already put up for the winter, and what she still had to do. Her garden always out produced any other garden for miles around. Then our talk drifted to general news about the farm and the community.

Finally, Grandma put her knife down, and she eyed me from across the counter. “What really brings you by today? I can tell you have something on your mind.”

I could never fool Grandma.

“There’s this guy...” I trailed off.

I wasn’t sure what to tell her. I really didn’t think she would blink if I told her I had spontaneous sex with a man I wasn’t dating. Grandma was conservative and old-fashioned, but at the same time, she kept it real. She wouldn’t judge me, but I didn’t want to talk about it.

“What guy? Is he worthy of you?” She wiped her hands off again, and she looked at me with her faded blue eyes. Despite the faded color, those eyes were as shrewd as ever.

“Yes. He’s worthy. He’s a nice guy, a gentleman. Thoughtful. I think you would like him.” I paused again, trying to find the right words.

“Go on. I’m not seeing the problem yet.” She wiped off the counter, but her attention was fully on me.

I sighed. “I really like him. A bunch. But he’s a cop.” I traced a faint crack in the old countertop with one finger, and I avoided eye contact with her.

“Ah.” Grandma got up and started putting dishes in the sink. She turned on the faucet and squirted dish soap into the water. “Now I see the problem.”

I had never had a conversation with my grandmother about my aversion to dating cops. Why would I? It had never been an issue before because I didn’t know any cops. But she understood at once just the same.

I swiveled around to face her and rested my elbows on the counter behind me. “I can’t handle that life. I don’t want to spend all my time worrying about him and what he’s facing at work.”

“You know that what happened to your father was an unusual situation. Yes, being a police officer is a dangerous job, but lots of officers retire after thirty years on the job, and they are just fine. You can’t assume something terrible will happen.” Grandma plunged her hands into the soapy water and started washing dishes. “Your grandfather had a long career in law enforcement. When it was time to retire, he retired. End of story.”

“I know I’m not being reasonable, but I can’t help how I feel.” I stood up, restless.

“Well, that’s the question, isn’t it?” She scrubbed a mint green plate and glanced my way. “Stop worrying so much, and concentrate on how you feel about Grayson Jackson.”

“How did you...” I stopped in mid-sentence. The grocery store orange tsunami. I knew that would get all over town.

Her eyes twinkled at me. “Grayson Jackson has been a tomcat all over this county. He doesn’t chase women. They chase him. But word on the street is he’s chasing you now. And here you stand, talking about your feelings. I say, less talk, more action.”

“Grandma!” I sputtered, not sure what to say next. I pressed my hands to my hot cheeks.

Grandma laughed and turned back to her scrubbing. “Concentrate on how he makes you feel, dear. That’s all I ask. Worry about the rest later.”

Dumbfounded, I wandered out of the kitchen and headed for my bedroom. I sat down on the old, faded quilt, and thought about my grandmother’s words. I looked over at my antique dresser and saw the framed picture of my dad that had been sitting there since his funeral so many years ago.

I picked it up and held it with both hands. My dad was so handsome in his police uniform, and he was so proud of what he did for a living. I could remember that clearly, despite how young I was when he died and how many years had passed since then. Reminded me of someone else I knew.

My phone buzzed, startling me. I sat the picture frame back down and pulled out my phone. I had two texts waiting on me.

I clicked on the first one and realized it was from Charlie.

Hey. Wanted to remind you about dinner tonight. I hope you like Italian. Or we can go somewhere else if you want. See you tonight!

I had forgotten all about my date with Charlie tonight. Crap. I wasn’t feeling it, but I wouldn’t back out at the last minute. I fired off a quick reply that I was looking forward to it. I was such a liar.

The next text was from Grayson, from two hours ago while I had still been asleep.

I can still taste you.

Tingles ran up my spine, and I grew wet in an instant.

Why couldn’t I react like that to Charlie? Maybe I would if I just gave him a shot. I would go to dinner with Charlie and go over my Manlist.

Everything would be okay.

***

CHARLIE PICKED ME UP right on time. He was dressed very well, brought me a sweet flower, and opened my car door for me. We had a great conversation on the way to the restaurant about a television show we both enjoyed. Everything was perfect. I had nothing to criticize.

I was miserable.

He took me to the same Italian restaurant I went to with Colton, which seemed an ominous sign, but it gave me another topic of conversation.

We gave the server our order, and I launched into the story of my disastrous date with Colton. Charlie was in disbelief, hanging on my every word.

“So he ran from the police? Like, in a for real high-speed chase?” His eyebrows raised, he leaned forward, wanting more details.

“Yes! I don’t know how fast we were going, but he wouldn’t stop. The police had to use stop sticks to puncture his tires. That’s the only reason he finally stopped.” I took a sip of my sweet tea.

“Where did you find this guy?” Charlie sat back, shaking his head.

“He was a recommendation from a mutual friend. Just like you!” We both laughed at that.

Our food came, and I started my subtle revised Manlist interview.

I had already learned about his job during our coffee date. I hadn’t really been paying attention, but I knew he did something in sales. What a boring job. Grayson’s job allowed him to give back to the community.

“So, where do you live?” I feigned interest in the conversation. I wondered what Grayson was doing this evening.

“I rent a house on the east end of town. It’s not much, but it sure beats the dorms.” Charlie grinned at me.

“Hey, now! I live in the dorms!” I laughed, not offended at all.

So he had a stable living situation. Why didn’t that interest me at all?

“Well, in the dorms I couldn’t have a pet. Now I have a great cocker spaniel named Smitty.” He whipped out his phone to show me a picture of the dog.

He loved animals. That was on the list, right?

One by one I moved through the Manlist. Charlie scored high marks, even higher than Colton, but I couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm. Everything seemed a little...off. Or maybe I was off. Off my rocker because I couldn’t get Grayson out of my head.

Afterward, we finished our meal, we started walking down Main Street together. Conversation flowed between us with no problem, so what was wrong with me?

Maybe if I opened up to him a little bit.

So I started on the one topic that I never shared, other than that one time with Grayson.

“When I was a little girl, my father was killed on the job. He was a police officer.” We had reached the end of Main, where it dead-ended into the park with the duck pond. This was the perfect place to talk about my father, since I had so many powerful memories of him here.

I turned toward him in the dark, ready to tell him about what effect my dad’s death had on my life when he suddenly kissed me.

Confused, I pushed away from him just in time to see Grayson emerge from the dark. Even in the faint light coming from a distant street light, I can see that he is angry.

“What the fuck are you doing, douchebag?” Grayson pushed lightly on Charlie’s chest, but Charlie backed up a few steps as if he had been shoved. “She tells you about her father’s death and your reaction is to try to make out with her?”

Grayson stepped forward. “Lucy deserves better than that. If you are looking for a quick lay, go somewhere else.”

Charlie looked over at me. I swallowed. I started to try to smooth things over, but that’s not what came out of my mouth. “I don’t think this is working. I’m sorry. You are a nice guy, but I don’t think I’m the girl for you.”

When I finished speaking, instead of feeling bad, I felt relief wash over my body.

Charlie nodded, mumbled something about seeing me around, and then he took off back towards town.

Grayson and I stood in utter silence.

He leaned toward me and smeared his thumb over my lips. “Did you enjoy his kiss?” He sneered at me. “He can’t make you come like I did.”

“Now who’s being the douche, huh?” I started walking towards the ducks. I needed the comfort of remembering my father and the good times we shared. “Don’t follow me anymore.”

I stopped and whirled around to face him. “Why are you lurking in the dark anyway? That’s creepy. Stalkerish.”

“I saw you walking down the street and thought you might need help.” He shrugged his shoulders, unimpressed by my display of anger.

“Help with what?” He didn’t answer. “Now go away. I’m fine.”

Grayson ignored my command and came after me. We headed deep into the woods on the other side of the pond, following the nature trail.

I stumbled a little in the dark, but Grayson caught me by the arm.

“Hey.” His voice had gentled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

I sighed.

“There’s something between us. Something big. I don’t know how to label it, or if we even should try to label it, but it’s there. And I like it.” He wrapped his arms around me and drew me closer.

Surprised, I snuggled up to him, breathing in his manly scent. Why did this feel so natural and so right? I hadn’t even tried my new and improved Manlist on Grayson, but I didn’t care how he did on my checklist.

“I like it, too.” I admitted my feelings in a small voice. I nuzzled my nose into his chest, breathing in his sexy goodness.

Grayson kissed me then, and I melted in his arms. More action, my grandmother had said. I was ready for more action. For sure.

We made out for a long time, slow, deep, tender kisses, standing under the stars before Grayson finally pulled away.

“I could do this all night, but I’d rather take you out and treat you right.” He rubbed the tip of his nose against mine. “Let’s go share a bottle of wine at Maude’s and talk for a while.”

Maude’s was the local bar, just down the street a ways. It was a dive, but it was safe and surprisingly quiet. Our options were few in a town as small as Peacock.

“Sounds great to me.” Holding hands, we exited the park together.