The Dead Guy- Chapter 9

My new bed was made and looking very inviting. The old bed that held the dead guy was gone. Gone too were the police tape and the fingerprint powder that was all over my room. I could almost forget that I had spent the better part of last week stay at my ex husbands and trying to keep my self from forgiving him. I had decided not to call him back about us having dinner together. It was just too risky. Instead I called Thad and thanked him for being so thoughtful and helping me get a new bed so I could go home.



"So are you free later?" Thad asked hopefully. I was hoping he would ask me out.  I was still wondering if he was going to kiss me again, only this time I wanted to to last. I wanted to kiss him until I was dizzy. I wanted to know that that could still happen for me.
"It depends on what you have in mind." I replied coyly.
"I was thinking of drinks maybe some dinner." he paused then finished "There is a band playing at Beer Gut's." Beer Gut's is our local pub. You would think based on the name that it would be a seedy place filled with seedy people and smelling of stale beer and desperation. But you would be wrong. Beer Gut's is owned by a guy I went to High School with named Charlie McCoy. Charlies sense of humor is legendary around here. Charlie thought it would be funny to have an upscale English style pub and give it a white trash name. Charlie laughs all the way to the bank every night. Beer Gut's is the most popular restaurant and bar in town.
"Beer Gut's sounds great. Shall I meet you?"
"I would prefer to pick up.Unless that is a problem?" he asked
"No problem. What time?"
"Six ?"
"Sound great see you then." I hung up and leaned back on my new beautiful bed. I knew there was going to be trouble. I was not sure how much trouble or where it would come from, but I couldn't be this excited without there being hell to pay. That is just how my life works. I looked at the face of my phone to check the time. 2:45 pm. Time to pick up the twins.

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I didn't really want to tel the twins I was going on a date. I didn't want to not tell them either. So I waited. Maybe they will have plans tonight I thought. But no they sprawled on the sofa and did home work then wandered to the refrigerator to see if anything new had magically appeared there in the last 30 minutes since they had looked. And I puttered around the house, made dinner and then went to change for my date. I had barely closed my door when there was a knock at it. "I am dressing" I yelled through the door.
"Aren't you going to eat with us?" Dylan yelled back.
"I am going out to dinner."
"Oh" he replied and then silence. Was that it? I continued dressing and looked at my watch. Thad would be here any minute and I wanted to be sure I looked good. Makeup. Check. Hair. Check. Clothes. The doorbell rang and I twisted in the mirror back and forth making sure that everything was in place. Then I went to answer the door. Dash had beaten me to the door. He and Thad seemed to be having a staring contest. I grabbed my purse off the table in the foyer and scooted around Dash, kissing him on the cheek as I went by. "Love you" I called out to Dylan. Then I lowered my voice as I spoke to Dash "I shouldn't be too late." I pulled the door closed behind me before he could say anything.
Thad placed his hand in the small of my back as we headed for the truck at the curb. " You didn't tell them you were going out tonight?" he asked opening the door for me. I waited while he came around the front of the truck and got in.
"I told them I was going out...just not that I was going out with you."I answered.
"Don't you think you should have? I think that , Which twin was it that opened the door?"
"Dashiell."
"I think dash wanted to slam the door on me. He knows I am cop and I think that is why he was frozen when you came to the door."
"I haven't actually dated anyone since the divorce."
"I see." Thad said and then remained silent. I was not sure that he did see but I know I could not explain that I felt guilty going on a date with someone other than the twins father. So I remained silent too. Fortunately for me the restaurant wasn't far. Remaining silent isn't my strong suit. By the time we reached the restaurant I thought my head would explode with all the questions I had about how exactly he understood. He came around and opened the door for me. Put his hand out to help me out of the truck. Once out and on firm ground he pulled me to him and kissed me. He kissed me like he knew what he was doing. I leaned into him and he put his arms around me to pull me closer still. He ran he tongue along the seem of my lips asking for admittance. I welcomed him in. He regretfully pulled away and looked down into my face. I opened my eyes and he planted a quick kiss on my lips. "I just want to be sure you know who you are kissing." He said and stepped away taking my hand. "I don't want you to forget and think I am you ex."
" I don't really think that will be a problem." I said walking next to him. He tasted far different than Drew. His kissing style was different too. Good but different. I kept silent on those particulars as I didn't really think he needed to hear them. Beer Gut's was busy. The band tonight must be a good one I thought as I followed the waitress to our table. Thad pulled out the chair and I sat down. Once Thad was seated the waitress handed us out menus and asked if we wanted to know the specials for the day. We did and she shared and we decided to go with the specials. I had never had a bad meal here. Despite the place being called Beer Gut, the food was gourmet all the way.

About halfway through dinner the band began to play. they were good and had quite a crowd on the dance floor. I wasn't sure about staying and listening to the entire set, not knowing how long they would play but I enjoyed the music and it kept the conversation from becoming too intimate. The band switched to a slow ballad and Thad asked me to dance. Oh how I wanted to dance but I felt shy all of the sudden.I could just hear the phone calls form my mom and drew about me being seen rubbing like a cat up against Thad in a public place. And that after kissing him in a window on Main Street. I hesitated but got up and figured I was damed anyway for eating with him at Beer Gut's I might as well enjoy myself to the fullest.

And enjoy myself I did. Thad drew me into his arms and we began to dance. He was a good dancer. I don't know why that surprised me but it did. he drew me close and I laid my cheek on his chest. He rubbed his face against the top of my head and whispered."I could hold you like this all night."  I was happy to stay there as long as the music played. I was feeling all warm and melty inside. Thinking about the kiss, feeling his warm body against mine. Swaying to the music that sang of long lost love. But the music ended and the band took a break and I came back to reality. We went back to the table and the check was waiting.

Thad paid the check saying " I know you need to be home to make sure your twins get to bed etc, but I wish this date could last a little longer."
"I am having a really nice time too. But you are right I do need to get home. And don't you have the early shift tomorrow?"
"Yes Ma'am. I do. so stop trying to tempt me into staying out so late." He winked as he smiled and opened the passenger truck door. he then picked me up by the waist and lifted me into the truck. Sitting there I was eye to eye with him. He leaned in and kissed me. Boy did this guy know how to kiss. It raised my temperature and then he pulled away. "Don't want to give the folks a show he said. I looked around and saw several people in the parking lot. I swiveled in the seat and he closed the door. I am sure that I was red faced. I could feel the heat in my cheeks. All those people saw me kissing Officer Yumm. I knew I was gonna get an earful from my mom. I gave it 2 1/2 hours to get back to her. that should put it past 9 o'clock. If I was lucky I wouldn't hear about it till morning.

Thad started the truck and looked over at me. "I love that you blush." he said putting the truck in drive and pulling onto the road to take me home. "I am not blushing." I said indignatly. But I knew it was a lie. I could feel the heat still.
"Ok whatever it is you are doing over there you look beautiful."
"Now I am blushing. Are you always this charming? I seem to remember when you were questioning me that you were not so nice."
"When I was questioning you I was tring to find out the truth. Believe it or not people often lie to the police."
"No! Say it isn't so." I replied in mock disbelief.
"Yep. So much so that you might even start to believe that everyone lies. But you. Well never say you didn't stand up for yourself. You looked mighty pretty with your face all flushed telling me that you didn't 'do trysts'.  I think that is when I decided that if you were innocent I was going to ask you out."
"It was was it? I asked smiling. I was glad he thought I was pretty and that the asked me out.
"Yes ma'am."
"You didn't say anything to my brother did you?"
"No. Should I have?"
"No. Just wondering.." Now I was feeling a little bolder and flirty. "What else have you decided about me?"
Thad was pulling up in front of my house. " I have decided that I would like ot kiss you again. he said leaning over and placing his lips against mine. Our lips had just touched when I heard a door slam. I looked up to see  The twins and Drew all standing on the front porch. All with their arms folded. "Uh oh." I said and giggled.
"They don't look to happy." Thad said and smiled. " I think I better walk you to your door so you can deal with your unhappy crowd."
"I am not sure that is wise. I will just go alone." I said this to the empty space beside me because Thad was already out and around the truck to my door pulling it open. " I always walk my dates to the door." He said taking my hand and casually striding up the front walk. " Here she is safe and sound." He said to my unhappy mob. Then he turned and surprised the hell out of me by kissing me full on the lips. In front of God and everyone. "Good night Jacquline. I will call you tomorrow." He said and turned and walked back to the truck as if there were not three angry men standing on my front porch. While I was standing there gaping after him I heard Dylan say " Well the guys got balls. I will give him that."

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