Colby vaulted from the Jeep and walked past Diana’s sedate four-door Buick. Specter glared at him from the front seat.
“Forget it, you big ugly mutt, there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m here to stay.“
Specter growled just loud enough for Colby to hear.
“Hey, Savagar!“
Colby turned at the familiar voice. Eddy Spooner was hailing him from across the street. Colby waved a hand in acknowledgment. “Morning, Eddy. How’s it going?“
Eddy glanced casually up and down the quiet street and then trotted across it. He was wearing his usual outfit, a faded pair of combat fatigues and heavy boots. He had a billed cap on his head and he was wiping his hands on an oily cloth. There was a hopeful smile on his face as he joined Colby.
“Can’t complain,“ Eddy said. “Been waitin’ for you to come into town this morning. How about havin’ that beer you and I talked about?“
Colby sighed inwardly but told himself he really couldn’t put it off any longer. Twenty years was a long time but he couldn’t ever forget that Spooner had once been the closest thing to a friend he’d ever had in Fulbrook Corners.
“Sure, Eddy. Sounds good.“
“Come on out to the house this evening. I get off work at five.“
The last thing Colby wanted to do was waste an evening drinking with Eddy Spooner. He had far more interesting plans for tonight. “Uh, I’m busy this evening, Eddy.“
“That Prentice broad, huh? Can’t say I blame you. She looks real slick. Real cool in those fancy clothes, but I bet she’s probably a real hot piece of…“
“Don’t say it, Spooner.“
Spooner blinked at the blunt warning. Then his grin widened and he held up both hands in a placating gesture.
“Okay, okay, I get the picture. No offense. So, when do you want to get together for the beer? We got a lot to talk about, old buddy. Tomorrow’s my day off.“
He’d better set a time and get it over with, Colby decided. “Right. Let’s make it tomorrow. I work in the mornings. Ill come out to your place in the afternoon. I’ll bring the beer. That work for you?“
“Sure, Colby. That’ll work just fine,“ Spooner agreed happily. “See ya.“
“Sure.“ Colby watched Spooner make his way back across the street. Everyone in town had said Eddy Spooner wouldn’t amount to much. They’d said the same thing about Colby Savagar.
They’d been wrong about Colby, and it looked like Eddy was at least managing to hold down a full-time job so maybe they’d been wrong about him, too. It was obvious Spooner wasn’t drawing an executive salary, but he wasn’t on welfare, either. Good for him.
Served the bastards right to be proven wrong. Neither Colby nor Spooner had wound up in jail or living on the streets despite all the predictions.
That kind of shared past produced a bond of sorts. He’d have that beer with Eddy Spooner. Maybe a couple of beers.
Diana was waiting for him inside the post office. She was just dropping a handful of letters into her big leather shoulder bag. Colby tried to see some of the return addresses, but he couldn’t get a close enough look.
“Hi, honey,“ he said walking straight up to her and kissing her full on the mouth in front of Bernice and a cluster of post office patrons. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.“
Diana’s cheeks turned a soft pink. She knew what he was doing. He was establishing a very obvious claim on her.
If there was anyone left in town who wasn’t aware that Colby Savagar was probably sleeping with that Portland woman who’d taken the Martin place for the summer, he would certainly know it by this afternoon. Colby was satisfied with the faint blush that bloomed in his victim’s cheeks. He grinned.
“Hello, Colby,“ Diana said with deceptively bland politeness. “How are you this morning?“
“Take a guess,“ he invited, deliberately lacing the words with sensual satisfaction as he walked to the counter. “Hi, Bernice. Anything for me?“
“Right here, Colby.“ Bernice hastened to hand him a long white envelope that bore his agent’s return address.
A check. Colby wondered if he’d ever get over the sense of amazed exhilaration he experienced when someone actually paid him real money for a book.
“You’re in luck, Diana.“ Colby waved the envelope at her. “I think I can afford to feed you tonight.“ He started toward her with a wide grin and then halted abruptly as the post office doors swung inward, admitting two newcomers.
“Hi, Dad.“
“Brandon.“ Colby stared at the lean, dark-haired, brown-eyed young man in the doorway. His son was the last person he’d expected to see this morning. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be working in Portland.“
Brandon Savagar moved a few steps into the room, his arm wrapped protectively around the shoulders of a strikingly pretty little blue-eyed redhead who looked about nineteen.
“Surprise,“ Brandon said with an almost aggressive cheerfulness. “There was a grease fire at the restaurant where I was working. Place is closed for two weeks. So I decided to come visit you. When I asked the guy at the station across the street for directions to the house, he said you were in here.“
“Yeah. Sure. Good to see you.“ Colby realized Diana was looking at him with obvious interest. He recovered quickly and made the introductions. “Diana, this is my son, Brandon. Brandon, this is Diana Prentice. She’s a, uh, friend of mine.“
“How do you do, Miss Prentice?“ Brandon said, exhibiting the manners Colby had drummed into him after reading a book on the importance of children learning proper social skills.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brandon,“ Diana responded gently.
Brandon glanced at his father. “Dad, this is a, uh, friend of mine. Robyn Lambert. Robyn, I’d like you to meet my father.“
“I’m so excited to meet you, Mr. Savagar,“ Robyn said in a soft, shy voice. Her blue eyes were riveted on Colby. “I’
ve read all your books. They’re fabulous.“
Colby looked at her, aware of the peculiar expression of determination in his son’s eyes. His heart sank. A terrible premonition began to take shape. He fought it down. No need for panic. This was just another one of Brandon’s girlfriends. At least the kid had good taste in literature.
“Hello, Robyn. I’m glad you like my books.“ He glanced at Diana and saw the laughter in her eyes.