Read Online Mischief in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jana DeLeon
Tags: Fiction
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friend. “So what do you want me to say—that he’s hot? Well, he is. The hottest guy I’ve ever seen in person, okay? Are you satisfied?”
“Not yet. But I’m getting there. And what do you propose to do with this hot detective?”
“I don’t propose to do anything with him, except give him information to help me. Jeez, just because I find some guy hot doesn’t mean I should jump on him like some floozy.”
Maryse laughed. “You are the furthest thing from a floozy that I could locate in Mudbug. You know, for all your fussing at me to get out of the bayou and into society, you’re not exactly the pinnacle of the social scene, either. When was the last time you got any?”
“Maryse! What a question.”
“That long, huh? Well, I can’t really bitch at you as I was on a two-year draught myself after Hank left, and Mudbug doesn’t exactly have the best to pick from. But you’ve had some dates off and on. Nothing came of those?”
“No. A couple were buttheads. A couple were nice, but there just wasn’t any spark.”
“I get you. And this Beau…there’s a spark there?”
“More like a volcano waiting to erupt.”
Maryse whistled. “I know that feeling. Do yourself a favor and don’t put it off. That eruption is something out of your wildest imagination.”
Sabine shook her head. “I can’t go there.”
“Why not? Why are you so afraid of letting go?”
“It’s not the eruption that scares me. It’s the cooling off. How can I start something with a man, knowing good and well I may not be here to finish it?” She brushed at her eyes with her fingers. “I heard from Wheeler just before lunch. Hank’s not a match.”
Maryse sobered. “I’m really sorry. I had hoped there was an easy answer to all this. And I understand your apprehension about moving forward when you don’t know if you’re going to hit the wall, truly I do. But you don’t know what the future holds…none of us do. Disease is not the only thing that can take us away from this world—you saw that with me over the last month. But putting your life on hold waiting for a death that might not come for another fifty years is like already dying.”
Sabine felt the tears begin to form in her eyes. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“So if this detective is interested, you’re not going to turn him down, right?”
Sabine shrugged. “I’ll add it to my list, but it’s not at the top.”
“Really? Because I was hoping to get at least one thing crossed off the list today. Please tell me the spa day is at the top of the list. I could sooooooo use a massage.”
“Not exactly.”
Maryse stared at Sabine, her hesitation clear as day. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret this?”
Sabine gave Maryse an evil grin, unable to resist teasing her friend since she’d just shoved reality down Sabine’s throat. “I was thinking bungee jumping.”
Maryse shut her eyes and clenched her hands. “That made me dizzy just thinking about it. You know I’m afraid of heights.”
“And you know I’m afraid of relationships.”
Maryse put her head face down on the table and covered it with her arms. “What time are we going?”
“I think before supper would be best.”
“Yeah, I’d hate to waste a good meal on plummeting out of control toward the ground wearing a rubber band on my ankles.” Maryse lifted her head and looked back at Sabine. “Fine. I’ll do it as long as you promise not to turn down anything the detective offers.”
“Oh, no. I’m not locking into that agreement. What if he sells insurance on the side, or even worse…Tupperware?”
Maryse laughed. “Okay, but if he’s peddling anything but expensive plastic or disability insurance, it’s a go.” She studied Sabine for a moment. “You know, I’ve never seen you this riled up over a guy. Not since Johnny Arceneaux put that frog in your lunchbox in first grade.”
Sabine smiled. “Well, you know how much I love frogs.” The door
“Not yet. But I’m getting there. And what do you propose to do with this hot detective?”
“I don’t propose to do anything with him, except give him information to help me. Jeez, just because I find some guy hot doesn’t mean I should jump on him like some floozy.”
Maryse laughed. “You are the furthest thing from a floozy that I could locate in Mudbug. You know, for all your fussing at me to get out of the bayou and into society, you’re not exactly the pinnacle of the social scene, either. When was the last time you got any?”
“Maryse! What a question.”
“That long, huh? Well, I can’t really bitch at you as I was on a two-year draught myself after Hank left, and Mudbug doesn’t exactly have the best to pick from. But you’ve had some dates off and on. Nothing came of those?”
“No. A couple were buttheads. A couple were nice, but there just wasn’t any spark.”
“I get you. And this Beau…there’s a spark there?”
“More like a volcano waiting to erupt.”
Maryse whistled. “I know that feeling. Do yourself a favor and don’t put it off. That eruption is something out of your wildest imagination.”
Sabine shook her head. “I can’t go there.”
“Why not? Why are you so afraid of letting go?”
“It’s not the eruption that scares me. It’s the cooling off. How can I start something with a man, knowing good and well I may not be here to finish it?” She brushed at her eyes with her fingers. “I heard from Wheeler just before lunch. Hank’s not a match.”
Maryse sobered. “I’m really sorry. I had hoped there was an easy answer to all this. And I understand your apprehension about moving forward when you don’t know if you’re going to hit the wall, truly I do. But you don’t know what the future holds…none of us do. Disease is not the only thing that can take us away from this world—you saw that with me over the last month. But putting your life on hold waiting for a death that might not come for another fifty years is like already dying.”
Sabine felt the tears begin to form in her eyes. “I hate it when you’re right.”
“So if this detective is interested, you’re not going to turn him down, right?”
Sabine shrugged. “I’ll add it to my list, but it’s not at the top.”
“Really? Because I was hoping to get at least one thing crossed off the list today. Please tell me the spa day is at the top of the list. I could sooooooo use a massage.”
“Not exactly.”
Maryse stared at Sabine, her hesitation clear as day. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret this?”
Sabine gave Maryse an evil grin, unable to resist teasing her friend since she’d just shoved reality down Sabine’s throat. “I was thinking bungee jumping.”
Maryse shut her eyes and clenched her hands. “That made me dizzy just thinking about it. You know I’m afraid of heights.”
“And you know I’m afraid of relationships.”
Maryse put her head face down on the table and covered it with her arms. “What time are we going?”
“I think before supper would be best.”
“Yeah, I’d hate to waste a good meal on plummeting out of control toward the ground wearing a rubber band on my ankles.” Maryse lifted her head and looked back at Sabine. “Fine. I’ll do it as long as you promise not to turn down anything the detective offers.”
“Oh, no. I’m not locking into that agreement. What if he sells insurance on the side, or even worse…Tupperware?”
Maryse laughed. “Okay, but if he’s peddling anything but expensive plastic or disability insurance, it’s a go.” She studied Sabine for a moment. “You know, I’ve never seen you this riled up over a guy. Not since Johnny Arceneaux put that frog in your lunchbox in first grade.”
Sabine smiled. “Well, you know how much I love frogs.” The door