A Sketch Away From Perfect

rp

ss I am wearing. McKenzy loaned me a pair of high-heeled, strappy sandals to match, and they aren't he

Avenue, I pause to adjust one of

wn fault for losing one of my own silver slippers. Not in a Cinderella way, but in a this-closet-is-an-u

ction in one of the storefront windows and pat back a strand of my hair. A

swear the side says Otsego.I spin around, bu

or two. He's an Otsego cop, but Otsego is forty minutes away from St. P

shoes," a low

blue eyes I've ever seen in my life. I s

rassed about being cau

is hand. "Hi. I

I shake it.

you like." Scott grins. "It'd mak

ok who showed up with

fers me his arm. "Since you're about to fly away any minute now, I

already trying to get tangled ar

I eye him suspiciously. "You rese

h a grin. "I'll bet I e

t obvious?

st seems to make sense. Am I wrong?" Scott asks. We enter

re I thought I was

pleasantly beat-up tables. "Don't worry abo

don't,"

learned your lesson. And since I'm not the Mississippi River Slasher, you don't need to worry. Just, maybe, pick somewhe

taken,"

ut sitting down. "W

But you don't have to buy me coffee.

ces. I figure we could at least get to know each o

I mean, what els

nd a drink for himself. He sits across from me, sipping what

ck coffee?

hic too. Is that what you're doing on those

arm. "Don't remind me. Tell me

riend made you out to be. Not that you don't enjoy a good time, but most of the 'party girls'

"I'm not a crazy cat lady. I

y yet," Scott corrects me.

my profile. "She didn't ser

success, so you don't go out making Girls Gone Wild videos and drinking until you're dancing topless on tables. You're just

e night. I just had to make sure McKenzy didn't go totally wild. She has the login

admits. "But not what I was look

tare at each other for a long moment,

hroat. "We should proba

out my chair for me. He's attractive, and a gentleman. I am

he echoes with

say I wish we weren't going to a

" he replies. "You wouldn

c

, this wo

s restaurant. One of the ones with the cloth napkins and champagne I would feel completely

rper to be my shield. So, no cloth napkins for us,, not tonight, at least. Still, it's hard to focus on go

d I'm glad I'm not wearing a tie, just a nice white shirt. If I had bee

so much

match her dress perfectly, a cheerful aquamarine. With a smoking body and the cutest little sprinkling of pale freckles ac

l I can do not to snicker at my stupid thoughts. Though I can see Harper riding

e city folks' cars parked along the street in front of and behind it. I'd given her a good washi

"Is that yours?" she asks, p

lping her up. For all the times my mom asks me why I don't get around to putting running boards on Big Bertha, I c

blush touches her cheeks, making those

e is more growly than usual. I probably look like a

wedding now," Harper murmurs throatil

I close the door, careful not to catch her dres

sedan drivers gave me a couple of inches on each bumper. Stupid city folk. Maybe y

rks when I finally ease Big Bertha

skill by almost rear-ending

tarting to remove her h

uld have. Just give a man a little warning next time. It's not every da

ing your thigh, you'd kno

e's hot, but this easy banter between us is some

time. The church rises tall and beautiful on one of the main drags. I'm tempted to drive right past it a

I force myself to imagine the chewing-out

Harper out of the truck. She slides all the way dow

'm sure Harper can feel

front of you for a minute while you convince yo

t I still have to move her a couple of inches away

anic farming li

she's trying to help. "I

at the word 'hard,'

d things,"