Chapter 6

"I don't understand why you're asking to come over," Judy said. She pulled the receiver away from her ear and gave it a hard stare. Tom sounded strange, tense. She frowned as she returned the receiver to her ear. "You never ask. What's going on?"

"Nothing," he said with a loud gulp. "Look, if you're busy tonight—"

"Now, you're trying to get out of coming over," she interjected. "What gives? The truth. You're not having second thoughts about us. Are you?"

"No! No, of course not." He paused and in soft voice added, "You know I love you. I do. It's just that I won't be coming alone. I wanted to make sure you'd be okay with that."

"Unless this is your way of suggesting a threesome, I'm fine with you bringing someone with you."

"A threesome?" He released a strangled laugh. "Hell, no."

His attitude was starting to get to her. She recognized the tactics of avoidance, and she didn't like it. What wasn't he telling her?

"Is it an ex?"

"What?"

That response brought a quick to end what little patience she had left. "Dammit, Hanson! Who's coming with you?"

"Russell Buckins."

The two words stopped her cold. She should have been expecting his arrival. It wasn’t like Tom hadn’t warned her.

“Oh, really. So he’s in town.”

“Yeah, that about sums it up,” Tom replied. “We don’t have to come over tonight if it’s not good for you.”

“He’s your friend. Of course I want to meet him.” She crossed her fingers at the almost lie. Fact was the idea of meeting the man who convinced Tom to get a tattoo and abandon his career fascinated her. It was like all the lookie-loos who stare down an accident. How could she resist this?

“Yeah, he is…”

“I sense a ‘but.’”

“No, it’s just that. Well, never mind. Forget it. We’ll be there within the hour.” He paused. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Tom sat quietly as Russell bounced onto the passenger seat of his Mustang like an eager pup chasing a Frisbee. His friend’s excitement worried Tom. Russell spoke first and thought later. His spontaneity was infamous, and Tom knew this evening with Judy could go horribly wrong if he didn’t stand guard like a trained soldier.

“Was it love at first sight?”

“Huh?” Tom asked as he started the engine and shifted the Mustang into gear.

“You and your lady love,” Russell said. “She’s a cop, right?”

“Yeah, she’s with Jump Street, too.”

Russell chuckled. “What did she think about that time you played hooky with me?”

“The truth?”

“I’m a big boy,” Russell muttered. “I can handle it.”

“She wasn't impressed. The Captain had her looking for me and she couldn't find me. When we got arrested, Fuller was notified and he told her the search was over. She let me have it good when I came back."

Russell chuckled. "She sounds like a spitfire."

"She's in a league of her own," Tom said.

They rode in silence the rest of the way. Tom welcomed the quiet. His thoughts had been scattered so he needed to regroup and focus. One of his best qualities was his steady outlook. Only two people could throw him out of his comfort zone and in minutes they would meet. He had to be ready to anticipate anything in order to get out of this alive and with his relationship with Judy still intact.

"That's a nice Jeep," Russell said.

Tom parked the Mustang behind Judy's ride. "It's Judy's."

He turned off the engine and moved to exit the car. Russell's hand shot out and stopped him from leaving.

"What?"

"Do you think she'll like me?" he asked. "What have you told her about me?"

"Everything," Tom answered honestly. "You can be charming as hell or you can be an obnoxious jerk. I hope for your sake you make the right choice."

He slammed out of the car and headed up the walk to Judy's apartment. At this point, he didn't care what Russell decided. He just wanted to be with his woman.

Judy watched from the window for Tom's arrival. Her heart did its usual somersault as Tom strode to the apartment building. He possessed a certain kind of swagger that had caught her attention immediately. She doubted if he was even aware of it. The movement seemed to just flow out of him.

Moments later, she was ready for the quick knock on the door and the rattle of Tom's key in the lock. However, she wasn't prepared for the kiss he laid on her or the way her heart pounded from the intensity of his embrace. By the time their mouths parted, her body shook from head to toe. If his friend hadn't chosen that moment to walk inside the door, she'd thrown Tom to the floor and taken him right then and there.

As if sensing her disorientation, Tom snaked his arm around her waist and steadied her against his side. "Judy, this is Russell Buckins. Russell, this is my fiancée, Judy Hoffs."

As Judy accepted Russell's extended hand, she noticed the slight lift of his eyebrows. Something about her surprised the man and she wasn't so naïve not to recognize what that was. She glanced at Tom who only smiled at her in response. That sly devil was testing his childhood friend. Hmm...interesting, Judy thought.

"Nice to meet you, Judy," Russell said. He gave her hand a little squeeze before he released it. "I couldn't wait to meet the woman who swept my buddy off his feet."

"It's nice to finally meet you, too," she said. "Won't you have a seat? Can I get you anything? I have beers in the fridge..."

Russell made himself comfortable on the far end of the sofa. "I'm good. In fact, I'd like to take us all out for dinner. My treat."

"That's not necessary," Tom said.

"I'm the best man! It's the least I can do."

"Oh?" Judy bit back at smile as Tom's face darkened. "That's news to me."

"It's not news at all," Tom said. "He's not the best man."

"You crush me." Russell placed his hand over his heart. "To the quick. Judy, can you believe this is how he treats an old friend?"

She shrugged. "It's our wedding so it's our choice."

"So you're taking his side, huh?"

She regarded Russell with a bright smile. "Of course."

"Case is closed," Tom said in a hard voice. "Dinner sounds good. Let's go."

Judy admired her man's restraint. Russell seemed every bit the cad she imagined him to be. The pouting little boy act only went so far with her. There was no way she'd let him manipulate Tom into anything. Not on her watch.

She grabbed her purse and Tom took her hand. As the three of them headed to the door, Russell said, "Can we go in your Jeep?"

"Um, sure."

"Can I drive?"

"No!" Judy and Tom said in unison.

"Okay, okay," Russell mumbled. "Just asking. So, Judy, did Tom ever tell you about the time I streaked across the football field during half-time at homecoming?"

She shook her head. Russell continued with his tale and she knew they were in for a very long evening.