Acquiring Trouble

deployed.
    Dinner was over b efore they knew it. He felt special to have seen this side of Morgan… the real side. The side that donated time to charity and would stop traffic in front of the White House to chase down a dog w a ndering in the street. He had laughed as she told how she had slammed on her br ake s, jumped out of the car , and held up her hands to stop traffic . The Secret Service came to investigate the disturbance. S oon enough , she had all of them running about trying to catch the sm u sh - nosed pug.
    It troubled Miles to see Morgan’s warm, caring side and know that he might have been misjudg ed her all these years. He stopped at her hotel door and waited for her to find her key.
    "Thank you, Miles. I had a wonderful time," Morgan said as she pulled her key out of her purse.
    "I did too. Best Valentine’s Day yet. Do you think we can take a break away from business next Friday and do this again?"
    "Is this Friday too soon?" she teased.
    "I wish, but I’m being dragged to a tux fitting for Marshall's wedding. It's less than a month away and M om gave us a bunch of things to do over the weekend. As she says, ‘March is only a blink away .’ S he’s on a mission to get everything done early so we’re not rushing the week before. "
    "Sounds n ice actually. Good night , Miles , and thank you for such a wonderful night. "
    Miles stepped closer to her, his body alert with desire. He gently placed his finger under her chin and drew her close to him. Slowly, softly , he bent down and brushed his lips against hers. Miles had never felt such intimacy in one kiss before. It shook him to his core. He pulled a way before he lost all control.
    "Good night, Morgan."
     
    Miles was lying on his bench press , lifting weights , when he heard his phone ring. He glanced up at the TV ’s cable box to see that it was only six in the morning. It was never good news when the phone rang th at early.
    "Davies."
    "Miles. Tabby." Miles grinned at O ld M an Tabe rnacle's to - the - point greeting. "I got a problem."
    "Have you been arrested again?" Tabby was notorious for trying to write his name in the snow, but w as rarely arrested when the temperatures were above freezing .
    "No, it's my pigs. They're sick."
    "Have you called Katelyn?"
    "She just left. She thinks it's poison, but has no proof of it . All my older pigs died, but she thinks the younger ones will make it . She's going to run some tests and ship out some samples." Miles thought he heard a trace of emotion in O ld M an Tabby's voice.
    "What can I do?"
    "I thought it was just suspicious that it happened the day after Morgan came to see me."
    "What?" Miles bolted up from the bench.
    "She stopped by yesterday and gave the Top Producers pitch. I turned her down flat and then the next morning I w o ke up to find my pigs poisoned. I wanted to know if you could do something about it."
    "I'll talk to Marshall an d Katelyn and see what they say. I'll let you know what I find out."
    Miles hung up and im mediately his phone rang again.
    "Hey, Marshall. I just got off the phone with Tabby. What's going on?"
    "I don't know. Katelyn's equipment isn’t up to testing for most poisons, so she's sent it off. It'll take a week most likely. Do you think Morgan did this?"
    "I don't think so, but I'll keep an eye on her."
    "Let me know if you find an ything out," Marshall told him.
    "Will do. See you in a couple days for tux fittings."
    Miles lay back down on the bench and lifted the weighted bar above his chest. He c oncentrated on his breathing as he added more reps , wondering if Morgan was really capable of poisoning. The madness and confusion w ere driving him to push himself harder. She was a delinquent, but when he kissed her he felt as if she was part of him. Who was the real Morgan Hamilton?
     
    *      *      *
     
    Miles pushed opened the door to Katelyn's veterinary clinic and walked into a packed waiting room. Bill's tail wagged as he walked confidently th rough the sea of cats and dogs.
    "Miles. How ya doing?" Shelly asked from behind the receptionist desk.
    "Fine thanks."
    "I heard the tux fitting last week went well. My sister-in-law ' s best friend’ s second cousin works in alterations and she said that the ladies were fighting over helping y'all. A little tip —y ou might want to tell the guys not to walk out of the dressing room in only their tux pants. Y'all almost got old Mrs. Scranton trampled by young seamstresses. Oh! And who is this