Acquiring Trouble

if we like what we find.”
    “Since you’re an old friend, I’ll save you some time. We don’t lift our skirt for just anyone and certainly not you. Good luck finding as much as you can about us, ‘ cause I won’t give you a thing. And if you manage to be good enough to find the information, I’ll give you a heads up. We won’t sell. There will be no takeover. You all try to dress it up and call it a merger —e ither way, it’s not happening.”
    “Well,” Miles could hear the smile on her face, “I look forward to trying to sneak a pee k under your clothes. It’s been great talking to you , Miles. I’m sure we’ll talk again onc e I complete the investigation.”
    “Forgive me for my lack of manners, but I hope I don’t hear from you again. I will fight this and so will my members. Goodbye, Morgan.”
    Miles placed the phone on the counter and walked to the shower. Stepping under the spray he was assault ed with visions of the past. Visions of a slightly overweight girl with raven hair, mystical violet eyes , and baggy black clothes … o f the girl that kissed him graduation night with such abandonment he st ill got hard thinking about it.
    Stacy had walked in in the middle of a kiss that had left him so hot he would’ve taken Morgan against the wall before he even realized what was happening. Her lips had set him on fire, and her touch had almost undone him right then and there. Stacy had shrieked and the spell had been broken.
    Morgan bolted and he had been left with one pissed - off cheerleader. Not that he was surprised. He was utterly and completely at fa ult. He could’ve stepped away. H e could’ve prevented her fr om kissing him. B ut he didn't . He had apolo gized and taken responsibility.
    Stacy was crying and he had never felt worse . He begged, pleaded , and promised anything he could to get Stacy to stay with him. Finally, in the early hours of the morning Stacy had forgiven him. She had th e promise ring on her finger althou gh she wasn't moving to Texas A& M right away. The vice around his heart had eased as he drove her home.
    He smiled as she slid her hand onto his leg and leaned over to kiss his neck. He turned down Main Street and suddenly her hand wasn't being so gentle . She had gasped, and then pummeled him until he stopped the car.
    "What the…"
    "You bastard! You said it was a one-time thing, but it's not, is it? How long has this been going on?"
    "Stacy, calm down. What are you talking about?"
    "That!" Stacy pointed toward the sky. Miles had looked to where she was pointing . T here, in bright red paint was Morgan's artwork.
    "I didn't do that!"
    "It has your signature on it. And, you had red paint on you yesterday." Stacy accused.
    "I was painting a barn, you know that."
    "No, I don't know that. That's it. It's over. My father warned me about you. I should’ve listened." Stacy shook her blonde hair and stared out the window.
    "Warned you? About me?"
    "Yes. He knows I’ m going to join the Belles and said you didn't quite come up to snuff. After all, you're just going to be a farmer. I need to go to Vanderbilt and keep my options open."
    "You're right. T hat's exactly what you need to d o." Miles started the car up and drove the remaining couple of blocks to her house. He watched as Stacy got out of the car, "Good bye , Stacy. Good luck finding the perfect man for you."
     
    Miles stopped his car outside of his parents' farm and looked around for unknown cars. His mom was starting to get smart and would pick “the guest” up or have her park behind the house. He thought about checking, but he was honestly too tired. After he had gotten out of the shower he had climbed into bed, but sleep had evaded him.
    Hopefully Marshall was here tonight. He needed a moment with him to talk about Morgan. Miles had never told anyone wha t happened that night. He hadn’t want ed to hurt Stacy or Morgan so he just kept his m outh shut. One night in the des ert of Somalia , however, he had told Marshall what really happened. Marshall was the only one who really knew how much of an effect that kiss had had on him and now he needed Marshall.
    He didn’t need many things. He w as the oldest of the six Davies kids and was responsible for keeping his eyes out for his siblings. But, now he rea lly needed to talk to Marshall.
    Miles took the stairs two at a time and hurried into the house. Looking around he saw that it was just family and Marshall wasn't here yet. His sister-in-law,