Whiskey Rebellion (Romantic Mystery/Comedy) Book 1 (Addison Holmes Mysteries)

reckless decisions. My body, however, was saying “Go For It.”
    I sighed loudly and looked out the window as we turned onto Magnolia Street.
    “What was that sigh for? What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Oookay. You know, I have to say I don’t really believe you. I’ve been married before, and in my experience, when a woman says there’s nothing wrong it means you’re in deep shit.”
    “You’ve been married before?” I asked, my voice only a tiny bit shrill at the news.
    “Of course I’ve been married before. I’m thirty-two years old. Do you think I just hatched a week ago when we met for the first time? Besides, I’m a cop. We all get married at some point. It’s just staying married that seems to be the problem with most of us.”
    I was surprised to find I was a little bit jealous of that nameless woman who had shared a life with Nick. My gloom intensified and I sighed again.
    “Look, if you’re going to be all depressing I’m not going to help you out. I bet I know something we could do that will perk you up,” he said with a wink.
    “I think that’s what’s depressing me, so no thanks.” I turned and faced him in defeat. “Did you love your wife?” I asked.
    “Hell, Addison. Is this going to be one of those conversations?”
    I rolled my eyes and sighed a gain. “You’re right of course. We barely know each other, and we certainly don’t have anything going on between us.”
    “Like hell we don’t,” Nick said between gritted teeth. “I was married for about six months eleven years ago right after I got out of the Army. It was a mistake all around, and no hearts were broken. Is that good enough for you?”
    “I told you, you don’t have to explain. I’m not looking for a relationship at the moment, so you can get that panicked look out of your eyes. And besides, you and I would never suit. The passion would never last and we’d end up killing each other. No, I couldn’t care less about your past. I’m just re-evaluating my life.”
    Nick slammed the car into park and I could tell he’d like nothing more than to lean across the seat and throttle me. I gripped the door handle, preparing to escape, when he grabbed my arms, hauled me across the seat and kissed me.
    “You drive me crazy,” he said, depositing me back in my seat. “But you’ll have to re-evaluate some other time because we’re here.”
    I was still a little bemused by the kiss when I noticed that we were parked in an alleyway about a block away from Eddie Pogue’s address.
    “Why are we so far away?”
    “Because it’ll look more believable to the neighbors if people just see a nice looking couple out for a Sunday stroll. We don’t want to tip him off.”
    “Oh, good idea.”
    “I get one every now and then,” Nick said sarcastically. “You won’t need your camera today. We’re just going to canvass the area and see if we can get a clear shot into his house. We’ll come back another time and try to get it on film.”
    I thought the plan through and felt better about catching Eddie Pogue than I had about anyone else. This was going to be smooth sailing. All I needed was a mentor. I’d hyped myself up pretty good until I realized what Nick was doing.
    “Holy shit, Nick, we’re not going into the O.K. Corral. I thought we were just doing surveillance.”
    I watched as he strapped on his shoulder holster and put a backup piece in the lower part of his back. Man, I was getting hot just watching him. I shuddered to think what would happen if I actually got to see him in uniform.
    “The first rule is to blend in. The second rule is to be prepared.”
    “Wait a minute. These are different from the rules Kate gave me. Is there a book I can buy with all this information?”
    Nick smiled and grabbed my hand. “Come on, we’re just a happy couple strolling hand in hand down the street.”
    “Get real. No one would ever believe we’re a happy couple.”
    “What’ll be hard about it? Just look at me like I’m a god and drool a little like you usually do.”
    I gave him the finger and made a mental note to myself to stop trying to picture him naked. He was obviously very adept at reading the female mind.
    “Let’s go,” he said.
    I followed at a less than enthusiastic pace, considering I was still full of Mexican food.
    The alley was little more than gravel, and an eclectic mix of houses lined each side. There was a run down trailer on the corner, a ranch-style house next door and a