Necessary Detour by Kim Hornsby Page A

necessarily a writer’s hands. Or a software engineer.
    “I went to town in a fat suit because I like anonymity.” What could she say? Even though now would be the time to peel off the suit and shed the pretense, she had only underwear beneath. Instead she chucked the bag at the trash can in an overhead throw. Landing on the grass in front of the can, the bag became a perfect retrieve for Elvis, the non-retriever, and he took off for his prey.
    “Your secret is safe with me.” The hint of a smirk passed over Pete’s lips.
    Elvis dropped the condom box on her toes and sat down obediently, waiting for Nikki to throw the box. “These aren’t mine.” What else could she say?
    Elvis’s excitement was irresistible. “He’s not usually a fetcher.” Picking up the box, she chucked it toward the garbage can again, only to have Elvis take off joyfully.
    “Your costume is…charming.”
    She was just about to ask him if he was writing about her, but stopped before the words left her lips. “Privacy is important to me.” She returned his stare but it was hard to look mean in a costume.
    “Obviously.” The wind blew his hair around his face. He needed a haircut. “Bad weather coming in.”
    “Delivery Man and Weather Man.” She smiled at him and was surprised when he blushed. This sudden show of vulnerability touched something in her. Pete had a crush on Goldy. Must’ve been a good kiss after all. “Maybe it won’t last.” Was she talking about the weather?
    Pete looked over to the trees which were jostling in the wind. “I thought you were leaving the lake.” He stepped back, put one hand in a pocket of his jeans, and grabbed the truck’s silver door handle with the other hand.
    Nikki bought herself a moment by throwing the box for Elvis again. Pete was awfully eager to know her schedule. “I don’t know.” He almost sounded like he wanted her to leave.
    “You here by yourself? It’s kind of remote location for one person.” He opened the truck door.
    “I have friends coming soon.” She looked at her watch like they might be pulling in at any moment. “And of course I have my watchdog.” They both laughed at Elvis who, by now, had torn the box apart and was scattering condoms across the yard.
    “How is he doing after getting rolled by my truck?” He dropped his hand from the truck door handle.
    “He’s a survivor.”
    “His barking is good protection. Even just for notification.”
    Elvis looked at Pete and wagged his tail, abandoning the condoms for sniffs around Pete’s jeans. Elvis jumped up to Pete’s knees. “He doesn’t usually like strangers,” she said.
    “Especially people who hit him with their truck, I bet.” Tiny lines fanned out from his turquoise eyes when he smiled, and Nikki imagined he didn’t wear colored contact lenses like celebrities. As he reached down to pet her dog, he chuckled. “I had bacon for breakfast, in town. He probably smells that.”
    “Ah, he does like bacon.” So Pete was already in town when she saw him at the gas station.
    “Let me know if you need anything, seeing you’re here by yourself and all.” He jumped inside the truck and backed away, leaving Nikki to wonder what he had that she might need. He’d write an article if she was feeling unpublicized? She couldn’t let her guard down yet.
    ****
    He’d gone too far. It wasn’t helpful to get sidetracked, but Nikki was so damned cute. She’d gone from a hot rock star to the pretty lady next door. And she was entirely someone else in that costume. Pete laughed out loud at the thought of her in that wig. He was sure she didn’t have friends coming over like she said, but understood that she didn’t want him to think she was alone. That probably worked out better for him. Her being cautious and all. Especially because he’d kissed her.
    He had thought she’d leave the lake if he came on too strong, but she was still here with no hint of going. And asking the sheriff about Goldy at the