Stockings and Suspenders Read Online Free PDF Page A

couldn’t help it. There was no way I wanted to be
saddled with a silly gig when there were a couple of well-paid bounties on the
roster that I could chase after.
    “Yeah, your help. I’d assist, but
there’re the kids and in-laws and…” Vic dropped the horns and waved his hand in
the air. “You know how Lory gets around the holidays. Don’t be surprised to see
a tree and garland in your office soon. Oh, and she still expects you over to
the house tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. She also wants you over for
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”
    Family dinner…children…stories and
reminiscing… I opened my mouth ready to protest about my things to do, places
to go, people to see list.
    Vic held up a hand to stop me from
speaking. “Please don’t say no. You know her persistence is legendary. She’ll
go on and on about how you shouldn’t be alone. I don’t think I can take her
harping on the subject anymore.”
    “But I like being alone. It goes with
being a confirmed bachelor.”
    “I know that. You know that, but Lory
is determined to have you settle down. She thinks being around our family will
give you the bug to find someone and have a family of your own.”
    “Sure, right, cause your kids and
family are heading toward sainthood.”
    Vic tossed back his head with a hearty
guffaw, and I joined in on the chuckle. We both understood his family wasn’t
the best example of the perfect, happy home. The Cleavers they weren’t, that’s
for sure. Three rambunctious children, a nine year old girl and two boys at six
and two, they had their hands full. Add in the grandparents staying at the
house for the holidays and all sorts of family dynamics came into play,
dysfunctions reared their ugly head.
    Thoughts of family bickering sent a
cold shiver down my back, brought back memories of my time on the force. Family
fights weren’t fun to handle. They were precarious situations especially when
firearms were involved.
    Cold winter night… Weapons… Gunshots…
I pushed the memories of the last domestic disturbance call I had responded to
from my mind.
    “My children are perfect angels, thank
you very much,” a woman’s voice followed by a laugh sounded from the doorway.
“You know, Jack, my friends and I find you an enlightening topic of
conversation.”
    I looked over my shoulder. Vic’s
long-legged, blonde-haired wife leaned against the doorjamb, a smile lingering
on her face. Vic was one lucky SOB catching that hot California babe. Raising
an eyebrow, I slung my arm on top of the chair’s back. “Is that so?”
    “We’re all of the same mind that with
your dark good looks and slamming tall-drink-of-water runner’s body you should
be able to find someone.”
    “I find women all the time.” I glanced
at Vic and winked. “Another perk of being a bachelor.”
    Malory tsked. “You’re incorrigible.
What about that woman you were dating? What happened to her?”
    “It didn’t work out.” The statement
was curt, almost harsh sounding, but it was a topic of conversation I didn’t
want to cover. Not working out was an understatement. The woman had been so
clingy and desperate for love it drove me crazy and made me more surly than
normal. Unfortunately, my blunt I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-it tone was lost on
her.
    “What about anyone in your apartment
complex or at the gym? I’m sure when you’re running on that treadmill for hours
at a time training for your races you see a lot of ladies come through.”
    A shrug was all I answered with. My
sex life shouldn’t be a concern of hers or anyone else’s. After thirty plus
years of living, over a decade of those years with Metro, I understood I had a
problem with commitment. Maybe if the right woman came along though.
    She’d have to be the right gal for me,
the perfect feminine complement to my masculine. Someone who could bring light
to the dark corners of my mind, chase away the scattered nightmarish memories
and dreams I had on a regular basis.