Tim’s heavy backpack hit the desk with a loud thump, and LeAnn, sitting in the next chair, jolted a little. Then she smiled at him as he dropped down with a gusty sigh, and tugged at the zipper.
“Who’s a grumpy student tonight?” she teased.
“Sorry,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Just really don’t want to be here tonight.”
They sat quietly for a few moments, waiting for their professor to arrive. This was an advanced accounting class, and the material was so complex that skipping class wasn’t an option. Half of all accounting students failed it the first time…and since their company was paying for the class, they couldn’t afford to let that happen. They were barely maintaining ‘B’ averages.
“Everything okay? I can take notes for you, if you want to skip.”
He shook his head. “Thanks, but no. I need to be here in order to understand this stuff. It’s freakin’ hard.”
She laughed, and nodded sympathetically. “I know, right? Why are we doing this again?”
He smiled at her joke, but couldn’t bring himself to laugh. Quietly he sighed again, and took out his homework assignment. He’d done all of it, but wasn’t sure it was entirely correct. He hoped the professor would cover it in class, so he didn’t have to stay late to discuss it.
“Is there anything else wrong, Tim?”
LeAnn’s gentle voice made him glance over at her. She might have been his boss when he’d started at A&A, but now they were peers. He’d caught up with her class load by taking extra ones, and now they studied together. He spent more time with her than he did with Crystal, so he supposed it was no surprise that they’d grown close.
Thankfully they were in the home stretch. If they could pass these final advanced accounting classes, they could become Certified Public Accountants. The end was finally in sight.
“Yes,” he replied softly. “But I don’t want to bore you with my marital problems.”
Quickly she glanced around the room. They tended to sit far away from their classmates, and no one was paying them any attention…so she leaned over and squeezed his hand. “I don’t mind, Tim.”
He didn’t reply for a full minute. Then he finally sighed, “It’s Crystal. When she started dancing, it was only going to be weekends. Then it became four nights a week. Now it’s almost every night, and she’s considering dancing at another club, too. I’m not sure if she’ll ever stop stripping.”
LeAnn’s eyebrows rose. “Wow. Is she really that good?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he answered wryly. “She’s making really good money, and we’re doing fine…but I was hoping she’d stop after a few months. It’s been almost two years now. If anything, she’s enjoying being a stripper more now than ever!”
“Well, that’s good, right?”
“Yes and no,” he hedged. “The money’s good, and I’m glad she’s happy. But the whole dancing thing was supposed to be temporary. She told me tonight that she’s going to continue dancing even after I graduate. I’m trying to raise us up in life, and she’s hell-bent on staying in the gutter. Those two things don’t go well together.”
LeAnn hesitated for a long moment, turn between her own strong feelings and easing his visible concern. “I think you’re judging Crystal too harshly,” she finally murmured. “You shouldn’t consider her dancing as living in the gutter. That’s unfair.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” she replied, then held up a hand to forestall his indignant reply. “A lot of women turn to dancing, or stripping, as a way to make ends meet. It’s how they support themselves and their families, and it’s not living in the gutter.” She offered him a rueful smile. “She’s good at it, and she’s happy. Why don’t you relax? Wait until you graduate, get your CPA license, and then talk to her about stopping.”
He stared down at his clenched hands, then leaned a little closer. “There’s something else,” he whispered. “I think she may be using drugs. She denies it, of course, but she has weird mood swings, and she’s lost weight.”
LeAnn’s heart ached with sympathy. He obviously adored his wife, and wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. “My cousin is a police officer,” she said quietly, and squeezed his hand. “Do you want me to talk to him?”
That snapped him out of his reverie, and he vehemently shook his head. “No!” Then he realized he’d raised his voice, and quickly lowered it again. “Sorry. Please don’t, LeAnn. This whole thing could just be in my head. I’ll follow your advice…I’ll apologize to her tomorrow, and be patient. Once I get my CPA, I’ll talk with her again. And in the meantime,” he sighed, “I guess I’ll just have to support her decision.”
“Sounds good,” she agreed, and reflected again that Crystal was both blind and a total idiot. Tim was attractive, the hardest worker she’d ever met, and generous to a fault. Crystal didn’t seem to value those qualities anymore, and she wasn’t sure the blonde had ever really valued her husband.
Their professor arrived at that moment, and she abandoned her personal thoughts in favor of last night’s lesson.
He’d planned to go over new material, but quickly realized that no one had understood their homework, so instead he shifted gears and spent the entire evening explaining the concepts they’d tried to use. They all had the same basic questions, so the extra review gave them a much better understanding of the material. He decided to assign some additional problems that would reinforce the lesson, then let class out early. He warned them, though, that they needed to catch up, so the next few classes would cover a lot more material.
“Want to get a drink?” LeAnn asked after they’d all groaned in dismay, and straggled out of the building.
Tim considered it for a moment, then smiled. “Sure.”
They drove to a bar just off campus, and grabbed a small table along one wall. He ordered a beer, and LeAnn had a glass of wine. They both relaxed, and felt much better about their class.
“Hey, I meant to ask,” he suddenly said, leaning a little closer, “how’s Jeff doing?”
She laughed. “He’s doing great…the big dumbbell.”
He cocked his head in confusion. “Why is he a dumbbell?”
“Because a bunch of his SEAL buddies decided to try surfing. Can you imagine that? Jeff, a kid from rural Texas, decides he’s going to try surfing.”
He’d never been very coordinated, so the idea of him surfing was pretty funny.
“They started horsing around,” she continued, “and he got smacked in the face with a surfboard. Apparently it happened in the water, so the board had some good momentum going, and it broke his nose.”
Tim winced. “Ouch!”
“I know, right?” LeAnn grinned. “He sent us some pictures, and they’re hilarious. I’ll show you tomorrow. His face is all black and blue, puffed up, and he can barely open his eyes. Mr. SEAL man gets his nose broken by a surfboard!”
They laughed, and he realized how much he enjoyed spending time with LeAnn. She was smart, funny, and quick-witted. Her eyes danced when she laughed.
Sudden guilt enveloped him, and he quickly dropped his gaze. He had no right thinking about LeAnn when he had a wife who…seemed intent on dancing with no thought of the future, he conceded with a weary sigh.
It was wrong to compare the two women, but he couldn’t help noticing all the contrasts between them. LeAnn was a tall brunette, only slightly shorter than Tim, with a lean, athletic body. Vaguely he remembered that she’d been a runner in high school. Crystal was a natural blonde, several inches shorter than him, with sensuous curves and a large bust.
The athlete versus the cheerleader.
Their personalities were completely different, too. Crystal lived entirely in the moment, and didn’t plan to the future; she left that for Tim. Her personality was more carefree. She liked to socialize, party, and have a good time whenever possible. She’d always been the center of attention in high school, and clearly missed that attention now. Her laidback come-what-may attitude was the source of their current issues.
LeAnn was more mature and deliberate and, like Tim, she was focused on her future. She liked to have fun, but had a clear understanding of her limits. She was disciplined…a facet that was completely absent in Crystal’s personality.
“Hello, earth to Tim!”
He snapped back with a jolt, and quickly flashed her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Got lost in my thoughts.”
“Oh, yeah? Penny for them?”
He laughed. “They’re not worth that much.”
Suddenly she looked serious. “Let me be the judge of that.”
He hesitated, considering. Obviously he couldn’t tell her what he really was thinking. They worked together, attended class together, and had become best friends. He wasn’t ready to jeopardize all of that by confessing that he was attracted to her.
“Well, you’ve been great about listening to my problems. I was just wondering what’s going on in your life,” he hedged.
He was lying, she knew…but she didn’t want to push. So she merely smiled, and admitted, “There’s not much to tell. I’m still living with my folks. I date, but there aren’t that many datable men in Fredericksburg, and even less that are actually marriage material.”
That was true enough; the vast majority of high school graduates left Fredericksburg as quickly as possible. There just weren’t enough jobs to support them, so most made their way to bigger cities.
“Once I finish my degree and get my CPA license, I’ll probably move to San Antonio…or maybe Austin or Dallas. But definitely not Houston,” she decided, and sipped her wine. “It’s way too humid to live there. And I’ll find me a really rich guy who’ll let me stay home and raise our kids. I’ll attend charity functions and run the local PTA.”
The last part was said with such obvious sarcasm, because she definitely wasn’t wired to be a stay-at-home mom, that they both laughed. “You’re more likely to have a nursery in your office,” Tim quipped, “and bring your kids to work.”
“Hey, that’s a great idea,” she chuckled, snapping her fingers in mock-delight. “Seriously, though, I would like to start my own accounting firm someday.
“I really like A&A…it’s like a big family for the employees and the clients. I couldn’t afford to go to school without help, and they’re really supporting me. But…”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “It would be great to run the show. Be a pillar in the community, and who knows? Maybe sponsor a little league baseball team or something.”
His last sentence spoke volumes, LeAnn reflected, to anyone who really listened. His family, like hers, had been poor, and he desperately wanted a different future for himself. He also wanted to be respected, and running a business was his way of achieving that success.
“Maybe we should go into business together after we graduate.”
That made him smile. “Yeah, right. I’ll be happy just to have a job after we graduate. Although,” he conceded, sipping his beer, “it would be nice to run our own firm, wouldn’t it?”
“Definitely.” Then she flashed him a wicked grin. “But my name comes first on the letterhead.”
“You got it,” Tim chuckled.
One drink turned into two, and then appetizers. By the time they finally left the bar, he’d confided things he’d only told Crystal. She’d done the same with him. And while neither of them openly acknowledged it, they’d clearly crossed the line from mere friendship to…something else.
They both felt it.
Tim’s thoughts were jumbled and confused as he drove home. He’d really enjoyed the evening, and that made him feel elated and guilty at the same time. He knew he shouldn’t spend so much time with LeAnn…but that was only a small part of the problem. Their friendship had obviously deepened tonight, and so had their mutual attraction.
He resolved to be strictly professional around her from now on. He’d managed to win Crystal as his wife, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her.
Sure, I’m attracted to LeAnn. What man wouldn’t be? But Crystal is my soulmate. End of story.
LeAnn had a heavy foot, so when they left the bar, she quickly passed Tim’s car and left it behind. As usual, she broke a few speeding laws on her way home. But her thoughts had veered in a totally different direction.
She’d enjoyed the evening with Tim, and wasn’t at all conflicted about it. Why should she be? She suspected that he was attracted to her, and she’d returned the feelings ever since she was thirteen years old. He’d been so cute that she’d followed him around whenever he’d come over to see Jeff. And he’d matured into a great guy…who was unfortunately married to someone who obviously didn’t deserve him.
Crystal’s an idiot, period.
He was already conflicted; eventually he’d realize that Crystal wasn’t right for him. She’d back off until then, and simply maintain their friendship. They worked together every day, and shared classes every night. There was plenty of time for them to grow closer together…while Crystal continued to alienate him. She just couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see how much stripping bothered him, and how incompatible it was with their future.
She’s still a party girl…a self-obsessed, shallow former cheerleader who thinks taking her clothes off is the best way to get attention. And fucking drugs!
Sourly LeAnn recalled how, back in high school, Crystal had been the bar by which every girl was judged. All the boys had wanted her, and they’d constantly reminded their girlfriends that ‘Crystal did this,’ and ‘Crystal would do that.’ Even though she hadn’t known her personally, since she’d been a freshman while Crystal and Tim had been seniors, she’d hated her along with the other girls.
When Tim had started dating her, she’d asked Jeff if Tim knew her sordid reputation. He’d just smiled and said, “Yes, but he doesn’t care. He’s been in love with her since the second grade.”
If Tim had one serious flaw, she thought, it was his utter devotion to Crystal. But somehow that only made her want him more. One day she hoped he’d love her as completely as he loved Crystal.
She’d hidden her feelings for years, and would continue to do so…but they were growing closer every day. She looked forward to the day when she could reveal her love, and see it returned in his eyes.
Wearily she sighed as she pulled into her parents’ driveway. If her mother was busy watching Leno, maybe she’d be able to escape the hated conversation that had become a near-nightly ordeal. She was constantly encouraging LeAnn to find a boyfriend, or move to San Antonio for work…and she didn’t like Tim because he’d gotten in so much trouble in high school.
She grabbed her backpack, took a deep breath, and quietly opened the front door. Maybe tonight…
“Hi, LeAnn,” her mother exclaimed as soon as she walked in.
No such luck.
“Hi, Mom.”
“How was class?” Smiling, she turned away from her computer, and walked over to hug her daughter. They were carbon copies of each other, and people frequently thought they were sisters. Her mother enjoyed it, but she’d always found it irritating.
“Fine,” she replied shortly, and hoped that one-word answers would discourage further questions.
“Great, honey. I’m glad you’re doing so well. Now don’t forget about tomorrow,” her mother added, following her into the kitchen.
As if she could. “What’s going on this weekend again?” she muttered, and set her book bag down on the kitchen table with a loud thump.
She wasn’t sure if her mother didn’t hear the sarcasm in her voice, or just decided to ignore it. “Family barbeque, honey,” she smiled. “Your cousin just got a promotion, so he’s having a barbeque, and we’re invited.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sulk away to her room. She knew her mother’s plan…there would be several single guys at the party, and she hoped LeAnn would find Mr. Right.
She didn’t have any issue with men or dating, but she hated getting set up. It never worked…and it was awkward and embarrassing for everyone involved. Except her mother, of course.
“Great,” she drawled. “A barbeque with family I rarely see, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of police officers there. Won’t that be fun?”
Irritation flashed in her mother’s eyes. “You do, too, see your family,” she snapped, “so stop it. And your cousin isn’t a policeman anymore, and hasn’t been for several years. He’s a special agent with the FBI now.”
“Policeman, special agent. Same thing, Mom,” she replied with an annoyed shrug. “It all adds up to a boring barbeque full of straight-laced guys with guns on their hips.”
“That’s enough, young lady,” her mother retorted, just like she had when LeAnn was a young child. “I’ve already told him we’re coming, so deal with it.”
She started pulling dishes from the dishwasher. Sighing, LeAnn helped. She knew her mother meant well, and she did like Bo; he was funny. They’d never had much in common since he was twelve years older than her, but he’d always been nice, and he’d looked after her while she was in school.
He was their family’s success story, she thought with a fair bit of pride. He’d gone to college, become a police officer, then gotten accepted to the FBI Academy. He’d been moved around a lot since then, but finally he’d been assigned to the San Antonio office. And despite what she’d retorted to her mother, they did see him frequently. She just couldn’t help wondering whether he was colluding with her mother to find her a date, because the last time they’d visited, he’d hinted that several of his co-workers were single.
She wasn’t a nun, but she hated getting set up by her family. It was just…yucky.
Suddenly she wished the rest of her family considered Jeff a success, too. But they couldn’t see past the fact that he’d chosen a dangerous career.
Then, just when she thought the conversation was over, her mother quietly asked, “How’s Tim?”
She finished stacking plates, and deliberately turned away to put them in the cupboard. She had a terrible poker face, and her mother knew it.
“He’s fine,” she said coolly over her shoulder, then added, “He’s doing great at work, and his team likes him a lot. His grades are better than mine, and he gives me a hard time about it.” She chuckled softly. “He’s really funny, too, and he always makes me laugh when we study together. And he’s super-smart at accounting. I’m usually the one asking him questions. He’s hard-working, and…”
“Good-looking?” her mother quietly interjected.
A hot flush instantly warmed LeAnn’s cheeks, and she reached into the dishwasher for the silverware. She tried to ignore her mother’s searching glance by turning away and carefully sliding each knife, fork, and spoon into their proper slots. “It’s not like that,” she finally murmured.
“But you’d like it to be, wouldn’t you?” Gently her mother tucked LeAnn’s hair behind her ear, just as she’d done when LeAnn was a teenager.
She tried to keep from sniffling, but failed miserably. When a tissue materialized near her hand, she took it and mumbled, “Thanks.”
“I won’t tell you what to do,” her mother said quietly. “You’re a grown woman, and you’ve always made your own decisions when it comes to men.” She released a deep sigh, then gently urged, “Please just be careful. Tim’s likely to resent you if you intrude in his marriage or, worse, try and take him away from Crystal.”
Her sudden empathy made LeAnn’s throat ache with gratitude. “It’s just that Crystal doesn’t deserve him.”
They hugged each other; then her mother looked soberly into her eyes. “I’ll give you one piece of advice, woman to woman. Do not sleep with him unless he’s divorced, and Crystal is gone from his life. He’ll lose respect for you if you sleep with him while he’s married.”
The sudden sad, bitter expression in her own eyes made LeAnn look a little closer.
“I wasn’t always a married woman, LeAnn,” her mother reminded her, and blinked away her own tears. “Trust me…married men who have affairs never leave their wives. So listen to what I’ve told you. If you really want Tim, you cannot be intimate with him unless he’s single. Remember the golden rule.”
“If you like a guy, make him wait,” LeAnn said in unison with her, then laughed and hugged her again.
After they finished dealing with the dishes, LeAnn hurried up to her bedroom to study. But their conversation stuck in her mind. She had a hard time envisioning her mother as a single woman, and it had never occurred to her that her mom might have gone through the same situation.
It made her feel closer to her.
Both women woke early the next morning, and began to prepare for the barbeque. “How are the deviled eggs coming?” her mother asked from across the kitchen.
LeAnn smiled. “All done, Mom. They’re in the refrigerator.”
“Awesome. Thank you.” Her mother continued checking things off her list. She loved lists.
LeAnn relaxed against the counter and sipped her coffee, waiting patiently until the last item had been checked off. Finally they started loading up the truck. Her father was off fishing with his friends; that reinforced her belief that this barbeque was just an excuse to introduce her to some of Bo’s single friends.
The drive into San Antonio was beautiful. LeAnn loved its gently rolling hills covered with majestic oaks, elms, and cedar trees. She never wanted to live anywhere else.
They made it to Bo’s house in record time, and he hurried out to greet them. “LeAnn!” he exclaimed, and swept her into a vigorous hug. “How’s it going, Sprout?”
He was well over six feet tall, and broad-shouldered. He’d gained a little weight, but still looked like an athlete. She recalled that his football scholarship had springboarded his career. “Great,” she smiled up at him. It was no wonder the girls loved him, she thought, studying his handsome face. “Can you help us with the food?”
“Sure,” he grinned. “Hang on a second.”
He ducked back into the house, and returned leading several men. They insisted on carrying everything inside, and wouldn’t let LeAnn or her mother help. Shrugging, the two women headed inside, and waited for introductions.
Bo made sure they had drinks before ushering them into his crowded backyard. LeAnn was relieved to see a lot of women intermingled with the men. Thank God this barbeque isn’t a sausage-fest, she thought, remembering a term she’d heard in high school.
He introduced them by shouting out their names to the crowd, and LeAnn blushed when everyone turned to stare. She managed a half-hearted wave, then hurried over to look at Bo’s shiny grill.
“Hey, I thought this was going to be a small barbeque,” she teased, nudging him in the ribs.
“Who said that?” he smirked, winking down at her. “I invited my whole section, and their families. Besides, I just got this new grill, and I wanted to show it off.”
“It’s nice,” she said neutrally, not wanting to admit that she didn’t know a thing about barbeque grills.
He flipped the burgers and hot dogs, then shut the lid and leaned closer to her. “Want me to point out the single guys?” he asked conspiratorially.
She laughed, and punched his shoulder. “No!”
His forehead creased in feigned confusion. “You want me to point out the married guys?”
That earned him a second punch, but she couldn’t help laughing. Nose to toes, Bo was cool.
They talked for a few minutes before one of the women came over to introduce herself. Before long she’d met all of the women, and their husbands…which, she cynically thought, was probably part of the plan. She’d been politely shown who was off-limits, so by process of elimination, she knew who was available.
God, I hate dating, she thought for the millionth time.
Despite her initial concerns, she had a wonderful time. She hadn’t realized that the FBI also recruited lawyers and accountants, and soon she found herself at a table full of single agents talking about accounting. Since accountants and lawyers were natural adversaries, there was a fair bit of rivalry across the table. Once they learned that she was studying accounting, she was suddenly accepted as one of them. Anyone watching would have been confused, because despite the arguments and veiled insults flying back and forth, they were all smiling and laughing.
She met all the single guys. Some were cute, others were charming, and they all seemed very interested in her. She gave her number to the two best looking men…she was single, not stupid.
After most of the guests had left, she helped her mother and two older couples clean up. It turned out that they were Bo’s bosses, or at least somewhere in his chain of command. She couldn’t quite follow the FBI hierarchy, so she didn’t bother; she just let them talk while she washed the dishes.
Her mother’s cheerful voice interrupted the mindless homey task, and she reluctantly joined them. “Yeah, Sprout,” Bo added his own laughing entreaty. “Don’t worry about the dishes. I have this thing called a dishwasher, and it will take care of them.”
LeAnn favored him with an extremely mature display of affection: she stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. The others laughed, and encouraged her to join in their conversation. She grabbed a soda, then perched on the loveseat beside her mother.
“Your mom mentioned college is going great,” Bo said, and beamed at her.
“It’s tough,” she nodded proudly, “but it’s going well. I’ve been on the Dean’s List every semester.” After everyone congratulated her, she continued, “I’m taking a heavy load, but I have a good study partner, and we’re fighting the good fight.”
“That’s awesome,” Bo exclaimed. “Any thought to joining law enforcement? I know of this organization that likes to recruit accountants…”
“Oh, no,” she said emphatically. “I’m not interested in law enforcement. Besides, if you’re recruiting, you need to talk to my study partner. He’s like an accounting savant or something, because it just comes easy to him.”
The older agents exchanged glances. “Maybe we should talk to him.”
Eagerly she leaned forward. “Seriously, if you want a good accountant, you should talk to Tim. He’s incredibly bright, hard-working, and—like I said—he just has a feel for financial transactions.”
“His wife wouldn’t like it, though,” her mother sneered. “She’d finally have to change jobs.”
LeAnn’s eyes bugged in shock. “Mom! I can’t believe you!”
“What?” Bo looked at both of them in confusion.
“Nothing,” she retorted. “Just forget it.”
Her mother wasn’t about to let it go, though, and smiled sweetly at LeAnn. “His wife’s a stripper.”
“Ahhh.” They all said it in unison.
LeAnn glared daggers at her mother. “Okay, I am officially pissed at you now.”
“Oh, honey, it’s okay,” the older woman laughed. “We’re among friends and family.”
It wasn’t okay at all, and she realized that she’d better provide some context, or any chance Tim might have with the FBI would be ruined before it even began. Quickly she explained how they’d been just barely surviving on Crystal’s waitressing when Tim had joined A&A, and how she’d begun dancing after meeting the biker who lived in their trailer park. “He got her a job at a club here in San Antonio,” she finished.
One of the older gentlemen leaned forward a little. “What’s the name of the biker gang?” he asked quietly.
She had to think a moment. “Lone Star knives…or steel…”
“Blades?”
“Yes!” She nodded, and snapped her fingers. “That’s it, Lone Star Blades.”
He exchanged another quick look with his partners, then apologized for interrupting her. “Please continue,” he urged.
“Well, there isn’t much else to tell,” she admitted. “The money she earns pays for Tim’s college, so it’s important to their future. And he’s scrupulous about making sure it gets reported to the IRS. He’s working with another of the accountants at our firm, and they’re helping him report it accurately.”
“That’s a good idea,” Bo interjected.
“Right!” She flashed him a pleased smile. “He’s a good guy, and a total straight arrow. He hates that she’s a stripper, but he can’t convince her to stop. And they do use the money for a good purpose.” She lifted one shoulder in a diffident shrug. “He loves his wife.”
“He’s loved her since the second grade,” her mother quietly agreed.
“Yeah. Well, anyway, she won’t stop stripping, and now she’s planning to move to a newer club where she’ll make even more money, so it’s not likely she’s going to stop anytime soon.”
Silence reigned after she fell silent. She finished her soda, and watched while her mother took the can out to the kitchen.
“Do you know the name of the new club?” the other agent asked. She was pretty sure he was Bo’s direct supervisor.
Thoughtfully she pursed her lips. “Platinum something?”
He obviously recognized the name.
His wife nudged him, and mock-suspiciously glared up at him. “What do you know about that club? Ever been there?” she teased. “You’d better say no, or you’ll be sleeping in the dog house…forever!”
While everyone else laughed, the other agent’s wife reached over and gave her a boisterous high-five. But LeAnn noticed the serious look all three agents exchanged before they turned back to smile at her. It made her hackles rise.
“It’s nice to hear Tim is such a hard worker, and a straight arrow, as you put it. He sounds like a really great guy…and I haven’t met a husband yet who can control his wife,” he added, slanting a narrow-eyed glance down at his own wife.
“You got that right, buddy,” the oldest agent smirked.
“I’m glad I’m single,” Bo chuckled.
“Please don’t worry,” the senior agent assured her while the others laughed. “We all understand that what you’ve shared with us tonight is confidential, and we’ll treat it that way. If Tim does decide to apply to the FBI, it won’t be held against him. We might even reach out to him,” he added casually. “What’s his last name?”
“Heiser. Tim Heiser,” she replied. “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome,” he smiled, then continued, “I’m sure he wouldn’t feel comfortable if he knew what we’d discussed, so would you mind not telling him?”
“No problem at all!” she exclaimed, then glared at her mother. “That goes for you, too.”
“I’m sorry, honey.”
The discussion about Tim’s background had effectively killed the mood, so they left shortly afterwards. LeAnn maintained a frigid silence all the way home, then headed directly up to her room and slammed the door.
Tim had confided in her…and tonight his private life had been dissected by three FBI agents.
Fuck!