Searching for Always (Searching For 4)

"You some kind of in-house therapist now?" he mocked. "We kissed. It was good. But she's a damn grenade ready to go off. I need her to be sure she knows it's just physical between us."

"Why do I think you're the real grenade here, Petty?"

"Shut up, Devine. Go grow a pair."

His friend laughed harder. "You're still wearing the amethyst, aren't you?"

He refused to answer. Bastard.

A voice crackled over the speaker. "Car Forty-one. Fight developing at Mugs Tavern, 120 Main Street."

Devine grabbed the radio. "En route."

"Over."

Stone looked at his partner, then grinned. "Bar fight, dude!"

Devine motioned to him. "Drive faster or we're gonna miss it. Hit the sirens."

Stone hit the lights and they sped to their destination within minutes. Trying to hide their eagerness, they put on their game faces to look like aggravated cops and walked in. Stone looked around, scanning the surroundings for broken glass, shoving, yelling, and overall male good times. He saw nothing. Just the usual battered booths, wooden Irish bar, dartboard, and various tables scattered around. The place was packed, but nothing rowdy caught his gaze.

He went to the bar and held up his hand. The bartender came over. "Got a call on a fight going on?"

The bartender nodded and pointed across the room. "Yeah, those two drunkards. Fighting over some girl. I don't get paid to break up fights, man. We have no bouncers here."

Devine nodded. "We'll take care of it."

They strolled over. A heated argument was taking place with two men who'd seen better days. One had a beer belly, white skin, and paunchy cheeks. The other was whip skinny, had a bony face, wore schoolteacher glasses, and reminded Stone of Ichabod Crane. Their voices rose higher and higher.

"I looked at her first! She was ready to leave with me until you slobbered all over her," Pudgy yelled.

Ichabod leaned in. Saliva sprayed. "I already bought her a drink when you came sniffing around. My night was set until you interrupted and scared her away with your face!"

"Fuck you!" Pudgy roared. "She'd never leave with a skinny-ass punk, four eyes!"

"Four eyes? What are you, twelve? Go drink some more beer, why don't you, fatso?"

Stone and Devine shared a humorous glance. Damn, what a pansy-ass fight. At this point, no one would even make a move. Holding back a sigh, Stone moved toward them. "Gentlemen. I'll need you to lower your voices or leave the establishment."

"Oh, good, the police are here," Pudgy sneered. "Arrest this asshole for being ugly."

Ichabod narrowed his gaze. "Arrest this asshole for being stupid!"

Devine clamped his lips together, probably to stifle a laugh. "Follow me; let's get some air before things get nasty."

Stone watched his partner guide the squabbling men out the front door. Nah. Neither one was gonna take a punch. He turned on his heel to follow them out when screams rang through the bar, making everyone crane their necks to look at the commotion. The back room, usually used for parties, was rocking. Music blared, and he caught a swarm of short skirts, swishing hair, and loud revelry. All women.

Bachelorette party.

A grin tugged at his lips. That was probably rowdier than anything he'd seen in the past month. Should he make the excuse to check it out by asking them to lower their voices? Not that he wanted to be a dick, but it would be fun to see what they were up to.

He reached the door, when a petite brunette stumbled out on teetering heels. Her blue eyes sparkled, and she held a martini of some sort that was a bright green color. "I'll send him in when he comes!" she screeched. Another round of giggles floated past. "Get the music ready! Oh!"

She ran into his chest. Stone caught her. "Officer Stone! It's you!"

He frowned, then realized he held Genevieve MacKenzie in his arms. He'd met her over the summer during the domestic abuse and vandalism cases. He had liked her immediately and was glad she got rid of her asshole ex who was an abuser. Stone smiled. "Dr. MacKenzie. A pleasure." He raised a brow. "Are you involved with these shenanigans?"

She laughed and found her balance. "My friend Kate's bachelorette party. Girls' night out, you know."

"Nice. No drunk driving, right?"

She shook her head. "Limo service." She paused, a calculating light gleaming in her eyes. "Arilyn's inside, you know."

"Arilyn?" His brain stuttered. Stone glanced at the door, then tried to act cool. "That's nice."

Gen smiled real slow. "She mentioned you tonight. Said she had something to tell you? Seemed important. Does this sound familiar?"

His blood turned to lava and his dick hardened. Was she kidding? Was Arilyn ready to ask him to take her to bed--on his terms? Had she told Genevieve the entire story? Knowing how girls gossiped, he tried to remain calm. "I'm surprised she told you such intimate details."

Her grin widened. "Girls talk. I think if you went in there, she'd be real grateful."

Now he was turned on and confused. "Huh. I don't want to break up a women-only party."

"No, she'd love to see you. Seriously. Go talk to her."

He shifted his weight. Maybe he should. After all, Gen wouldn't send him in there if Arilyn didn't want to see him. He'd just spend a few minutes. "Sure. Let me tell my partner and I'll be right back."

Stone poked his head out the door. His partner had both bozos in the backseat and a satisfied expression on his face. "What the hell happened?"

"They took swings at each other! Tumbled on the ground like two girls rolling around and punching. It was awesome. I'm gonna book 'em and take them in."

Fuck. He'd missed it. "Listen, I gotta talk to someone. We're off shift anyway, so get 'em to the station and I'll get a ride home."

"Sure? Gonna leave all the fun to me, huh?"

"Yeah, I'll grab a cab. I may stay for a drink."

"Got it. See you tomorrow."

Stone headed to the back of the restaurant. Genevieve grabbed him and nudged him inside. "Go ahead. She's going to be so excited to see you!"

Feeling a bit better on seeing Gen's enthusiasm, Stone stepped into the room. The door slammed behind him. He looked around, expecting to find Arilyn, pull her aside, and have a private conversation.

Instead, he found himself in the snake pit.

Women surrounded him. Lots of women, all staring at him with a scary hunger that made him shudder. The group began to scream and stamp their heels on the floor as if he were the main attraction they'd been waiting for. What the hell was going on?

"He's here!" a tall blonde yelled. "Get ready for an arrest, ladies!"

Huh?

A lone chair stood in the center of the circle. Suddenly, his ears hurt from the music blaring through the speakers. Was that "You Can Leave Your Hat On"? Wasn't that a stripper song?

"Take it off, baby!"

"I'm breaking the law, sweetheart, come on over here!"

A brunette giggled and crooked her finger. "I've been real bad, Officer," she yelled. "And I'm concealing a deadly weapon. Come frisk me!" Holy shit, she began jiggling her breasts at him.

It finally hit him. He was in a room full of very drunk women who thought he was their cop stripper. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Stone opened his mouth and tried to tell them, but a pretty woman with caramel-colored hair shook her head as if annoyed by his silence, walked to the center of the room, and grabbed his hand.

Her smile reminded him of a shark's. "I paid good money for you, dude," she whispered. "Don't just stand there. Give us a show; we won't bite."

"I got money, Officer!" a brunette screamed. "Come and get it!"

No way. This wasn't really happening, was it?

"I think there's been a mistake, ma'am," he said firmly. "I'm not a stripper. I'm a cop."

The blonde rolled her eyes. "Sure, sure, you're a cop. Take your shirt off, dance a bit, and arrest someone. I promise I'll tip you extra. Oh, Kate is the bride, she's hiding over there." She pointed a finger at a woman dressed in blac

k with silvery blond hair, squashed behind two of her friends with a scared look on her face.

"She doesn't look real interested," he said. "Maybe getting her a stripper wasn't such a great idea."

The woman glared at him with whiskey eyes. "Everyone needs a stripper. Now, I'm sorry if you're suddenly shy and want to choke, but I promise we'll respect you. Just take some clothes off, shimmy your hips, and make us happy. Deal?" He opened his mouth to tell her no way in hell, he was no damn stripper, but she clapped her hands. "Okay, ladies, our hot policeman is ready! Kate, get your ass in the chair."

The group screamed and whistled and stamped their feet. Dollar bills waved madly in the air. Women swayed to the beat, waiting for him to take his clothes off.

"Arilyn, help me!" Kate screamed.

Then he saw her.

She walked toward him, weaving her way through the screaming women, and positioned herself right in front of the chair.