Part One

“One question still bothers me. It’s been the talk of the town some time back and when we weren’t together, but it still nags at me.”

“And what question would that be?”

“Why ever did you make out with Ripp Grunt during that stake out? Forget the fact that you were on duty trying to protect someone. I just want to know why you made out with him.”

“Is that it? Is that all you want to know? Why?”

“I just want to know. Curiosity is nagging me like a cat at yarn.”

“You know about Ripp’s reputation. He’s a romancer. He sets his sights on the nearest set of legs and moves in. Once he has the woman all a flutter and digs into their pants, he’s gone like the wind waiting for the next skirt to straddle his way.”

“What’s your point?”

“I decided someone needed to give him a lesson. Someone to lure him along until he was begging for more but no bone would be given.”

“Now, that’s not to say I stalked him. I just happened to know about Ripp. It was mere happenstance that when I joined the police force as a detective he happened to be in the same career field. I really didn’t have to do much to earn the role as his partner on the case, since my mother, Circe, pulled some strings.”

“How would Circe Beaker have any strings attached to the police department?”“She was friends with Lieutenant Kristen Singles, a former lover of Ripp. I don’t know how it went down or what my mother said, but it was enough.”

“That night. Alone in the squad car with him, I told that I knew his ways. About his romancing. So I leaned over and planted my lips on his. He was like butter, gasping with each and every breathe.”

“By the time our tongues stopped wrestling, I knew Ripp was all mine and that I would be the only woman in his head from that day forth.”

“Elmyra, I just want to say tonight is going to be a very memorable night for you. A night not unlike the night you have likely forever etched into Ripp’s mind. You see, I have a box in my pocket. And inside is a ring with a very nice stone. And do you have any idea what I’m going to do with it?”

“You mean, you’re actually… I knew something special was going to happen! The formal wear, the dinner… I should have known! Please Stewart, tell me. Tell me the truth.”

“I’m going to take this ring and return it back to the store.”

“What?”

“A little shocked are we? So was I after hearing your little story. I thought I was going to be marrying a woman after my own heart, but seems I’ve been mistaken. Looks like you just want to twist people. How do I know that you’re not going to twist me into some scheme of yours? I aspire for wealth; are you going to go on some thrifty shopping spree and not pay the bills? Or worse, considering your profession, how do I know you won’t just let us get robbed?! Furthermore, how do I know this relationship isn’t just some foundation so you can have babies, woman? I know you family types love to have tykes around, watching them grow.”

“Stewart, this isn’t what it’s going to be like. I was just-”

“Just nothing! You’re a horrible witch and a disgusting person! You sicken me to the core you… you…”

“Why Stewart?” Why did you do that?”

“Because I can! And you can forget about the engagement. Good-bye! And good riddance!”

“Stewart, come back! STEWART!”

Fin