Apache Heart by Amy J Miller Page B

booth.  She flicked the plastic laminated menu open, hiding her face from Elan as she did.  She pondered the way Lee made her feel; their gut connection was visceral, palpable.  At least, that’s how she perceived it.  Maybe she was fooling herself, she thought, looking for an excuse to keep some distance from Elan.  Was she just another schoolgirl ditching the nice guy for the one with the bad boy vibe?  Paramedic and fire fighter wasn’t generally the choice of profession for true bad boys, but maybe for adrenaline junkies.  Talking to Lozen about the history between Lee and Elan had moved from a mere matter of curiosity to one that could impact her choices and perhaps even her safety.
                  Elan pulled her menu down with a finger hooked over the top.  “Are you hiding from me?  I can’t imagine that anything on the Mescalero Diner menu is that compelling.”
                  “No,” she tried to laugh.  “I was just fantasizing about a milkshake.  But with a burger and fries, that seemed just a little too decadent.”
                  “I’ll split a strawberry one with you, then you’d only be a little decadent.”  Elan tried to cajole her with a toss of his head, “Come on.  We can split the fries too.”
                  “Deal.”  Randi shut the menu.  She glanced out the window, and she could see Lee in animated conversation still with Russell and Wynn. With a woman’s safety, perhaps life on the line, romantic intrigue seemed a little selfish and silly, she thought.  She would eat, and then she was going home—alone.
                  Elan tried to persuade Randi one last time to come to his place for the night, but she begged off.  “I can’t be afraid to go home, Elan.  That doesn’t work for me.  I’ll lock up good, and I’ll put my pepper spray and my phone by the bed as a precaution, but nothing is going to happen.”
                  “Call me before you go to bed, okay?”  His face was serious. 
                  “That I can do.  Now promise me that you’ll stop worrying.”  She gave him a peck on the cheek, “Goodnight.”
                  The old station wagon made the trip up to Randi’s cabin without a hitch. She thought the idea of a strange car in the drive was a good thing, if Joe came back around, maybe he’d think someone was staying with her. She locked up the house, and made do with the ceiling fan in the bedroom.  It had cooled off a bit, so it wasn’t uncomfortable.  She went through a normal bedtime routine: washed her face, brushed her teeth, put on a nightshirt and grabbed a mystery. She gave Elan a quick call, but kept it brief, then crawled into bed and opened up her book.  Reading before turning out the lights always relaxed her, and she was determined to have a normal night.
                  Around eleven, Randi heard a vehicle on the road, but it passed on by.  She started to yawn, and decided it was time to turn out the light when her phone rang. 
                  “Randi,” the voice was unmistakable.  It was Lee.  “Are you really okay?”  There was nothing frivolous about his tone.
                  “”Yeah, I am okay.  How are you?”
                  “I’m not so good, Randi, I—I really want a drink.”
                  “I’ve got some bourbon.  Where are you?”
                  “No, you don’t understand…I’m…an alcoholic.  I’ve been sober for a long time, but this thing with Maggie…” His voice trailed off.
                  “Where are you Lee?  I’m getting dressed and coming to you.  You’re okay, you don’t need a drink.”  Randi was already throwing back the sheet on the bed.
                  “I’m parked on the road outside your place.”
                  “Well then, I’m getting