Give Me Some Sugar

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GIVE ME SOME SUGAR

POSSUM CREEK BOOK FIVE

Copyright © 2015 by Gen Griffin

All rights reserved.

ASIN: B01AYMHNBW

ISBN-13: 978-1523653027

ISBN-10: 1523653027

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Also By Gen Griffin

The Possum Creek Series

Hot Southern Mess

Hissy Fit

Hot Southern Nights

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

Give Me Some Sugar

If Pigs Could Fly (Coming Summer 2016)

Lord Have Mercy (Prequel Novella)

Sweatin' Like A Sinner In Church (Possum Creek Spin-off)

After The Apocalypse

The Scavengers

Church of Chaos

False Idols

DEDICATION

To Karen.

Without you, I'm not sure I would have believed any of this would be possible.

I miss you. Enjoy your wings.

SUPPORT METATASTIC BREAST CANCER

AWARENESS AND RESEARCH!

STAGE 4 LIVES MATTER.

Chapter 1

Kerry Longwood had just made it past the welcome to Possum Creek sign on the outskirts of town when the sheriff's department cruiser pulled out behind him with sirens blaring.

You have got to be kidding me, Kerry grumbled. He hit the brakes and eased his baby blue Audi convertible onto the shoulder of the road. He watched with annoyance as the cruiser pulled in behind him and Sullivan Briggs got out of the driver's seat. Sully was filling in as a temporary deputy until the state police commission finished investigating Ian and the Sheriff figured out whether Ian was going to get to continue serving in the line of duty or if he would forever be mowing the overgrown lawns of Possum Creek.

It's me, Kerry called out his open window as Sully walked up to the car carrying his clipboard. Sully wasn't an improvement over Ian. Sure, he had been a detective in whatever city he'd lived in before he'd moved back to Possum Creek to help Tate run the fire department, but the last thing Possum Creek needed was a burned out former college football player with too much time to work-out and the same lousy sense of humor as Addison Malone.

You were speeding. The buttons on Sully's uniform shirt were struggling to stay closed across his thickly muscled chest as he leaned down and peered into Kerry's car. I'm going to need your license and registration.

Screw off, Kerry said. You know I'm legal.

License and registration. Sully held out his hand. Either give them to me or I'm going to have to fine you.

Go to hell. Kerry reached over to the passenger's side of the car and pulled open the glove box. He tugged out the manila envelope that contained all of his legal paperwork. He passed it out the window to Sully. There. Are you happy now?

Sully pulled the paperwork out of the envelope and made like he was really checking the details. Kerry sat up as tall as he could in his seat and glared at Sully. I wasn't speeding.

You were going 47 in a 45 mph zone. Sully tucked Kerry's paperwork into the clipboard he was holding.

You're not going to write me a ticket for going 2 miles an hour over the speed limit. I'm a cop. Kerry was getting increasingly annoyed by the minute.

I've never heard of any law that prevents officers from getting tickets, Sully replied with a shrug. The whole thing where cops don't ticket cops is more of a, well, I believe the words I'm looking for are professional courtesy. Sully grinned unkindly down at Kerry. Its kind of a you scratch my back and I scratch yours situation.

Whatever favor you're trying to get me to do for you, the answer is no. Kerry crossed his arms over his own lumpy and decidedly not impressive chest.

Sully laughed. I'm not asking you to do me a favor, Kerry. I'm returning the favor you did for me a few months back. Remember when you wrote me $875 worth of seat-belt violations in less than two months because you were concerned for my safety?

Kerry groaned. Those were valid tickets.

So is the one I'm about to issue you for speeding, Sully replied with a smirk. Also sir, I'm going to have to ask you to get out of your car.

Excuse me? Kerry had no intention of playing along with Sully's little farce any longer.

Get out of the car.

You're not searching my vehicle.

Actually, I am. Sully still had a smile on his face. We had a tip called in through dispatch that someone was running a load of illegal prescription drugs through town in a bright blue Audi convertible. I've been waiting for a car matching the description the caller gave us to come through here. He tapped the Audi on the door. Hop out, Kerry.

Addison probably called that tip in and you know it.

The caller was anonymous. Sully jerked his thumb towards the side of the road. Don't make me pull you out of the car.

If you don't think I'm going to file an official complaint against you for this, you are sadly mistaken. Kerry grudgingly opened his door and got out of the car. The pavement was so scorchingly hot that he could feel it through the thin soles of his flip flops.

Sully began digging through the interior of the Audi. He made a big show of checking through all the consoles and peering under the seats as several cars drove past them. Someone in the back of a red pick up truck yelled out 'serves you right cocksucker' as they blew past.

You're wasting your time, Kerry said as Sully popped the trunk.

Police officers have to be thorough in doing our duty to the public. Sully looked decidedly pleased with himself as he strutted towards the back of the car and pulled the trunk lid up. He tossed out the bag containing Kerry's spare uniform and the broken DVD player that Kerry had been on his way to return to the store when he'd been pulled over.

You won't find any drugs in my car. Malone is the one who called in that tip about my car. He knows I have the only blue Audi convertible in town. He probably thinks its funny to waste your time and mine.

Addison Malone is the least of your problems. Sully had lifted the carpeting in the trunk up and was peering into the hole where the spare tire was sitting. Kerry watched as the smart ass smile faded from Sully's face. He leaned down into the depths of the trunk to take a better look at the spare tire.

I don't have any drugs in my car, Kerry snapped.

Drugs? Sully straightened back up and stared at Kerry with surprising seriousness. No. I haven't found any drugs.

Surprise, surprise.

Kerry Longwood, you're under arrest.

Arrest? Kerry scowled at Sully. Sorry, but no. Your little joke has gone far enough. You're not arresting me.

Kerry, I'm not playing with you. Sully stepped back away from the car and leveled his dark brown eyes at Kerry. Either you can put your hands on the hood of the car and let me do this the easy way, or I'm going to have to use the taser on you.

You're going to taser me? Kerry took a step back away from Sully.

You want to explain to me why you have a decapitated human head in the trunk of your car? Sully asked.

A what?

Sully gestured to the trunk of the Audi. See for yourself.

If this is some kind of prank, I'll have your badge. Kerry walked up to the trunk of his own car. There was no telling what horrible prop Sully had planted in the trunk of his car as the punchline for this joke. He elbowed Sully out of his way and stared down into the back of the car. A human head was laying next to his jumper cables. A clear bullet hole was visible in the middle of the forehead. Its rotted eye sockets were staring straight at Kerry.

Kerry gagged twice and then threw up directly on top of the skull.

Chapter 2

I get that someone probably thought it would be funny to put fish in the pool, but I'm not laughing. Katie McIntyre stood at the edge of the Callahan County Country Club's beautifully landscaped Olympic size swimming pool and stared down at the long, thick-bodied olive green fish that were currently prowling from one side of the shallow end to the other.

What the hell are those things? Trish leaned over Katie's shoulder and peered down at the water with a look of utter horror on her pretty face. "They're huge and they have teeth."

Alligator gar. Katie began walking around the slender edge that separated the pool from the surrounding deck. She counted the fish she saw on her fingertips. Nine of them, to be exact.

What is an alligator gar? Trish was so focused on the toothy monstrosities that she looked like she was close to dropping the basket of flirty pink bachelorette party decorations into the water.

Big ugly carnivorous fish, Katie spelled out as she finished her lap around the edge of the pool.

They don't look very friendly. Trish hadn't taken her eyes off the water. Can they live in chlorine?

Probably not for long, but they seem to be doing an alright job of it at the moment. Katie shook her head in disgust as she glared at the fish. We can't have a pool party with these things in the pool. They bite.

Oh hell, Trish muttered. I was hoping they were just ugly. How do you think they got in the pool?

Someone caught them in the river and thought it would be funny to put them in the country club's pool, I guess.

That is a truly horrible idea for a prank. It's not funny at all. Trish narrowed her gray eyes at the gar. What are we going to do?

I don't suppose you have a fishing pole in your truck?

I don't think I own a fishing pole, Trish said distractedly. One of the fish was very aggressively ramming into the glass domed light inside the pool. Did you call the maintenance man? I mean, this isn't our pool. We just have it booked for the party. Surely they can handle this?

Katie sighed. I did call them. The maintenance guy left work at two today because his son fell down the stairs at school and broke his arm. He can't come back in to deal with the gar because he's still at the emergency room.

Oh sweet Jesus. I feel horrible for the kid, but what the heck are we going to do about Gracie's bachelorette party? Trish ran her fingers through her tastefully styled black hair, nearly ruining the elaborate bun she'd put her hair in for the party. We have two hours until fifteen people show up expecting to spend the night relaxing at a very classy pool party. We should be putting up banners and decorating the tables right now, not trying to figure out how to get fish out of the pool.

I'd say we could try to scoop them out with the pool cleaning net, but I think they'll be too heavy. Not to mention that they can probably bite through the netting. Katie pursed her lips as she surveyed the fish. The good news is that they're not huge, for gar.

They're not huge? Trish did a double take. They look huge.

I'm putting them in perspective. I think the record for largest gar ever caught around here was like two hundred pounds. These aren't in that league. Probably because whoever caught them and snuck them in here didn't have a cooler large enough to hold the really big ones.

Well, let's just thank God for small blessings, Trish muttered. In all seriousness, what are we going to do? Should we cancel the bachelorette party?

I think its too late to cancel, Katie said. I'm going to call Addy and see if he can do anything about the gar. In the meantime, why don't you go talk to the manager and see if he can switch our pool reservation to the party room at the back of the main building?

You think they'll be able to do that?

I don't think we should give them much of a choice, Katie said. The way I see it, we either have to move the party to a different venue, or we run up to the Walmart in Canterville, buy a bunch of fishing poles and have a swimming pool fishing tournament instead of a bachelorette party.

Whoever catches the most gar gets the door prizes? Trish smiled wryly.

Now you're getting into the spirit, Katie said. We'll need to pick up some green cake icing while we're out so that I can add little frosted gar to the cake.

Trish set the basket of decorations down on one of the pool side tables. I suppose we can turn this thing into a fish fry. Are they edible?

Yes, but they're not particularly tasty. Katie cast a sideways glance down at the gar. I think I might have a fishing pole in the trunk of my car. Maybe I can get a head start on removing them.

I'll go talk to the manager, Trish said. If nothing else, I can guarantee you that we won't be paying to use this facility tonight.

Katie laughed. If we have to catch these damned things, then they might as well pay us.

Trish sighed as she started for the gate that separated the pool from the parking lot and the golf course. To think, I went all the way to Beauton and bought a new swimsuit for this. What a waste of gas and money.

Katie glanced down at her own seen-better-days swimsuit and shrugged. There's always the hot tub.

Trish blinked at her. Did you check the hot tub?

No. Katie began reluctantly walking towards the back corner of the pool deck. Peering down into the water, Katie scowled. Scratch the hot tub off our plans, too.

Another gar?

Catfish, Katie said. The hot tub is full of catfish.

Oh hell, Trish cursed as she headed out to go find the manager.

Chapter 3

Do you like the gold table linens or the silver? Gracie held two scraps of linen fabric up in front of Cal and swished them back and forth through the air like shimmery flags of surrender.

His eyes briefly flickered up from the massive binder that he had spread out across the scarred oak desk that took up most of the back office of Walker Hardware. He had a hefty calculator positioned next to his hand and his laptop propped open and precariously balanced on top of the keyboard of the ancient desktop computer that took up most of the left side of the desk. It looks great. Really sexy.

Gracie frowned at him as she stopped waving the linen napkins. Sexy?

Everything you wear is sexy. Cal still wasn't looking up from the store's inventory log. You'll look fantastic tonight. I don't know why you're even worrying about it.

Gracie crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her fiance. They're napkins, Calvin.

Uh huh. He scratched a line through one of the handwritten lines of the hard copy store inventory ledger that his Pappy insisted on keeping due to mistrust of 'over-complicated gadgets', which included cell phones, computers and the internet. Pappy still believed the internet was a tangible item, despite Cal's many efforts to explain otherwise.

If this isn't a good time, I can always make all the decisions for the wedding without consulting you. It's not like this is your wedding too. Gracie dropped the napkins on top of the ledger.

Cal looked up at her. Gracie, please. I'm trying to work. I don't have time to worry about whatever you're wearing tonight. Isn't that what Trish and Katie are for?

Gracie pointed at the napkins. You think I should wear those?

Sure. Cal started to push the napkins to the side and then stopped, frowning at them. Well, maybe not. These aren't even clothes, are they?

No. They're napkins. I was trying to get your opinion on the color.

Oh. Cal held up one of the napkins and then shrugged. I don't care.

They're supposed to be for our wedding. Pick one.

I don't care. I thought y'all already had the tablecloths and things picked out for the wedding.

"Have you heard anything I've said in the last ten minutes?" Gracie was tempted to shove all his paperwork, laptop included, off the desk and onto the cracked tile floor.

Gracie, I-. Cal's eyes were flickering with annoyance.

We did have the linens picked out, Gracie cut him off. If they were going to fight, she was going to get her point across to him before he got the chance to add his side to the argument. I thought we were good to go on the decorations until two hours ago when the company that rents the linens out called me and said that the specialty tablecloths, chair bows and napkins that I ordered never arrived. Apparently, one of their employees accidentally canceled our order.

Oh. Cal was already losing interest in the conversation. Well, pick something else.

What do you think I'm trying to do? Gracie gestured at the two napkins. The rental company gave me those two as samples. Those were the only two colors, aside from plain white and a really awful baby girl pink, that they have in stock and ready for us to possibly use. I brought the samples in here to you because I wanted your opinion. This is our wedding, remember?

I don't care about napkins or tablecloths, Gracie. Just pick a color.

Really, Cal? Gracie raised her eyebrow at him. Just pick something?

Please, he said. His attention had been caught by something he'd spotted on his computer screen. I'm busy, Gracie. Today is Thursday and we leave for our cruise on Sunday morning. I have to get all the books updated and fix the inventory or this place is going to be a disaster by the time we come back.

I can't believe you're worried about the shop right now. Your Dad can handle the books. Our wedding is Saturday and half of the things we have to get done aren't done yet.

Isn't Momma helping you? Cal asked.

Yes. Miss Loretta, Katie and Trish are all helping me, but it's not their wedding. It's our wedding. Sorry for assuming you cared. Gracie snatched the napkins off his desk and stormed out of the room.

She made it all the way back to her truck before she looked behind her to see if he was chasing after her.

He wasn't.

Workaholic asshole, Gracie muttered as she slammed the driver's side door shut hard enough to rattle the entire truck. She made sure to squall the tires across the pavement as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Chapter 4

Now I've officially seen it all. Addison Malone leaned against the wrought iron fence that separate the Callahan County Country Club's exclusive swimming pool from the golf course.

Shut up, Studmuffin. Katie was sitting Indian style on the edge of the pool. She was wearing a blue and white polka dot bikini that had been one of Addison's favorites a few years back. Her honey-blonde hair was pulled into a sloppy ponytail that didn't have the heavily hair-sprayed look of the messy ponytails most of Addison's girlfriends had taken to wearing. An old fishing pole was in her small hands and a pair of dead alligator gar were sitting on the pool deck a few feet to her right.

Addy couldn't help grinning. You have any idea how hot you are right now?

I'm assuming that when you say 'hot' you mean sweaty? Katie gestured to her exposed skin, where the slightest bit of moisture was visible and entirely unsurprising on a 94 degree late summer afternoon. Because yes, I'm sweaty. I'd love to take a dip in the pool. Unfortunately, it's full of big fish with bigger teeth.

Addison walked over to the edge of the pool and peered down into the clear water. Several gar were circling Katie's bait.

If I had meant sweaty, I'd have said sweaty. He gestured to his own uniform shirt, which had damp circles under both arms and another wet streak running down the center of his spine. I tried to call you back, but your phone went straight to voicemail.

I have horrible reception out here, Katie said. Not that it matters. You're here now and I need you to get the gar out of the swimming pool. Preferably quickly. Your sister's bachelorette party is supposed to start in a little over an hour.

Addison frowned. How long has it taken you to catch those two?

I don't know. Maybe 30 minutes. I tried to scoop one out of the pool with the pool cleaning net, but they just swam away from me.

We might be able to use my big cast net on them, Addison said after surveying the problem for several minutes. You willing to help me?

Sure. Why not? Katie stood up and pulled her fishing pole out of the water. She laid the pole down on the nearest table and began scanning the deck chairs. Where did I put my dress?

I don't know. You don't need it. Addison let his eyes wander down her slender figure, trying not to remind himself that she was Ian's wife. Its hot out. You don't want to wear layers.

Are you kidding me? Katie shook her head at him. I'm embarrassed to be seen out in public like this. My boobs went flat immediately after Hannah Mae was born, I have stretch marks on my tummy and my suit fits funny because it's so old and worn out. I needed to buy new one but I didn't have the money. Plus, my tan lines are awful. She pointed to the white strips of skin on her shoulders and upper thighs.

Girls are insane. Addison watched Katie as she slipped her flip-flops onto her bare feet. She'd painted her toenails into tiny watermelons. You look fine to me.

That's only because you've seen me at my worst, she pointed out as she located the dress she was looking for and pulled it on over her shoulders. It hung a little too loose on her narrow shoulders, as if it were a couple of sizes too big.

Have you lost weight? Addy asked her as they walked out into the parking lot and headed towards the shiny new 4-door Dodge 2500.

Yes. Most of it was in the form of Hannah Mae. Katie clucked her tongue at him. You must be getting desperate if you're starting to think I look good. Has your infallible combination of gorgeous looks and meaningless charm finally stopped working on the women of Callahan County?

I'm bored with the women of Callahan County, Addison admitted without thinking about it. He jumped up into the bed of the truck and opened the toolbox. He hadn't had a chance to completely replace all of the equipment that he'd lost when his previous truck had gone into the lake, but he was pretty sure he'd bought a new cast net.

Katie looked at him with obvious surprise in her honey-colored eyes. You? Bored with women?

Addison sucked in a deep breath through his teeth and then shrugged. Maybe a little bit. Bored with dating, anyways. I haven't gone out with anyone other than Makinsley since I got out of the hospital. Getting shot by Trish's crazy ex-husband has kind of made me re-evaluate some of my extracurricular activities.

Katie's surprise showed in her face. I'm all for you settling down, it's long overdue, but please do us all a favor and don't settle down with Mak. No one can stand her.

It was Addy's turn to be surprised. I'm not going to start playing house with Mak. He pulled the cast net out of the tool box. It was still packaged in the bucket it had come in.

I don't know what you see in her, Katie said. She's trashy and rude.

Mak's fun. Addy jumped back down out of the bed of his truck. He looked over at Katie, all messy hair and warm smiles. Besides, the only girl I really want is already taken.

Katie wrinkled her nose at him. Since when has knowing a girl already has a boyfriend ever stopped you?

Some people's girls are off limits, even for me. Addison watched her reaction with curiosity. He wondered if she understood what he was trying to say to her. It would have to be her choice to leave him, no matter how much I love her.

Katie paused as his words sunk in. He watched her expression change from mildly surprised to outright startled. You're in love with Trish?

Addison nearly dropped the cast net on the asphalt. What?

Katie put her hands on her hips. I know you too well. If you really wanted a girl, you wouldn't think twice about breaking her up with her boyfriend, unless her boyfriend was someone you really respected. I can only think of two guys who you wouldn't cross over a girl. One of them is marrying your sister this weekend and the other one is David. You're in love with Trish.

Addison opened his mouth and then closed it again before he said something he wouldn't be able to take back. Katie apparently took his silence as agreement.

Gosh, Addison. You're such a mess. I wouldn't have thought Trish was your type. Then again, I definitely wouldn't have pegged her as Breedlove's type either, so I that shows how much I know. Does she know?

Know what?

Does Trish know you're in love with her?

Katie-.

I won't say anything to her, Katie said quickly. I just. Wow. I didn't see that coming.

Me neither, Addison thought. He supposed he could see where she'd drawn the conclusion that he was in love with Trish from, but he wished she hadn't. Trish was a nice girl, but she was almost too nice. Her gentle kindness balanced out David's wild streak. Addison figured he would be bored to tears if he married Trish.

Katie, what I was trying to say-.

I know you asked her out before she met David, but I just figured you were just being you. You always ask all the gorgeous girls out at least once. I didn't realize she was more to you than just another pretty face. She held up her hand to him. You're right about not saying anything. Some people really are off limits and I'm glad that you've finally grown up enough to recognize that. Besides, David would kill you if you tried to get between him and Trish.

I'm sure he would. Addison didn't want to be having this conversation, but he had no idea how to put it back on track without screwing things up even worse than he already had. He decided that now was as good of a time as any to change the topic of conversation completely. We need to get back to the pool and try to get the rest of those gar. We don't have all that long before y'alls guests start showing up.

Right. The gar. I'd almost forgotten about them, Katie said with a small, nervous laugh. Did I mention that there are also catfish in the hot tub?

No, you haven't said a word about catfish in the hot tub, Addison said. Are they big enough to eat?

Yes. Katie smiled at him but the expression didn't reach her eyes.

Damn it, Addison thought, I've just made a mess and a half out of this and she still doesn't even know the truth of it. Want to come back to my place with me and fry those kitties up once we're done here?

I'm hosting your sister's bachelorette party, Katie reminded him. I can't leave until the party is over. Besides, aren't you supposed to be going out with Cal tonight?

Like I said before, I'm getting kind of tired of the go out and hook up scene. Besides, Cal's not any fun to get drunk. He's got a mean streak that comes out once he's half lit.

Oh, go on. You'll have a good time. It's not like you to be so sulky. Katie laced her arm through the crook of his elbow so that they were walking in step together. Her head barely came up to the center of his chest.

Maybe I'm just finally growing up, he said as they walked back into the pool area.

Don't grow up too soon, Katie told him as he pulled the cast net out of its bucket and prepared to try to scoop up as many gar as he could in one toss. Being an adult isn't as much fun as it looks.

Chapter 5

I'll own this entire department by the time I'm done suing y'all! Kerry pounded on the walls of the tiny jail cell that occupied the very back of the Callahan County sheriff's department building. There were only two cells and they were so rarely used that the one Kerry had been put into was chock full of cobwebs and spiders with egg sacks. Addison framed me! Y'all know he did!

Kerry kicked at the wall and was rewarded by a burst of pain in his foot. Every minute I'm in here is another million dollars y'all will have to pay me!

The door between the cell room and the rest of the building opened. Sullivan Briggs walked in with Sheriff Frank Chasson on his heels. The Sheriff's weathered face was red from irritation and he was sweating despite the frigid air that was being blown out of the air conditioning unit.

Calm down, the sheriff said.

Calm down? Kerry kicked the wall again. Your nephew framed me!

Addison didn't put that head in the trunk of your car. Frank walked to the very edge of the cell. "The boy might be a bit on the impulsive and immature side, but even Addison ain't dumb enough to hide body parts in another officer's personal vehicle. Besides, he swears he was on call all day today.