Chapter 32
“Do you really think we need another plan?” Charisma asked, sitting down at the counter while Luke attempted to make some coffee. The diner was empty, so they were saved from having to do any work while Lucky and Liz were upstairs playing dress-up.
“Of course we do. Don’t you remember how stubborn those two are? Even getting nekkid in front of one another won’t be enough. They’re going to need a bigger push, and probably a few of them.”
“Okay, well, do you have any ideas, because I’m drawing a blank?”
“I do, but it’s kind of predictable. Still, it usually works.”
“Well, what is it?” she asked, leaning forward in anticipation.
“Lock them up together somewhere. They’ll have no choice but to deal with each other.”
“Either that, or they’ll just kill each other,” she said with a laugh.
“Hey, if they do that, we’ll know they weren’t meant to be,” he said, grinning.
“Okay, so where do we trap them?”
Luke scratched his head for a moment, thinking. “That’s the problem. Lucky’s a Spencer, he can get out of pretty much anything. He’s very resourceful that way. So, we’d have to find someplace that’s nearly impossible to escape.
Charisma thought for a minute, then laughed. “Prison?’
Luke stopped what he was doing and stared at her. “That’s brilliant! Where have you been all my life, anyway? I could have used that devious little brain of yours a few times in the past.”
“Wait a minute, Luke. Jail? How do you plan on doing that? You aren’t going to get them arrested, are you? And even if you did, they don’t have co-ed jail cells!”
Luke shook his head and smiled. “You underestimate me, darlin’. You see, I’m good friends with the police commissioner’s wife. If I ask, she’ll talk to Bubba and arrange something. She’s a real sucker for this kind of stuff.”
“So you’re actually serious about this? How do you plan on getting them in jail? They’re not criminals, and even if you do pull some strings, they’re going to fight it, especially if they know they didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Well, then we’ll have to make sure they do something then, won’t we?” he asked with a sly smile.
Charisma sighed and shook her head. “You can’t exactly make someone commit a crime, let alone two people! What could we possible get them to do that they could get arrested for? Stealing?”
“Nah, they’re too honest for that. I was thinking more along the lines of trespassing.”
“Trespassing? Where?”
Luke thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “I got it! The Outback! It’s perfect!”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a restaurant that’s been closed for renovations. It also just happens to be owned by the commish and his wife. We could lure them over there, get them both inside, then spring some cops on them. It’s perfect!”
Charisma sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so. I don’t see it working, but you seem pretty convinced.”
They were interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, followed by Lucky’s voice.
“I hope the place is still standing,” he was saying. “I can’t believe we just left it with no one working!”
“I’m sure it’s fine. This time of day is usually dead anyway,” Liz answered as they got to the bottom of the stairs.
Lucky looked up and saw Luke and Charisma at the counter and frowned. “Where were you two a few minutes ago? I came down here and you were both gone!”
“Bathroom,” they both said in unison, snickering at each other for coming up with the same excuse.
“Both of you?” Lucky asked skeptically.
“Can’t fight nature, right Luke?” Charisma asked, winking discreetly at him.
Luke chuckled. “No, that you can’t do. So, Cowboy, what were you two doing up there?”
Lucky rolled his eyes and headed for the kitchen, figuring it still needed to be cleaned up after their water fight. “None of your business.”
“Ooh! That usually means it’s something good!” Luke said excitedly. Liz frowned and shook her head. “Hey, that’s not the same shirt you had on earlier, is it? And now that I think about it, Lucky’s got different clothes on too.” He looked at her, waiting for a response, trying not to laugh.
“We, um, got kind of wet doing the dishes before. I had to borrow one of his shirts,” she explained quickly, then retreated into the kitchen to help Lucky.
Once she was gone, Luke and Charisma broke out in laughter. “Oh, I think I’m going to call Felicia tonight!” he said, walking around the counter. “Maybe we should leave while we’re ahead, before they start suspecting something.”
“Good idea,” Charisma said, standing up and following him outside. “Let me know when we’re doing this. I want to get a front-row seat!”
~*~
“Are they gone?” Liz asked as Lucky peered out the kitchen door.
“Yeah, I think so, but then again, they’re pretty sneaky. Why don’t you stay here and I’ll go out and check?” He started to open the door.
“Oh, my hero,” Liz said sarcastically. She had pretty much recovered from what happened upstairs and was back to her usual, cranky self. Lucky looked back at her and rolled his eyes before going out into the dining room. A few minutes later, he came back.
“All clear. I even checked the bathroom, so unless they’re both in the ladies room, they’re gone.”
Liz chuckled and left the kitchen, then immediately began to clean up the mess Luke had made trying to make coffee earlier. “So, do you think they’re up to something?”
“What do you mean?” Lucky asked, grabbing some empty plates off of a nearby table.
“Luke and Charisma. They seemed awfully chummy just now, and I don’t buy that excuse about them being in the bathroom. Something’s up with them.”
“Sorry, but Charisma’s a bit too young for my dad,” Lucky said bitterly.
“No, that’s not what I meant. You remember how Luke was acting at the Bachelor Auction, right? Well, now they’re both acting like that.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I don’t know what she would be doing. She doesn’t even know you, and it’s not like she’s ever taken an interest in my personal life before. I think we’re just paranoid, that’s all.”
“Maybe,” Liz said, not convinced. “But if it turns out they are in cahoots, I get to say ‘I told you so’!”
Lucky looked up at her and grinned. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Liz laughed and threw her dishtowel over the counter at him. “Yeah, I think I would. I mean, if you ask Luke, Spencers are never wrong, so this would be a big deal.”
