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.No, if you don't mind, I'd rather just wait out here with you."I didn't want to say what I was thinking, but I couldn't help myself."I think I know who did this.""It was probably just kids out making mischief," he said.I looked at some other cars parked near us."And they just happened to target you? I don't think so.""Then who did you have in mind?"I admitted, "As we were driving through April Springs, I saw my ex-husband, and more importantly, he saw me."Jake shook his head."I can't see a grown man doing this.""Then you don't know Max.Jake, I'm sorry this has spoiled our evening."He surprised me by taking my hand."Suzanne, it doesn't have to.Let's not worry about why it happened.I don't want the evening ruined, either.It's been quite a while since I've felt like this."He was going to kiss me, and I was more than happy about the prospect, when a pair of bright headlights pinned us in the darkness.An overweight driver in greasy overalls got out of the tow truck's cab."I was just around the corner," he said.Lucky me, I thought.He studied the deflated tires, then said, "I've got a tank of compressed air here.I'll have you on the road in no time."As the tow truck operator filled the tires, I kept looking at Jake, hoping that what I'd seen in him hadn't been a mistake.He'd been leaning in toward me to kiss me, I knew it.But that's where it had ended.I couldn't help wondering if he'd try again once we got back to my place, and I'm afraid my conversation skills suffered a little because of the suspense.But I never found out.As Jake walked me up the sidewalk to my house, I saw a figure looming on the porch.If the killer had decided to come after me, he'd picked the wrong time to do it.I had a state police escort with me, and I was suddenly very glad that I'd agreed to have dinner with Jake after all."Hang back a second," Jake said, as he pulled a gun from under his jacket.I hadn't even realized he'd been armed during our entire date."Come out of the shadows," he barked.The figure hesitated, then Jake's demand grew louder."I'm going to count to three, and then I'm coming up there after you.One.Two."Max stepped out of the shadows, a defiant look on his face.I felt relief wash through me, but Jake's gun never wavered."It's okay," I said."He's my ex-husband."Jake ignored me.He asked Max, "What are you doing here?"My ex-husband was defiant as he said, "I came to check on Suzanne.Is that illegal?""It is if you had something to do with my car," he said.In the dim glow of a streetlight, I saw a look flicker across Max's face, and hoped that Jake had missed it.It was surprise, anger, and there was a hint of triumph there, as well."I don't know what you're talking about.Now how about getting that gun out of my face?"Jake barked, "Turn around.""He's okay, honestly." This was getting worse by the moment.Jake glanced at me for a split second."You don't know that, though, do you? Leave this to me."He looked at Max and said, "If you don't do as I ask, I'm taking you in.""On what charge? A man can visit his wife, can't he?"I meant to stay out of it, but my mind had another plan."Ex-wife," I said.Nobody even looked at me."What's the charge going to be?" Max asked again."I'll think of something, don't worry about that."Max apparently decided he'd had enough.He turned around, and Jake patted him down with a surprising coolness and efficiency."There, are you satisfied?" Max said."Not by a long shot." He turned to me."Can we have some light here?"The porch light instantly came on, and I realized that Momma had witnessed the entire thing.I walked to the door, and saw her peeking out.To my surprise, she didn't say a thing; she just stayed inside watching the two men.I saw her lips mouth the question to me, "Are you okay?"I nodded, and I could see some of the stress melt from her.Jake said to Max, "Let me see your hands.""What? Why?""Don't push me, Max."My ex-husband shoved his hands toward Jake."Fine.There they are."Jake checked them over, then he said, "You could have been smart enough to wear gloves.""What are you looking for? What happened?"Jake said, "Somebody let the air out of all four tires on my car, and Suzanne said she spotted you as we were leaving town."Max laughed."And you think I did it? Come on, you can't be serious.""That's where you're wrong.You don't want to mess with me, Max.""That goes double for you," my ex-husband said."Is that a threat?"Max didn't back down."I don't know.Is it?"Jake stared at him a few more seconds, then turned to me and said, "What do you want me to do about him?""He's harmless," I said."Don't worry, I can handle him.""Are you sure?" Jake looked into my eyes, and I could tell he was searching for permission to run Max off."I can handle him from here.Thanks for a lovely evening."Max snorted, and I turned to him and said, "Just do yourself a favor and shut up this instant, do you understand me?"He looked more nervous about my threat than he had when Jake had been holding a gun on him.Instead of risking a word, Max nodded once, so I knew we were good, at least for the moment.Jake stared at me wistfully for another few seconds, then said, "Good night, then.""Good night.And thanks again."He didn't respond, just gave Max one last glare, then he left us there.Jake was barely out of hearing when Max said, "I can't believe you're actually dating him."That was it; the last bit of my patience was gone.I got right in his face and said, "Who I see is none of your business anymore.You lost that privilege the day you slept with Darlene.""How many times do I have to apologize for that? I made a mistake.""And yet you keep on making more, don't you?" I stared hard at him so there would be no doubt in his mind that I was serious
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