A Bad Boy is Good to Find - By Jennifer Lewis Page 0,97

and more surreal as the level of alcohol rose in everyone else’s blood.

Party-girl Maisie held court like an empress, eyes shining with power and drink, while Dwight smoldered in a corner, nursing a dry martini. She’d just started regaling the bartender with tales of her recent trip to Bangalore, and the huge crocodiles she’d seen there, when he beamed a smile that shone brighter than his bald head.

“Y’all want to come see the gator I’ve got out back. Ten feet long and snarlin’ angry!”

Not really, thought Lizzie, but everyone else was already on their feet, following Maisie out the door. She heaved herself up and traipsed out into the muggy darkness.

An outdoor light beamed down on the alligator where it lay, looking small and oppressed, in a muddy pen surrounded by a low chain-link fence.

Poor thing.

“My nephew brought it here last week. Caught it in the bayou.” The man leaned over the edge of the fence and brandished a stick at the alligator, which swished back, snarled, and snapped at the stick, revealing its fearsome spiked teeth.

“I don’t know if Tiny here has told you,” he gestured to Danny. “But he’s done some alligator wrestling in his time.”

All eyes swiveled to Danny, who looked down at the alligator. “Nice looking creature. Young male, I’d guess. Wouldn’t want to get between those jaws.”

“Don’t let him fool you!” said the bartender. “He’s taken down fifteen-footers. Learned it from the Indians.”

“There are Native Americans around here?” asked Maisie.

“Sure,” said Danny. “But he’s talking about a stint I did out in Florida. I was a paid professional alligator wrangler for the Seminole tribe. Did it for two years.”

“You’re a Seminole?”

“Nope, but they don’t care. If you can wrestle a gator out of deep water in front of a crowd of tourists, you’re good enough. The Seminole kids have casino money now, and they want to work in a nice office. Not me. That’s where I saved up the money to buy my boat.”

Lizzie glanced at Con. He was wide-eyed like her. “Did you ever do that when you were a kid?” she whispered in his ear.

“Nope.” He didn’t take his eyes off Danny.

“Your brother is something else.”

“Yeah.” Con shone with pride.

“Danny, would you wrestle it on camera, please!” Maisie was suddenly right in front of him.

“Wrestle it into doing what?” asked Danny, with a smile. “It’s just laying there.”

“I don’t know. Can’t you make it mad and sit on it or something?” Maisie looked like she was about to start jumping up and down with excitement.

“Tell you what,” said the proprietor slowly. “If one of ya’ll New Yorkers want to help Danny carry this gator to the pen over there—” he gestured out into the darkness. “Your drinks are on the house.”

“I can carry it by myself, chief,” said Danny.

“I know, but where’s the entertainment in that? I’ve got a bar to run.” The bartender slapped him on the back. “Come on, who’s willing to help move this magnificent creature for me?”

The tree frogs sang.

“Oh come on!” protested Maisie. “Conroy! Here’s a chance to get back in touch with your bayou heritage.”

Con laughed.

“Don’t be a spoilsport! I’m sure your brother would love to have you do it with him.”

“Sure, it’d be fun.” Danny looked as relaxed as if he’d been dared to go floss his teeth.

Con hesitated.

Adrenaline surged through Lizzie. “No, don’t! You’ll get hurt.”

“No, he won’t,” said Maisie. “Look, it’s not even moving. And it’ll make such a great cliff-hanger at commercial break.”

“Well, I guess I—”

“No!” said Lizzie. “Con, you can’t!”

“Why not? As Maisie said it isn’t doing much.”

“I’ll take the head, and you hold the tail still. I’ll walk you through it.” Danny settled his hands on the rim of the pen, ready to jump the fence and get started.

“Alright.” Con took a step toward the fence.

A vision of those hideous teeth closing around Con’s arm, or worse, his head, swam in front of Lizzie’s eyes and sent adrenaline surging through her. She grabbed his arm. “Don’t you dare get into that pen, Conroy Beale!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Don’t you care about anyone but yourself?”

There was a lengthy pause. Lizzie flushed violently.

“Nice to have someone who cares about you,” said Danny softly. He lifted his hands off the fence.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea, that’s all,” she mumbled. “I just…”

I just love you.

“Alright.” Con slid his arm around her. “I won’t do it if you really don’t want me to, Lizzie.” He kissed her forehead