Marcus Aronson specializes in small colleges with problems. His company usually gobbles up the college, lays off people and takes over administration. Jefferson is his latest project. He slips into a classroom to check out if a favorite professor might be the embezzler. What he finds instead is a passionate woman hiding behind a button up exterior. Someone needs to release Teresa from her inhibitions and that someone would be him. There were rules about mixing business and pleasure. Rules he intended to break.
Welcome, today we are speaking with Millie Fleming, the helpful neighbor in Incognito by Morgan K Wyatt.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am the person who knows what goes on in Jefferson. Not only am I as old as dirt, but my eyes and ears still work. Retired from teaching music almost twenty years ago, so there is a good chance I’ve had most of the citizens in class at one time. I can tell you who the stinkers are because they haven’t changed too much. My Hubert died five years ago which doesn’t leave me a great deal to do except garden and worry about my neighbor, Teresa.
Why do you worry about your neighbor?
(Raises an eyebrow.) The gal isn’t getting any younger. It’s been some time since she had an actual gentleman friend. I’ve heard the rumors around town about maybe she didn’t like men. I don’t believe it. I am here to tell you no one comes to her door, man or woman, unless it’s the deliveryman. She sure buys a lot online.
Teresa comes from decent stock. That brother of hers who is always collecting wayward dogs is a bit crazy about the canines, but good family all the same. I knew her grandmother, Ruby, so I feel obligated to look out for her. She’s a nice girl, but either, she’s backward or stupid when it comes to men. She’s not one to put herself forward not like that Loretta at the high school.
I expect to see some article about that one in the evening newspaper about her enticing some high school boy. Getting him drunk and forcing him is more like it.
Mrs. Fleming, I think you strayed off topic. Why are you worried about Teresa?
(She giggles.) Goodness, me I ran off at the mouth. Jefferson is a nice place to live if you’re young or already married. There isn’t much left for women Teresa’s age. The men worth having were snatched up early by the enterprising women of Jefferson. Teresa was off getting a degree and unable to get an opportunity at the prime candidates. Shame, she didn’t bring a man home with her. Truthfully, what was your name again?
It’s Jane, ma’am. You were saying.
Truthfully, Jane, as far as men go there isn’t a lot left in Jefferson. You got half dozen men who marry a new wife every year. Always surprises me how they manage to convince a new one. Then you got those who don’t care for men either because they had a bad marriage or never liked women. The others aren’t up to my standards for the girl.
May I ask what your standards are?
I think every woman deserves to experience a toe-curling love. She also needs a man who will cherish her like my dear Hubert did me. I figure she needs an educated man to appreciate her and it will give them mutual interests. When you get older, there’s less time shaking the bedsprings and more time talking. Since she’s still young, I think someone who would strike her fancy would be important. I don’t see this happening, though. (She lets out a long sigh.)
Why not?
(Turns unbelieving look on the reporter) Jane, haven’t you been listening to me? There are no decent prospects left in Jefferson. A new man would have to come to town. Someone not put off by Teresa’s aloof attitude. She’s really just shy, but men do not always understand that.
I heard there was a new man in town.
I heard that too. No doubt, Loretta or Orleana will run him down like a rabbit. Poor man never had a chance.
Incognito coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Secret Cravings Publishing, Bookstrand, Smashwords and more.