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me!” Jennifer
exclaimed as she flopped down on my bed.  “You went out for pizza with that hot
cop yesterday?”
    “His name’s Dare, and he’s not a
cop.”
    “Dare’s a strange name,” Jennifer
said, “but I kind of like it.”
    “Me, too,” I admitted.
    She laughed.  “Well, do you like him ?”
    I hesitated for a second.  “Uh, yeah,
I like him.”
    “But do you like him , like
him?” she persisted.
    “Jen, I hardly know him.”
    “Well, does he like you?” she asked,
bursting with enthusiasm.
    “Jen,” I sighed, “I don’t know.”
    “He must like you, otherwise, he
wouldn’t have asked you to pizza.  Oh, you’re so lucky,” she finished dreamily,
and then perked up again.  “Hey, Laura, I think you’ve hit on something. 
You’re always complaining that guys are turned off by your dad’s profession,
well, obviously not Dare.  Maybe the trick is to date guys who are interested
in law enforcement.”
    “I don’t know, Jen.  I guess it’s
something to think about.”  I moved to stand in front of my bedroom closet.  “Help
me pick out something to wear.”
    She folded her arms and watched me, a
wide grin on her face.  “You like him,” she said smugly, “otherwise, why would
you be here, in front of your closet, picking out an outfit to wear to a
meeting  ... tomorrow?” 
    I couldn’t help grinning.  “Okay, so
I kind of like him.  I have to admit he’s pretty cute.  And smart.  And
funny.” 
    Jennifer laughed, then moved to stand
beside me in front of my closet.  “Mmmmm, what to wear?” she murmured.
    She perused my closet for awhile, and
finally turned toward me.  “What does one wear to an Explorers’ Meeting?”
    I shrugged.  “I don’t know.  That’s
why you’re here.  I’m relying on your keen fashion sense, Jen.”
    She turned back to my closet.  “How
about this?”  She pulled out a denim skirt and a baby blue t-shirt.  She
dangled them in front of me.  “Brings out your eyes and emphasizes your
size-three waist.  Gosh, I wish I had your figure.”
    “Oh, hush up,” I admonished, “you’re
gorgeous.”  And Jennifer was, with her glossy brown hair and lovely brown
eyes.  Her lashes were so thick and beautiful that she didn’t even need to wear
mascara.
    I changed into the outfit.  “What do
you think?”
    “Perfect.  What shoes are you
wearing?”
    Again, I shrugged.  “Better wear
flats,” she advised.  “Who knows what you’ll be doing at the meeting.”
    “You’re probably right,” I agreed,
and then dashed to my closet and pulled out a pair of brown leather sandals.  I
eyed them distastefully.  “I ought to wear heels for added height.  I could
sure use help in that department.”
    Jennifer laughed.  “There are worse
things than to be blonde, blue-eyed, petite, and adorable...”
    “Stop it,” I said, embarrassed.  I
decided to change the subject.  “You’re coming with me tomorrow.  Right, Jen? 
I need you with me.”
    Suddenly, I had a terrific idea.  
“Jen!  Why don’t you join, too.  It might be fun.”
    She shook her head and made a face. 
“Nice try.  Uh, uh, not me.  Besides, Dare will be there,” she told me,
grinning.
    I shot her a pleading look.  “I
really do want you to come.”
    She gave a sigh.  “I’ll go tomorrow,”
she said, “but beyond that, I can’t promise anything.”
    “Okay, that’s better than nothing.”
    I turned back to the mirror then and
studied my reflection from all angles.  I wondered if Dare would like my
outfit.  I sure hoped so.

Chapter Five
               
    I had just closed the front door
behind Jennifer when the phone rang.  I dashed to the end table beside the
couch and snatched at the receiver.  “Hello,” I said breathlessly.
    “Hello, hon.” 
    “Oh, hi, Dad.”
    “Hey, Laura,” he said, “I just wanted
to tell you how proud I am of you.”
    My eyes widened in surprise.  “Proud
of me?” I repeated.