Our first visitor--Veronica Lynch's hero Keenan Rossi

Welcome Keenan Rossi, one of two key players in Veronica Lynch's short, boomer romance, Those Who Wait, available now at www.DecadentPublishing.com.

Before we get to the good stuff [himself], let's take a short look at the story:

Those Who Wait:  A cop and a bleeding heart liberal. The two main ingredients for a fatal attraction souffle with about the same chances of success as a Popsicle lasting in Hades. Or does it? 

Always the first in line to tilt windmills, veteran sheriff's Investigator Keenan Rossiis determined to make his marriage to victim advocate Meghan Muldoon work. After all, he's waited a long time for someone like her to come into his life. But can he avoid old behaviors when the going gets rough?

And now . . . meet Keenan Rossi, a man worth waiting for . . .

Where were you the first time you saw Meghan Muldoon? It was at a monthly crime stats meeting, maybe a couple days before Christmas. No one was in the mood to talk homicides, rape and other physical assaults, domestic violence calls, or robberies. Most of the brass were off spreading their usual Yule cheer so they sent replacements. A few of us regulars figured the tall, stacked red-head was the new kid on the block at the DA's office, sent to the front lines to get her feet wet. The lounge lizards among the regulars went on the prowl—per usual when a hot woman is within striking distance. Each one returned to the table holding their gonads in their hands.

Then she introduces herself as Meg Muldoon, new Director of Crime Victim Services, and I about dropped my teeth. She looked nothing like the usual bleeding heart liberal we're used to in this part of Upstate New York. You know the type: shapeless dress, heavy wool socks with Birkenstocks, flowers in her hair, singing Kumbaya. No sir. This one was wearing a snazzy red blouse and black suit with a skirt that made her legs look about ten miles long.

She stayed real quiet during the meeting—winning major points in my book--but when she opened her mouth I gotta tell you every guy in the place sat up and took notice. She asked all the right questions and didn't take the usual cop BS for gospel.

What was your first thought? Once the buzzing stopped in my ears and I rolled my tongue back into my mouth, I thought, 'Here's the woman my mama warned me about'.

What happened then? It is not a smart move, entertaining ideas of hooking up with her—I mean, a cop and a victim advocate? I'd been around the block a time or three with relationships, divorced twice, widowed once, but I couldn't get her laugh out of my head. It made my teeth itch. I caught a rape call on New Year's Eve; Meg was the advocate who responded to the ER to work with the vic. That's where it started between us. What she said to the vic; how she helped her relax and respond to our questions—it made a big difference and we were able to clear a number of assaults in this end of the county.

What do you two do for fun and relaxation? I like to cook; she likes to watch. She loves to garden and planted an herb garden for me this year. I use what she grew in my recipes. I like watching television; she likes to read.

What is your favorite TV show? The Closer. I tape each show to watch in reruns if I miss the original airing. It's good at showing the drudgery of police work—and the endless litany of internal politics. Man, I hate internal politics. Just let me do my job and leave me the hell alone. Then there's Flynn and Provenza. Do you know how many of us on The Job would like to react like they do? Say the same things they say—and not get our butts in a sling?

Have your professional lives been impacted by your personal relationship? For me, it is the opposite. Meghan has taught me to look at all sides of an issue and not jump to the easiest, fastest solution. Women bring an interesting set of ideas and values to the victimization process so it's important for me to remember they don't react the same as men.

What was the best advice you ever received? My dad told me this the day I married for the first time. It didn't hit home till I met and later fell in love with Meg. “Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So . . . if you give her crap, you will receive more shit than any human being can handle.”

Smart man, my dad.
Thanks, Kee
Anytime, Mal