A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [14]
“Is that her, Sheriff? The woman you’ve been waiting on?”
Lizzie’s question interrupted Dare’s musings. “Yes, that’s her.”
“Will the two of you be sitting at the counter or will you be using a table or a booth?”
Now that’s a loaded question, Dare thought. He wished—doubly so—that he could take Shelly and use a table or a booth. He could just imagine her spread out on either. He shook his head. Although he’d always been sexually attracted to Shelly, he’d never thought of her with so much lust before, and he couldn’t help wondering why. Maybe it was because in the past she’d always been his. Now things were different, she was no longer his and he was lusting hard—and he meant hard!—for something he had lost.
“Sheriff?”
Knowing Lizzie was waiting for his decision, he glanced toward the back of the diner and made a quick decision. “We’ll be sitting at a booth in the back.” Once he was confident he had his body back under control, he stood and walked over to where Shelly was surrounded by a number of people, mostly men.
Breaking into their conversations he said. “Good morning, Shelly. Are you ready for breakfast?”
It seemed the entire diner got quiet and all eyes turned to him. The majority of those present remembered that he had been the one to break Shelly’s heart, which ultimately had resulted in her leaving town, and from the way everyone was looking at him, the last thing they wanted was for her to become involved with him again.
In fact, old Mr. Sylvester turned to him and said. “I’m surprised Shelly is willing to give you the time of day, Sheriff, after what you did to her ten years ago.”
“You got that right,” eighty-year-old Mamie Potter agreed.
Dare rolled his eyes. That was all he needed, the entire town bringing up the past and ganging up on him. “Shelly and I have business to discuss, if none of you mind.”
Allen Davis, who had worked with Dare’s grandfather years ago, crossed his arms over his chest. “Considering what you did to her, yes, we do mind. So you better behave yourself where she is concerned, Dare Westmoreland. Don’t forget there’s an election next year.”
Dare had just about had it, and was about to tell Mr. Davis a thing or two when Shelly piped in, laughing. “I can’t believe all of you still remember what happened ten years ago. I’d almost forgotten about that,” she lied. “And to this day I still consider Dare my good friend,” she lied again, and tried tactfully to change the subject. “Ms. Mamie, how is Mr. Fred?”
“He still can’t hear worth a dime, but other than that he’s fine. Thanks for asking. Now to get back to the subject of Dare here, from the way he used to sniff behind you and kept all the other boys away from you, we all thought he was going to be your husband,” Mamie mumbled, glaring at Dare.
Shelly shook her head, seeing that the older woman was determined to have her say. She placed a hand on Ms. Mamie’s arm in a warm display of affection. “Yes, I know you all did and that was sweet. But things didn’t work out that way and we can’t worry about spilled milk now can we?”
Ms. Mamie smiled up at Shelly and patted her hand. “I guess not, dear, but watch yourself around him. I know how crazy you were about him before. There’s no need for a woman to let the same man break her heart twice.”
Dare frowned, not appreciating Mamie Potter talking about him as if he wasn’t there. Nor did it help matters that Shelly was looking at him as though she’d just been given good sound advice. He cleared his throat, thinking that it was time he broke up the little gathering. He placed his hand on Shelly’s arm and said. “This way,