A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [43]
“Ten?”
“Yes.” Like you didn’t already know.
“That would mean he was born soon after she left here, wouldn’t it?”
Dare smiled. He liked how this woman’s mind worked. “Yes, it would seem that way.”
“Any ideas about his father?”
“No.”
“No?”
Dare wanted to chuckle. “None.”
She frowned at him. “Aren’t you curious?”
“No. What Shelly did with her life after she left here is none of my business.”
Dare couldn’t help but notice that Luanne’s frown deepened. She handed his charge card back to him and said, “I have Shelly’s address, Sheriff, since she’s staying at her parents’ old place.”
Dare nodded, not surprised that she knew that. “When will the flowers be delivered?”
“Within a few hours. Will that be soon enough?”
“Yes.”
“Sheriff, can I offer you a few words of advice?”
He wondered what she would do if he said no. She would probably give him the advice anyway. He could tell she was just that upset with him right now. “Why sure, Ms. Luanne. What words of advice would you like to offer me?”
She met his gaze without blinking. “Get your head out of the sand and stop overlooking the obvious.”
“Meaning?”
She frowned. “That’s for you to figure out.”
Shelly looked at Mr. Coleman in surprise. She then looked at the beautiful arrangement of flowers he held in his hand. “Are you sure these are for me?”
The older man beamed. “Yes, I’m positive. Luanne said for me to get them to you right away,” he said handing them to her.
“Thanks, and if you just wait a few minutes I’d like to give you a tip.”
Mr. Coleman waved his hand as he went down the steps. “No need. I’ve already been tipped real nice for delivering them,” he said with a grin that said he had a secret that he wouldn’t be sharing with her.
“All right. Thanks, Mr. Coleman.” She watched as he climbed into his van and drove off. Closing the door she went into the living room and placed the flowers on the first table she came to. Someone had sent her a dozen of the most beautiful red roses that she had ever seen. And the vase they were in was simply gorgeous; she could tell the vase alone had cost a pretty penny.
She quickly pulled off the card and read it aloud. “You’re in my thoughts. Dare.”
Her heart skipped a beat as she lightly ran her fingers over the card. Even the card and envelope weren’t the standard kind that you received with a floral arrangement. They had a rich, glossy finish that caused Dare’s bold signature to stand out even more.
For a moment, Shelly could only stare at the roses, the vase they were in and the card and envelope. It was obvious that a lot of time and attention had gone into their selection, and a part of her quivered inside that Dare would do something that special for her.
You’re in my thoughts.
She suddenly felt tears sting her eyes. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. It seemed that lately her emotions were wired and would go off at the least little thing. Ever since that day of Dare’s visit and what he’d done to her on the porch, not to mention that little episode he’d orchestrated at the restaurant, she’d been battling the worst kind of drama inside her body. He had done more than open Pandora’s box. He had opened a cookie jar that had been kept closed for ten years, and now she wanted Dare in the worst possible way.
“Who sent the flowers, Mom?”
Shelly lifted her head and met her son’s gaze. “Your father.”
He shrugged. “The sheriff?”
“One and the same.” She glanced back over at the flowers. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
AJ came to stand next to her. It was obvious they couldn’t see the arrangement through the same eyes when he said. “Looks like a bunch of flowers to me.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I think they’re special, and it was thoughtful for him to send them to let me know I was in his thoughts.”
AJ shrugged again. “He’s looking for a girlfriend, but I told him you weren’t interested in a boyfriend.”
Shelly arched a brow. “AJ, you had no right to say that.”
His chin jutted out. “Why not? You’ve never had a boyfriend before, so why would you care about one now? It’s just been me and you,