Page 31 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“Yesterday I picked up a bag of it blowing down the main street,” she said.
“That much of it, wow,” Dan said with his eyes on Leah. As if sensing him, she turned, and their eyes locked. She turned away.
“This is no laughing matter, young man,” LouJean said to him, an officer of the law who she’d known since Dan was born.
“I’ll see about getting some more trash cans, LouJean. We did have that wind yesterday, so maybe it was worse because of that.”
She smiled at him and then patted his cheek. “You’re such a good boy.”
His brother snorted, and Dan elbowed him hard in the ribs.
“Looking good, Leah.”
Dan watched Beau Keller cut in and take Leah’s hand in his. The man was public enemy number one to all Dukes, especially Sawyer.
“Hey, Beau,” Leah said, giving him a smile.
“I bet you missed this?”
“He’s making a move on your girl. You need to stop that,” Ryder growled in his ear.
“She’s not my girl, and they’re just dancing. I’m law enforcement in this town. I can’t go around punching people.”No matter how much I want to.
“Okay, sure,” Ryder said. “If you say so.”
Dan only just bit back the need to say something. No one could get a rise out of him like a sibling.
As the dance progressed, people took the opportunity like they always did to throw their issues at him, big and small, and he dealt with them as best he could.
“Been using the creek at the back of your property for a bit of fishing, Leah. I hope that’s all right,” the judge said to her. “I thought I’d keep an eye on the place.”
She gave the older man another smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you, Judge, and no problem at all about the fishing. You fish there anytime you feel like it.”
“That’s kind of you, Leah,” Beau said. He then gave Dan a smug look.
“It’s like he never grew up,” Ryder said.
“Right, because we sure did. Nothing annoys us anymore, right? We don’t go out of our way to irritate people.”
“Got me there,” Ryder muttered. “So, you all good, Dan?”
“Peachy.”
“Speaking of peaches,” June Matilda said, now holding Ryder’s hand. “I made that cobbler last night, so tell your mom, Deputy Dan. She’ll want to talk to me about the recipe. It’s best served with custard to my way of thinking, and Bart agrees.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her,” Dan said, well-used to conversations like this. He’d been listening to them since he was old enough to dance.
“Now you’re back, you can play on the team again, Leah,” Jett Hyland called out. “We need a good first base.”
“Haven’t played in a while,” she called back.
“You don’t lose that kind of skill,” he answered.
“Let’s hope she says no. We don’t need them having her on their side again. She’s good,” Ryder said.
“She’s on our side, idiot,” Dan said.
“We’re good,” JD protested.
