As you'll recall, we left Roy and Dustin having lunch with Lee and Marshall. A lot has changed for these four, but more changes may be in store, if these stubborn men ever decide to open their eyes. See what's going on in this week's chapter of The Sheriff. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
After having finished their cake and pronounced it
delicious, the four men headed toward the door. Lee extended an invitation to
dinner the following night. For both of them.
“You should take him up on that,” Marshall said with a grin.
“He’s gonna barbecue.”
Roy patted his stomach. “I never turn down good food,
especially not Lee’s que. Guess we’ll see you then.” He held the check for
their table in one hand. Lee had tried to claim it when the waitress brought it,
but Roy had been too quick for him.
“See you then,” Lee agreed, and he and Marshall took off,
leaving Roy and Dustin at the cash register.
Milly rang them up, took Roy’s cash, then returned the change.
“Y’all come back now, y’hear?” she drawled.
“Of course,” Roy said. “Best food in town, ma’am.”
“Don’t ma’am me, Roy Landry.” Milly laughed. “You’re just
trying to butter me up so I’ll keep giving you those extra large portions you’re so fond of.”
“Doesn’t make me stupid, does it?”
“Your food is very good,” Dustin spoke up. “Everything was great.”
“Glad to hear it.” Milly smiled. “You’re always welcome
here, any time. My name’s Milly, by the way, since the sheriff here seems to
have forgotten his manners.” The wink she gave Roy belied any potential sting
in her words.
“I can’t help it if your food makes me sleepy and stupid,”
Roy said, unfazed. “Besides, we were just here for breakfast. I forgot to
introduce you, that’s all.”
“Nice to meet you, Milly. I’m Dustin.” He held out his hand
and Milly took it.
“Likewise,” she said. “Now shoo, I’m sure there’s a crime
wave somewhere with your name on it, Sheriff Landry.”
Roy snorted. “I’m sure there isn’t, but we do have to be
going. Talk to you later, Mil.”
Leaving the diner, they got back into Roy’s truck. “That
woman sure can cook,” he commented. “Good thing, since I’m not so great at
that, myself.”
“Neither am I,” Dustin confessed. “I’ve always wanted to
learn, but no one ever wanted to take the time to teach me.”
Roy shot him a surprised look. He wouldn’t have figured
Dustin to be interested in something like that. Sounded like he’d had a
difficult life, all the way around. It was time someone gave him a break. He
patted Dustin’s leg, as if trying to impart some kind of comfort through his
hand, then took it back and pulled out of the parking lot.
“Maybe between us we can figure out something for dinner. If
you want to try, that is.”
“Really?” Dustin’s voice held a note of hope Roy hadn’t
heard before. He turned his head to glance at him, and couldn’t help but notice
the way his blue eyes lit up, turning his normally sullen look into something
almost breathtaking. Roy quickly looked away.
“Really,” he replied. His voice had thickened for no
apparent reason, so he coughed to cover it. Once he felt himself on steadier
ground, he added, “Let’s run by the house and see what’s in the fridge, then
pick up some groceries.”
“Thanks, Roy.”
Just when had Dustin scooted across the seat, close enough
that their legs touched? Roy wasn’t sure if the warmth he was feeling was the
heat of their bodies being so close, or… He didn’t finish the thought.
“I don’t have any cookbooks or anything,” he warned Dustin.
“No problem. We can look stuff up on my phone. You can find
anything on the Internet if you look for it.”
“That’s true too,” Roy conceded. The next moment thoughts of dinner were
forgotten as he pulled up to his house. A familiar vehicle was sitting at the
curb. A man leaned against it, looking at his phone. He looked up at their
approach.
“Wonder what the mayor’s doing here?” Roy muttered, half to
himself, as he threw the truck into park.
to be continued
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