A Little Dare (16 page)

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,
Shelly.
We
need
to

discuss
our
business
so
I
can
get
to
the
office.
We
can
talk
now
or
you
can
join
Jared
and
I
for
lunch.”

From
the
look
on
her
face
he
could
tell
his
words
had

reminded
her
of
why
he
was
meeting
Jared
for
lunch.
After
telling
everyone
goodbye
and
giving
out
a
few
more
hugs,