Bayou Christmas (Cypress Cove #2) - Suzanne Jenkins Page 0,32
usual self, Dave. I’m working with him now, and he’s professional on the job. I wrote down what was said, if you want to hear it.”
“I do, but a car should come around to get your report,” he said. “I’m at the grange tonight. That’s only a mile or so from your place.”
“Do you trust me? The last time we were together, you accused me of attacking you,” she said, and although it was true and he’d threatened her with an assault arrest if she didn’t pull it together, she had tried to make it about him coming on to her, even though it wasn’t true, and now she felt guilty.
“I trust you. I’m sorry about everything that happened between us. Alcohol is to blame.”
“Well, I’m not drinking tonight, if it makes a difference.”
“Me either,” he said. “I’ll be right over as soon as I finish up here.”
The grange hall was the place to have Sunday night potluck dinner with his father, Dr. Chastain, the retired vet, and his girlfriend, Rose Angel, Maggie’s mother. The band was warming up, and when dancing began after the tables were cleared, he’d leave, not wanting to be available as a dance partner for the twenty older women there looking for love.
“I have to go file a report,” he said, returning to the table.
“What’s going on?” Doc asked.
“Amber Greely was followed by Ted LeBlanc this afternoon, and she said there was nothing particularly criminal about it, but she wants it on the record in case it happens again.”
“Ted’s losing it,” Doc said, shaking his head. “It might be time for the veterinary board to get involved.”
“He hasn’t done anything criminal yet, Dad,” Dave repeated. “Wait.”
Out in his car, he sent Amber a text message, just to get everything on record.
Amber, I’m headed out your way to take the report regarding Ted LeBlanc approaching you at the wild horse meeting today. Please send your address. Sheriff Dave Chastain.
He swung by his apartment to (A) take a quick shower because he smelled like potluck dinner, and (B) brush his teeth. Just in case. No warning bells went off. The history he shared with Amber had occurred almost a year ago, last December during the Christmas festival in town, and just as he was about to bite into a gigantic oyster po’boy, a pair of five-foot-long legs walked by his table, distracting him so the contents of his sandwich squirted out its ends.
“Yikes, who the hell is that?” he squeaked, wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand.
“Amber Greely,” his companion said, watching her walk down the sidewalk. “Steer clear.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Dave said, getting up from the table. “’Cause I’m chasing her down.”
By this time, she had paused at a jewelry vendor’s booth and was looking at necklaces with stone amulet pendants. “Something for good luck,” she asked the jeweler. “Something to bring me love.”
“I got jus’ the thing for you,” she said, reaching for a long silver chain. Holding it up to Amber’s chest, the amulet dangled between her breasts, and she giggled, not offended.
“It’s cold. I thought it would be hot.”
“It’s garnet. Good for balancing sexual things,” she whispered, winking.
At that moment, the jeweler looked at Dave, who stood next to Amber and was smiling at her.
“Yikes, that happened fast,” the jeweler hissed.
Amber looked at Dave. She was so tall that she looked eye to eye with most men, but Dave was six five, so she had to tilt her head. Teasingly, she rubbed the back of her neck.
“That stone is perfect for you,” he said, grinning down at her. “I’d like to buy it for you.”
“You want to buy me this necklace,” she asked, incredulous.
“I do, if you’ll allow it.”
Amber looked at the jeweler and smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “This tall drink of water wants to buy me the garnet.”
“He’s a sheriff, you all. I’ll have to do some research tonight to figure out the significance of this interaction.”
“A sheriff!”
“Dave Chastain,” Dave said, holding out his hand. “It got po’boy all over it.”
“I don’t care. Amber Greely,” she replied, holding on to his hand.
It went downhill from there. They spent the next twenty-four hours in bed, engaging in the wildest, most satisfying sex they’d ever had, not once, not twice, but three times, and the next day when he was talking to a mugging victim who was also an attractive young lady, Amber went berserk and had a temper tantrum in front of the sheriff’s office, ending up with a