Texas Hold 'Em (Smokin' ACES) - By Kay David Page 0,24
she wanted. Or needed.
“Yeah, well, you’re not the sheriff. And I’ve answered all the questions from the person who is. It was an accident, after all.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Well, that’s too bad. Because she’s the one in charge.”
“True, but I was the one driving the truck you followed all the way out there.” King’s voice dropped. “Why don’t you tell me what that was all about? And while you’re at it, you can tell me how you knew what was happening to begin with.”
Saving him from coming up with another lie, the waitress approached with a loaded tray. “Hey, King, watch out! Coming through, coming through.”
She lowered it to a nearby stand, forcing the deputy to step back, the sizzling plates full of tacos and beans with generous scoops of guacamole on the side. She grabbed a round plastic container and set it on the table first, the steam of the flour tortillas inside seeping out of its lid. She handed out the food, glancing toward the uniformed man. “Have a seat, Deputy, and I’ll bring you the same.”
“I’ll buy you a beer to go with it.” Santos held out his half-empty bottle, the tension palpable between the two men. “I was just about to have another one.”
“I won’t be staying.”
His curt answer raised a puzzled look from the waitress, who retreated without another word. King swung a look at the other agents. “Stay out of trouble,” he warned, “Or stay out of town. Preferably both.” Turning on his booted heel, he strode out the door.
Jess watched him leave as she picked up her fork. “Great line,” she said with a straight expression. “I wonder how long he practiced it in front of the mirror.”
The others chuckled and began to eat. Santos did the same, only he didn’t taste the food. He understood King Landry’s attitude just as he understood that of the other diners. There was more to King’s attitude than concern, though, and Santos couldn’t stop himself from recalling the way the deputy had held the station door open for Rose that night and guided her inside, his hand on her back.
When the waitress returned with another round of beer, she paused beside the table and tilted her head toward the empty plates, her drawl pure Texan. “I guess all y’all didn’t like the tacos?”
She lingered as they laughed, her expression open and friendly. “What brings you guys to Aqua Frio? You visiting folks in town?”
“My mom’s nearby,” Austin answered. “Down the road a bit. I told everybody we oughta stop here and get something to eat before we went the rest of the way. She’s not much of a cook.”
“My mama’s the best cook in the world,” the waitress gushed. “I think she should open a place and give this dive some competition.” She lifted her head as the door opened, the bell announcing an arrival for the second time since they’d come in. An even bigger smile came over her young features. “Sheriff Rose! Cool to see you. How ’bout your usual?”
“I’m not staying, April. I just came in to speak to your customers, here. They parked down the road in a tow-away zone.”
April raised an eyebrow and cut her gaze back to Santos’s face. “You’re mighty popular with the law enforcement crowd today.”
“Somehow, I’m not surprised,” he murmured.
The girl left for the kitchen as Rose closed the distance between them. Pouring through the diner’s windows, the western sun painted her hair with shimmering gold highlights catching his eye. The uniform she wore didn’t take anything away from her appearance, despite its goal to do that very thing.
She stopped at the edge of the table. Her smile wasn’t real. He’d seen the real one before, and this wasn’t it.
“Evenin’, Miz Deputy,” Santos drawled. “Wanna meet my friends?”
“I’d love to.”
He draped an arm over the back of the booth and pointed to each agent, giving Rose their undercover names. She acknowledged each one with a nod of her head, including Austin.
“You guys enjoying your supper?”
They nodded.
“That’s real good.” Her friendly attitude disappeared. “Because you’re going to pay your bill and leave right now to move your motorcycles. Otherwise, they’re gonna get towed.”
She shot a glance toward the rest of the patrons, and Santos followed her gaze, understanding immediately.
“Cut us some slack, Sheriff,” he said loudly. “We’re just getting something to eat then we’re outta here.”
“That’s exactly what’s going to happen.” She smiled sweetly. “It’s just going to happen a little sooner than you thought. Like right now.”