AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“By five minutes, Lucy,” he grumbled. “You’re lucky I made it at all. ”
Lucinda’s smile only brightened. “Of course you made it. Otherwise I wo
uld have had to start making calls, tracking you down, and pulling you out of the arms of whatever little widow you’d found to amuse yourself with. Funny, I haven’t heard about any widows lately though. ”
He shot her a warning look. Not that Lucinda paid much attention to his warnings.
As he neared, she hooked her arm around his, the fine silk of her conservative blue blouse sliding against the cotton shirt he wore. Black slacks and conservative pumps completed her outfit.
Her once-black hair was now dark silver, styled to frame her face and add a touch of youthfulness to it. Her dark brown eyes sparkled with warmth, and a touch of impish mischief. No one could accuse Lucinda of hiding her playfulness under a barrel. The woman fairly shouted “good times” with that grin of hers.
“So, nephew, how is your love life?” she asked as he opened the door for her, casted her a baleful glance.
Because he was more than aware of the hostess who had glanced up and more than obviously caught his aunt’s question.
“It’s still none of your business,” he told her as Shane snorted behind her.
“That’s never stopped her, Dad,” his son told him. “And before you try to lie to her, she’s been on the phone for the past two days discussing you with her cronies here in Somerset. ”
“Friends, Shane,” Lucinda reminded him with a long-suffering look. “I’ve told you, they’re friends, not cronies. ”
“Children, we’re in public,” Zeke reminded them, ignoring his aunt’s pinch to his arm as she restrained her laughter.
“Sheriff Mayes,” Rogue’s voice slid through the teasing. “It’s good to see you and your family again. ”
God, her voice did things to him. He couldn’t describe exactly what it did, but every cell in his body seemed to be drawn to the sound of her. The sight of her.
He nearly swallowed his damned tongue as she stepped from behind the reservation desk and motioned the hostess to her.
“Tabitha will take care of you tonight. ” She smiled back at them.
“Tabitha will do no such thing. ” Lucy moved in front of Zeke. “Young lady, it’s been too long since I’ve seen you. You can take us to our table and say hello to me for a moment. ” She caught Rogue’s hands and let her gaze go over the younger woman. Hell, Zeke couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Naughty Rogue. ” Lucinda’s smile was pure devilry. “That outfit is to die for. ”
Rogue’s brows lifted as she accepted Lucinda’s light kiss to the cheek and held on to her fingers.
“I thought it particularly appropriate, for my age. ” Rogue widened her eyes, and Zeke had to give her credit for never looking his way. The woman could deliver a blow with precise, well- aimed precision.
He was thankful he managed to control his wince.
“For your age, huh?” Lucinda drawled. “That little hickey you’re trying so hard to hide under your jaw doesn’t seem near as age appropriate. ”
Zeke’s gaze sliced to her jaw. He saw her face flush, and her gaze jerked from his face as Lucinda suddenly looked between the two of them. Shane gave an odd little choke behind him.
“Yes, well,” Rogue cleared her throat. “More like a bit of beard burn. Occupational hazard with some men. I’ll show you to your table now. ”
Her smile was a little tighter as she turned from them, but damn, the view was good.
Shit, he shouldn’t be looking. He jerked his gaze from the rounded globes of her ass beneath that flippy little skirt to his son. Only to see Shane’s eyes trained in the same exact area.
“Hey, brat,” he growled. “Look up. ”
Shane jerked his head up, blushed, and laughed, then to Zeke’s surprise murmured back, “Shave next time. ”
Hell. He should have known better than to think Lucinda didn’t know where he was last night. No matter the excuse he gave, no matter the reasons why he had been in Rogue’s apartment, she had turned up with beard burn the next day.
Beard burn, his ass. Yeah, he might have scratched her with his evening stubble, but he also remembered the little bite of her he had taken in the same place.
