Jude shrugged. “Not much to say.”
“I’ll start.” His tone was light, but she recognized the danger. “Married Nikki Harrelson about a year after you left. Poor thing passed giving me a baby girl. Then my girl died but left me a fine grandson. Dated around a bit. Met a few good women but never got hitched again.”
Jude thought about the gun in her purse. She had started carrying Gerald’s 357 Magnum.
He asked, “What about you, honey?”
“One marriage. One divorce.”
He combed his fingers through his curly, dark hair. “Children?”
“What do you want, Lee?”
He shrugged his shoulder. “You must be proud. The election was a blowout. Another Sheriff Clifton. Can’t be a bad thing to have a cop who owes you a favor.”
“I don’t owe you any favors.”
“No, darling. I still keep my promises. Even after forty-two years.”
She dropped her purse on the table. Lee Rawley recognized the thud of a gun inside a bag. “If you ever think about going back on our deal, I want you to remember what I did to Shane Russell.”
Lightning strobed outside the window. Thunder shook the glass. The light traced along his delicate eyelashes, brought out the clear, startling blue of his eyes.
Jude leaned across the table. “I will do whatever it takes to protect my daughter.”
His grin didn’t falter. “So will I.”
