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“Alright, partner.” Her easy acceptance of his brainstorms tickled him to pieces. “If not drugs, then what are you thinking?”
His gaze followed the tractor as it circled around a copse of trees and headed back their way. “The kings aren’t some backwoods collection of wannabe gang bangers. The amount of money they extort and shuffle around with their financial fraud schemes has ‘em on the Feds’ radar. The Paddocks are small town punks in comparison. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what could’ve possibly brought these two groups together.” Mafia families didn’t spread their tentacles because of the warm fuzzies over new friendships. They were always on the lookout for new ways to turn a profit.
Prim nodded, frowning. “In line with your theory, I know for a fact that drug usage on the rez isnoton the upward swing at the moment. Though the data is never perfect, our numbers on the medical side of things are saying the opposite is true.”
Shep spread his arms wide. “See? I knew you’d make a great addition to the team. I can’t believe you ever doubted it.” He was thoroughly enjoying sound-boarding his thoughts off her.
“I have a few skills.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“Eh, just admit it already. I was right, wasn’t I?” He steered her to the passenger side of his truck.
She stuck her tongue out at him. “I don’t have to admit anything, Deputy. I have rights, you know.”
Her brand of humor was so entertaining that he found himself in no hurry to end the conversation. “So, uh, any interest in grabbing lunch with me before I drive you back to the clinic?” The tractor was grading a section of land right next to the parking lot, forcing him to raise his voice again.
Prim rounded on him, slapping her hands on her hips. “Just for the record, I walked here because I need the exercise.”
“Good for you!” He adopted a wheedling tone. “But what kind of friend would send you back to work without properly fueling you up again?”
She flicked a glance past his shoulder toward the restaurant. “If you’re looking for brownie points, my friend, I could be bribed with literally anything on the menu at The Longhorn Grill.”
“Are they even open yet?” He glanced over his shoulder to peer at the sign on the door, but he was too far away to read their hours of business.
She shrugged, looking unconcerned. “I know it’s a little early, but I told Aiyanna I’d bring by a sample of some prenatal vitamins for her to try out.” She removed a packet of them from her pocket and waved them beneath his nose. “This is our ticket in the door, Mister.”
“Oh, that’s right! She and Marco are expecting again.” He pushed away from the truck and escorted Prim to the front door of the restaurant.
She was silent for a moment. Then she nudged him with her shoulder. “Hey, if hanging out with me puts you in a cranky mood, we don’t have to do lunch.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “What?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “The moment we started walking this way, you started scowling.”
Ah.“Sorry. It wasn’t you. Just mulling over the case some more.” That was only partially true. It was actually the reminder about Marco and Aiyanna’s wedded bliss that had done the deed, though he wasn’t about to admit it. He was sick and tired of being the only guy in their circle of friends who was still single.
“Or,” Prim teased, holding up a finger, “it was the talk about prenatal vitamins and the Perez’s second baby. Is that one of your dirty little secrets, Shep? You can’t stand kids?”
According to the sign on the front door, it was still a half hour before opening time.
“Nope.” He gave a bark of laughter as he knocked. “I’m okay with ‘em.” A lot of folks assumed he was just another hard-nosed lawman who’d been born with a heart two sizes too small. The fact was, his heart was a marshmallow where kids were concerned.
Prim cocked her head at him while they waited. “Just okay with kids? Or can you picture yourself having kids of your own someday?”
His mind immediately jumped to places it had no business jumping to, as he pondered what his and Prim’s children might look like. Between his tall, dark swarthiness and her shorter, blonder curviness, it was anyone’s guess. However, he was suddenly very interested in finding out.
Prim snapped her fingers. “Earth to Shep Whitaker. I asked a simple question, and you completely zoned out on me.”
He smirked down at her. “I was picturing having kids of my own.”Our own,he corrected inwardly.
“And?” She tapped a foot impatiently.
“That was my answer, darling.” The endearment slipped out. He hadn’t intended to call her that anywhere except inside his head. “I can picture it, okay?”
Before she could respond, the front door of the restaurant opened. Aiyanna Perez stood on the other side with a pouting baby on her hip. There was no mistaking the gentle swell of her belly beneath the red ribbed turtleneck sweater she was wearing. Yep. The sheriff’s sister was most definitely showing off baby number two, and she was doing it with her usual runway style glamor.
She had on leather pants over high-heeled black boots. Until this very moment, Shep hadn’t realized maternity pants came in leather, but that was Aiyanna for you.
“Come on in,” she breezed, glancing curiously between him and Prim. “I’m assuming you brought the goods with you.” She tossed a handful of glossy dark hair over one shoulder, shooting a hopeful look at Prim.
