“Thanks, bud. We’re pretty stoked to claim you as one of ours too. Especially now you’re back. But that’s between you and me.”
“I have to leave at some stage, Cub.”
Cubby’s eyes moved away from his, and Ryan followed his gaze. Faith had walked in carrying a tray. “You sure about that?”
“My life is in LA,” Ryan said, watching Faith bend at the waist and pass a drink to Walt. The dip allowed him to see the lush curve of her breasts.
“Avert your eyes, lawman.”
Cubby chuckled. “Here’s the thing, Ryan.”
“By all means point out the thing.”
“You don’t perform year-round. You can just as easily live here and fly out when you need to.”
“Now why would I do that?” Ryan kept his eyes on Faith. She moved with a natural grace. She smiled as she talked to people. It wasn’t the smile she’d given him, but it was still sweet.
“Because when your heart is involved, you need to listen to it.”
“What?” He shot his eyes to Cubby.
“You heard.” The sheriff lounged back in his seat, looking smug.
“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do, and that’s why you look like you just ate anchovies.”
“I like anchovies.”
“Not sure why you would, but we digress.”
“No, we don’t, as there is nothing to digress from. Now shut up or I’ll make you.”
“You can’t strike an officer of the law, bud, not healthy for either of us, and that pretty face of yours won’t like a night in the cells. Imagine if you didn’t do your beauty routine morning and night for a few days.” Cubby shook his head.
“Shithead.”
“Why are you calling our law enforcement a shithead?” Annabelle said, dropping into the seat to Ryan’s left.
“No reason,” Ryan said quickly.
“I was just pointing out some stuff to him. He’s not happy about it,” Cubby said. Ryan wanted to put his hand over the man’s mouth.
“What things?” Annabelle smelled nice and looked good, but Ryan didn’t get that little zap of heat he got when he looked at Faith. He wasn’t in love with her… or was he? His head hurt just thinking about it.
“No things,” Ryan said, shooting Cubby a glare.
“I’ll get it out of him. I’m the best at that; I always have been.”
Annabelle wore a bright pink shirt and jeans. In her hair was a colorful scarf tied to one side. Her lips matched her shirt.
“She is, it’s the truth. We used to send her in if we needed information. Her and Newman, to be fair,” Cubby added. “They could get anything out of anyone. America is not utilizing its most powerful weapon, to my mind,” he added. “Those two should have been sent behind enemy lines years ago.”
“So the way I see it, it could one of two things. The Mac and your mom thing, or M&M as they are now called, and can I just say that it makes me happy to see them happy, but it’s just plain unsettling.”
“Amen,” Cubby muttered.
“All that happy radiating from a woman who couldn’t muster a smile is something it’ll take time to get used to. No offence, Ryan.”