Page 22 of Midnight & Mavericks

“Hey, there’s that woman that was in your office today. She’s pretty.” Wanda shook her head. “But she’s with that Teddy Van Meter. I’d steer clear of them two. Teddy is trouble with a Capital T.”

“Why would you say that?” He threw a speculative look toward their table.

“Because it’s true, that’s why. Everybody knows you can’t trust a Van Meter. He’s just like his dad. And older brother. They have a reputation around town, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know. Tell me more,” Beau replied as he absentmindedly studied Abbie and her dinner partner over the top of the menu.

Wanda began to share stories of Teddy’s bad behavior as far back as she could remember. “Now mind you, I’ve only lived in Jessup Peak a couple of years, but I’ve heard stories about Teddy all the way back to his middle-school days when he was conning people out of their lunch money.”

Beau listened while his eyes fixed on Abbie as she laughed at something Teddy said. The sound of it made his stomach tighten, though he couldn’t decide if it was annoyance or something else entirely.

As the evening wore on, Beau kept one ear on the conversation with Wanda and the other on the low murmur of voices from Abbie and Teddy’s table. Beau couldn’t help but notice that Teddy was leaning in too close, his polished charm on full display.

“You’re staring,” Wanda noted, smirking at him over her dessert.

“I’m working,” Beau corrected, though he knew she wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Sure you are,” she teased, taking a sip of her water. “Do you and the pretty lady have something going on? Like, you’re not jealous, are you?”

Beau shot her a sharp look. “Jealous of what?”

She shrugged, clearly enjoying herself. “I mean, if you liked her, the fact that she’s on a date with Teddy Van Meter might put your nose out of joint.”

Beau snorted. “He’s not her type. Trust me, there’s nothing to be jealous of.”

“If you say so,” she said, her grin widening.

When he saw Teddy ask for their check, he asked for his. He wanted to stay on their tail until Abbie was headed home. He hurriedly signed his bill and he and Wanda hurried past their table. Abbie’s eyes rounded in recognition. Her mouth rounded in shock. Beau discretely touched his fingertips to the brim of his cowboy hat to acknowledge her without giving away his presence to Teddy.

Beau held the door open for Wanda as they exited the steakhouse, her cheerful chatter about goats and her favorite TV cop shows filling the cool night air. Just as they neared her truck, a hulking figure stepped out from the shadows. Beau was instantly on alert.

His hand on his gun in his shoulder holster, the door to the steakhouse swung open, spilling light and satisfied customers into the parking lot, including Abbie and Teddy.

“Well, ain’t this cozy,” his eyes flicked between Wanda and Beau, narrowing with every second until he settled on Beau. “Didn’t take long for the big-city cop to come around stealin’ a man’s girl. That might be the way it’s done in the big city, Detective, but we got a different set of codes down here.” Then he looked at Wanda, hurt and jealousy colored his face. “What’s he got that I ain’t got, Wanda?”

Wanda sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Common sense for one, Willard. He ain’t been in town two days. What kind of girl do you think I am? Besides, who said I was your girl? After all this time and no ring? I don’t know, Willard. That seems like a lot to ask for a hunk of burnin’ love like me, don’t you think?”

Beau stifled a grin, but Wanda wasn’t finished. “I’m a catch, Willard. I got my own house. My own business making and selling goat cheese, and I ain’t got no debt. I’m sexy. I’m healthy. And I got all my teeth. I don’t know what you’re waitin’ on topropose, but I ain’t waitin’ on you anymore. So step aside and let my date escort me to my truck.”

Willard hesitated, glancing at the growing audience. Finally, he muttered something unintelligible and stomped off into the night. Wanda turned to Beau with a sly grin. “Well, Detective, looks like you just made a new best friend.” Beau shook his head, catching a glimpse of Abbie’s barely hidden grin in the crowd. “Add it to the list,” he muttered, ushering Wanda toward her truck as the steakhouse patrons slowly dispersed, clearly disappointed the drama had ended without bloodshed.

Beau’s hand tightened on the steering wheel as he called Abbie, fully expecting her to be in rare form after the spectacle in the parking lot. It was the kind of thing he knew would amuse her to no end, and he could already hear her teasing tone in his head.

“Detective Elliott,” Abbie answered after the second ring, her voice laced with amusement. “How’s your new best friend?”

Beau sighed, knowing full well she wasn’t going to let this one go. “Wanda made it to her truck safely, thanks for asking. And Willard didn’t land any punches and I didn’t have to use my handcuffs on anybody so I’d say it was a successful evening.”

“That’s too bad. I’d have paid good money to see you use them on someone tonight.” Abbie replied, her tone teasing but with an edge that made Beau’s pulse quicken.

“The night’s still young.” Beau leaned back in his seat, his lips quirking into a grin. “Is that your thing, Carter? Watching guys in handcuffs?”

Abbie didn’t respond for a moment or two. “Not guys,” she quipped, her voice silky, “just you, Detective.”

Beau chuckled, low and deep, the sound vibrating through the phone. “Careful, sweetheart. You keep talking like that, and I might start thinking you like me.”

Abbie snorted, though the quickened rhythm of her breathing into the phone betrayed her. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just entertained by the chaos that seems to follow you around.”

“Ah, so it’s entertainment, then,” Beau drawled, his voice dropping just a notch. “I’m absolutely sure I can keep you entertained, Carter.”

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