Page 21 of Warrant
Feeling Warrant’s gaze on me, I worried again about the fact that he somehow seemed to be able to read my mind more often than I was comfortable with.
“Besides,” Cindy continued, “this gives us a chance to get to know our new sheriff.”
“And Rafe’s new-” Alex let out another grunt, but this time scowled at Lucas.
I looked around then focused on Warrant. I had to be careful here. He didn’t know that I had a file on him that was almost as thick as my forearm, the man had a penchant for getting into trouble. “Rafe? Is that your real name?”
He smiled at me. “Sure is.”
Before I could respond, Beau—Warrant’s dog, I found out—let out a massive bay from the porch.
“He’s always going on about something,” Cindy sighed.
“Probably Owen,” Warrant said, getting up to go check.
Cindy gasped. “Rafael Dale Barringer! You didn’t tell me Owen was coming for dinner.”
Warrant glanced over his shoulder at her and shrugged. “He usually does.”
“And you usually tell me so that we can wait for him,” she snapped. She was out of her seat before any of her men could stop her.
“He can get his own plate,” Dale said, starting to stand.
“Besides, I keep telling you, we don’t wait on Owen, we only wait on people,” Warrant added.
Cindy was already busy grabbing one from the cupboard and dishing up food as though it was her own personal mission.
“Sit down, Mom,” Lucas said, but everyone had stopped eating because Cindy wasn’t eating.
My chest tightened as I watched Cindy fret over the fact that someone invited to her home might be offended that we’d started without him, and her men worry over her. The love coming off this family was so easy to see and feel. It made me soften a little toward Warrant. He had an amazing family.
Which really shouldn’t surprise me. I’d watched him, and his MC brothers, the day of the funeral. They’d run themselves nearly into the ground doing anything that needed to be done to make sure that day had gone smoothly. I hadn’t missed the way they’d positioned themselves around the park during the wake. The way they’d come to the rescue with bag after bag of ice, or anything else that was needed to keep the food cold, or hot.
Warrant had watched over it all, eyes scanning, missing nothing. I’d noticed because I’d been doing the same. Mike Linstrom had been returned to my jail cells—where he was still sitting as he awaited his trial—but I hadn’t been sure whether someone would show up to try to see him or not. Other than his lawyer there hadn’t been anyone yet.
But if there had, I would’ve had all the backup I could have needed, thanks to the Berserker’s Rage MC.
“Hey,” Owen said, grinning as he took off his ball cap when he stepped into the dining room. He looked surprised to see me, but didn’t mention anything.
I was glad. It was embarrassing enough that he was seeing me here. How did I explain to one of my deputies about why I was here?
“I see Cindy must have cornered you and offered to feed you, too,” Owen said, taking care of my dilemma in a quick and efficient way. Which, I was learning, was exactly Owen’s way.
“Guilty,” Cindy said with a laugh as she set the full plate in front of Owen when he sat to her left. Everyone had slid down to make room for him.
“She does that,” he said with a laugh.
I chuckled and nodded as Warrant sat back down next to me and everyone returned to the meal. We all chatted, they asked a lot of questions about my family as we ate, and soon, I was sitting back, stuffed to the extent I was worried about the button on my jeans. “That was probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” I told Cindy.
“Best thing you’ve ever eaten, so far,” Lucas interjected. “Just wait until she makes you her homemade clam chowder.” Everyone groaned in appreciation.
She grinned at me. “Well, if you want, Rafe can take you out, show you around, work some of it off. Once I put all this away I’ll show you those gardens.”
“I got it, Mom,” Alex said as all the men rose and began clearing plates and putting food away.
Dale was already rolling up his sleeves and getting ready to do the dishes.
Warrant put a hand on my shoulder. “Come on.”
