Terri still wasn’t smiling. “We need to stop this evil word from spreading.”
“What word?”
“Party. That’s all these people do. And I’m sure they’re dying to meet you.” She could tell that she wasn’t scaring him off.
“As you so wisely ascertained, I was in a fraternity. Think I should order some kegs?”
“How about the Clydesdales pulling a loaded beer wagon?”
Nate grinned so wide it looked like his face might crack open. “I like it already. Mind if we go where the cookies are first? I need sustenance.”
“You just ate a whole pizza.”
“What can I say? I’m a growing boy.”
Terri smacked her hand against his hard stomach. “This is what’s going to grow.” She’d meant it as a teasing gesture, but the feel of his flesh under her hand made her hesitate. Hand still in place, she looked up into his eyes. The laughter was gone and he was staring at her in puzzlement.
He gave a quick frown, then ran outside into the rain. When he was several feet away, he turned back and he’d regained his laughter. “Come on! I’m hungry!”
Terri locked the door, then ran after Nate and got into her boat with him.
Chapter 5
“What’s going on with our girl?” Sheriff Frank asked as he entered Brody’s office. He didn’t bother with preliminary greetings. They’d known each other too long, been through too much together, to do anything other than say what they meant. “I hear she’s living with some guy. Cousin of Dr. Jamie.”
Brody was looking through a file cabinet. “They’re roommates, that’s all. They’ve been working together.”
“Oh.” Frank plopped down in a chair. He was a short, muscular man in a brown uniform. His badge picked up the light and reflected it. “Della told me about him.”
Brody groaned. “And you listened to her?”
“Little old lady snoops are law enforcement’s best friends, and she keeps me well-informed. I guess you know that Dr. Kyle put her in the hospital in Richmond for some tests.”
“She’s not even here, but she’s telling you about Nate?” Brody put some files on his desk and sat down to look at them.
“She did, and she told me about the entire hospital staff. I think maybe what goes on there is worse than what’s on TV. Everybody jumping into bed with each other. It’s a wonder they have time to hand out all those lovely pills.”
Brody’s head shot up. “You aren’t...?”
“Back on the drugs?” Frank said good-naturedly. “Yeah. I stole six orange bottles while I was there. I had a real happy night.”
Brody gave him a look to cut it out and returned to the papers.
Frank was frowning. “What’s made you so mad? You haven’t had any break-ins, have you?”
When Brody looked up, his eyes were bleak. “Does my daughter’s heart being stolen count?”
“You can’t keep her all to yourself forever,” Frank said in a patronizing voice. “Someday Terri’s going to meet a nice young man and get married and give us grandkids.”
Brody grimaced. “Too bad you didn’t listen to Della’s gossip. I want to show you something.” He went out the door, through Anna’s office, to the outside.
It was a beautiful day and there were several kids playing soccer on the lawn. They were being coached by a man with a limp and sparse gray hair.
“I’ve seen him before,” Frank said.
“How about photos in Life magazine? He coached the US soccer team in the Olympics.”
“Does he live here?”