A Little Dare

AJ rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Mom, everyone knows that marines are tough. They adapt, improvise and

overcome!”

Shelly smiled at her son’s Clint Eastwood imitation from one of his favorite movies. “Oh.” She went back to reading her book.

“And Mom, he told us about the time he caught two men

trying to rob a convenience store and taking a hostage with them. It was real cool how he captured the bad guys.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it was.”

“And he offered to teach us martial arts moves on Saturday morning at the police station so we’ll know how to protect ourselves,” he added excitedly in a forward rush.

Shelly lifted her head from her book again. “Who?”

“The sheriff.”

She nodded. “Oh, your father?”

Their gazes locked and Shelly waited for AJ’s comeback, expecting a denial that he did not consider Dare his father. After a few minutes he shrugged his shoulders and said

softly, “Yes.” He then quickly looked away and went back to doing his homework.

Shelly inhaled deeply. AJ admitting Dare was his father

was a start. It seemed the ice surrounding his heart was

slowly beginning to melt, and he was beginning to see Dare in a whole new light.

Nine

D are walked into Coleman’s Florist knowing that within ten minutes of the time he walked out, everyone in College

Park would know he had sent flowers to Shelly. Luanne

Coleman was one of the town’s biggest gossips, but then he couldn’t worry about that, especially since for once her penchant to gab would work in his favor. Before nightfall he wanted everyone to know that he was in hot pursuit of

Shelly Brockman.

Due to the escape of a convict in another county, he had

spent the last day and a half helping the sheriff of Stone

Mountain track down the man. Now, thirty-six hours after the man had been recaptured, Dare was bone tired and

regretted he had missed the opportunity to see Shelly two nights ago as he’d planned. The best he could do was go home and get some sleep to be ready for the martial arts training he had promised the boys in the morning.

He also regretted that he had not been there when AJ had arrived after school yesterday. It had officially been the last time he was to report to him. According to McKade, AJ had come alone and had been on time. He had also done the

assignment Dare had left for him to do without having much to say. However, McKade had said AJ questioned him a

couple of times as to why he wasn’t there.

Dare walked around the shop, wondering just what kind of flowers Shelly would like, then decided on roses. According to Storm, roses, especially red ones, said everything. And everyone knew that Storm was an ace when it came to

wooing women.

“Have you decided on what you want, Sheriff?”

He turned toward Mrs. Coleman. A woman in her early

sixties, she attended the same church as his parents and he’d known her all of his life. “Yes, I’d like a dozen roses.”

“All right. What color?”

“Red.”

She smiled and nodded as if his selection was a good one, so evidently Storm was right. “Any particular type vase you have in mind?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t thought about that.”

“Well, you might want to. The flowers say one thing and the vase says another. You want to make sure you select

something worthy of holding your flowers.”

Dare frowned. He hadn’t thought ordering flowers would be so much trouble. “Do you have a selection I can take a look at?”

“Certainly. There’s an entire group over on that back wall. If you see something that catches your fancy, bring it to me.”

Dare nodded again. Knowing she was watching him with those keen eyes of hers, he crossed the room to stand in front of a shelf containing different vases. As far as he was concerned one vase was just as good as any, but he

decided to try and look at them from a woman’s point of

view.

A woman like Shelly would like something that looked

special, soft yet colorful. His gaze immediately went to a

white ceramic vase that had flowers of different colors

painted at the top. For some reason he immediately liked it and could see the dozen roses arranged really prettily in it. Without dallying any further, he picked up his choice and

walked back over to the counter.

“This is the one I want.”

Luanne Coleman nodded. “This is beautiful, and I’m sure she’ll love it. Now, to whom will this be delivered?”

Dare inwardly smiled, knowing she was just itching to bits to know that piece of information. “Shelly Brockman.”

Her brows lifted. “Shelly? Yes, I heard she was back in

town, and it doesn’t surprise me any that you would be hot on her heels, Dare Westmoreland. I hope you know that I

was really upset with you when you broke things off with her

all those years ago.”

You and everybody else in this town, Dare thought, leaning against the counter.

“And she was such nice girl,” Luanne continued. “And

everyone knew she was so much in love with you. Poor thing had to leave town after that and her parents left not long after she did.”

As Luanne accepted his charge card she glanced at him and said, “I understand she has a son.”

Dare pretended not to find her subject of conversation

much to his interest. He began fidgeting with several key rings she had on display. “Yes, she does.”

“Someone said he’s about eight or nine.”

Dare knew nobody had said any such thing. The woman

was fishing, and he knew it. He might as well set himself up to get caught. “He’s ten.”

“Ten?”

“Yes.” Like you didn’t already know.

“That would mean he was born soon after she left here, wouldn’t it?”

Dare smiled. He liked how this woman’s mind worked. “Yes, it would seem that way.”

“Any ideas about his father?”

“No.”

“No?”

Dare wanted to chuckle. “None.”

She frowned at him. “Aren’t you curious?”

“No. What Shelly did with her life after she left here is none of my business.”

Dare couldn’t help but notice that Luanne’s frown

deepened. She handed his charge card back to him and said, “I have Shelly’s address, Sheriff, since she’s staying at her parents’ old place.”

Dare nodded, not surprised that she knew that. “When will the flowers be delivered?”

“Within a few hours. Will that be soon enough?”

“Yes.”

“Sheriff, can I offer you a few words of advice?”

He wondered what she would do if he said no. She would

probably give him the advice anyway. He could tell she was just that upset with him right now. “Why sure, Ms. Luanne. What words of advice would you like to offer me?”

She met his gaze without blinking. “Get your head out of the sand and stop overlooking the obvious.”

“Meaning?”

She frowned. “That’s for you to figure out.”

Shelly looked at Mr. Coleman in surprise. She then looked at the beautiful arrangement of flowers he held in his hand. “Are you sure these are for me?”

The older man beamed. “Yes, I’m positive. Luanne said for me to get them to you right away,” he said handing them to her.

“Thanks, and if you just wait a few minutes I’d like to give you a tip.”

Mr. Coleman waved his hand as he went down the steps. “No need. I’ve already been tipped real nice for delivering them,” he said with a grin that said he had a secret that he wouldn’t be sharing with her.

“All right. Thanks, Mr. Coleman.” She watched as he

climbed into his van and drove off. Closing the door she

went into the living room and placed the flowers on the first table she came to. Someone had sent her a dozen of the most beautiful red roses that she had ever seen. And the vase they were in was simply gorgeous; she could tell the vase alone had cost a pretty penny.

She quickly pulled off the card and read it aloud. “You’re in my thoughts. Dare.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she lightly ran her fingers over the card. Even the card and envelope weren’t the standard kind that you received with a floral arrangement. They had a rich, glossy finish that caused Dare’s bold signature to

stand out even more.

For a moment, Shelly could only stare at the roses, the vase they were in and the card and envelope. It was obvious that a lot of time and attention had gone into their selection, and a part of her quivered inside that Dare would do something that special for her.

You’re in my thoughts.

She suddenly felt tears sting her eyes. She didn’t know

what was wrong with her. It seemed that lately her emotions were wired and would go off at the least little thing. Ever

since that day of Dare’s visit and what he’d done to her on the porch, not to mention that little episode he’d

orchestrated at the restaurant, she’d been battling the worst kind of drama inside her body. He had done more than

open Pandora’s box. He had opened a cookie jar that had been kept closed for ten years, and now she wanted Dare in the worst possible way.

“Who sent the flowers, Mom?”

Shelly lifted her head and met her son’s gaze. “Your father.”