Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(64)

There was a long honk and the sheriff turned, putting his hands on his lean hips. The man knew how to wear a set of khakis. “Gene Boudreaux? Is that you? You go around. Remy’s trying to decide if he’s joining the party or running back to Dallas. The man needs some space.”

“Does he have to have it in the middle of the damn road?” a man screamed back.

“Oh, I will tase you,” the sheriff promised. “You move around him. You think I won’t?”

A white sedan raced around them.

The sheriff was back and smiling. “Don’t worry about them. You take all the time you need.” He reached up and tipped his hat her way. “You must be Miss Daley. I’m Armand LaVigne. You can call me Armie. Everyone does. Unless I’m arresting you and then I prefer Sheriff.”

Oh, he was a charmer. She reached out her hand and shook his, her fingers brushing over Remy’s as she pulled back. “How did you know my name?”

Armie grinned, looking younger than before. “Everyone knows your name, chère. There’s a parking place on the square being saved for Remy. If you want to run, you should dump your cell phone. Seraphina tracks you on it.”

“She does what?” Remy asked, his voice rising.

“Your sister tracks you. She flips out from time to time when it shows up in some weird foreign country and rushes into my office screaming that I have to go save you because you’ve been kidnapped. I told her there was nothing at all weird about a bodyguard going to Monaco. She didn’t know where that was. We need to work on our education system. Someone needs to teach that girl geography.”

Remy had flushed and it took a lot not to reach out to him. She reminded herself that they weren’t together. They had never really been together. He didn’t deserve her sympathy.

But oh she wanted to give it to him because he was floundering.

“We’ll go and park, Sheriff.” It was obvious someone had to make a decision. Also, hangry. Maybe not angry exactly, but there were definitely some feelings going on that she would like to medicate with fair food. If there was a beer somewhere out there, all the better.

“Why are they doing this?” The question came out on a tone that proved Remy was pretty emotional, too.

Armie leaned over, his eyes serious. “We screwed up the first time you came home, man. It wasn’t a good time for the town, but we should have remembered what you sacrificed. We lost a boy about eighteen months ago.”

“Yeah, I heard we lost Wesley Beaumont in Afghanistan,” Remy replied grimly. “He was a good kid. I always hoped he and Sera would get together. They were friends, but she preferred the bad boys.”

“We all felt his loss and we realized if we’re going to mourn our dead soldiers, we should damn straight celebrate our living ones.” Armie held out a hand. “Thank you for your service, brother.”

Remy went still and she was worried he would stay that way. She reached out, putting a hand on his arm, and he seemed to remember to move again. He shook the sheriff’s hand. “Of course. We’ll go park and get my…get Lisa some food.”

Armie stepped back. “You do that. And Remy, you’re a hero around here for more than your service. We were sure we were going to lose the wharf. Everyone in town is breathing easier, and we know it’s all because of you and your girl. Miss Daley, welcome home.”

He gently tapped the hood of the truck and then turned to the back. “Is that Brent Cardet in his momma’s minivan? What did I tell you? You do not have a driver’s license, son. I don’t care that your momma’s too lazy to get her own beer. You’re not allowed to buy beer, either.”

The sheriff stalked off and Remy started the truck again.

“We could go back to the house instead if you like,” Lisa began.

“Apparently my sister would know how to find me.” Remy kept his eyes on the road, turning down Main, and she got a better look at the chaos going on in the square.

Zydeco music filled the air as the sun started to go down and the street lights came up.

“Sounds like they changed their minds about you,” she said. It would be good. She wouldn’t have to sympathize because the whole town loved him. “This is quite a party for a man you say they all can’t stand. Oh, there’s the spot.”

She pointed at the parking spot. It was the only one open and the only one that had a massive, glittery star on the sidewalk in front of it. Was that Remy’s face in the middle of all that gold glitter?

“They’re just happy they won’t lose everything,” he replied. “If Jean-Claude sold out, their whole way of life would be gone. This isn’t about me. It’s about feeling bad over Wesley and being relieved they don’t have to move or work for a large hotel that would send their property taxes sky high.”

“Or they realize they didn’t treat you well the first time.” He was being way too pessimistic. “Why do you think he said that stuff about me?”

Remy shrugged as he parked the car and cut the engine. “I don’t know. I told Momma I was bringing you with me. I didn’t exactly tell her you’re a client because I didn’t want anyone to freak out. If this town thinks there’s an assassin on the way, it could go poorly.”

“Ah, they would want me gone.” She was curious about the small shops that lined the square. It looked like something straight out of a movie about the 50s. Small town America at its finest. There was a drug store in front of her and it still boasted about serving the best milkshakes in town.