Seth smiled. “Good decision. Sorry that romance didn’t work out, but really, staying away from the girl right now is an excellent decision.” He sniffed the air. “My God, that smells good! What’s cooking tonight, Mr. Davis?”

Sid smirked. “I believe that’s chicken and rice. Nothing special.”

“But you got the table all set there. You having company tonight?”

“I have four children, Deputy. Anything else?”

“Nothing from me. I think everyone is on the same page right now. The kids are better off putting a little distance between themselves. Doesn’t that sound like a good solution, Brett?”

“She’s crazy. I don’t know why she’d do that to me. She’s just screwed up, that’s all.”

“Sure,” Seth said. “Then give her a lot of space. Right?”

“No kidding,” Brett said sullenly.

“Good night, then. Enjoy your dinner,” Seth said.

He stepped outside and took three long steps down the walk, then three long steps back to the front door where he stood, quietly listening.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep your mouth shut? When I say keep your mouth shut, that’s what I mean. You sound like a fool, a pu**y! Some little girl picking on you?”

“He asked! I just answered!”

“I said keep your stupid mouth shut!”

“Ow. I told you, I didn’t do nothing! She’s out to get me! Ow.”

Seth opened the door. Sid was gripping his son by the arm, his face pressed close to Brett’s. “Problem, gentlemen?” he asked.

Sid didn’t let go. He glared at Seth. “What do you want now?” Sid asked.

“I want to know if everything is all right,” Seth said.

“You have no right to walk into my house!”

“Oh, you’re completely wrong, Mr. Davis. I heard shouting and noises that indicated imminent danger which, in fact, it appears there is. Now, it’s really my responsibility to read you your rights, cuff you and take you to my office to process you for battery. You appear to be battering your son. But seeing as how I heard it happening and didn’t witness it happen, I only have my suspicions. Which, by the way, appear to be on target. So, I’m going to leave you with a warning. Lay one hand on any member of your family and it will be my pleasure to take you for a little ride. Brett, you ever get knocked around or see the rest of the family being abused, you have only to make a call. Understand?”

“This is none of your business. Get out,” Sid said.

“I can’t wait to leave, as a matter of fact.”

“Don’t even think of making a big deal out of this,” Sid warned.

“Sorry, pal. Making a big deal of it is at the top of my list. I’d recommend you calm down and get under control before you make things worse.” He stepped out and started to pull the door closed. “Oh, by the way. You’re not a lawyer. You might’ve corrected me.”

“It’s none of your goddamn business!”

Seth traded glare for glare with Sid. “Yes, it is,” he said.

* * *

Seth let himself into the kitchen of Iris’s house, holding his hat in his hand, and just took in the scene. There was a nice smell of food cooking and Iris was sitting at the small kitchen table with her laptop open, making notes on a legal pad.

He’d never had this before. There had never been a woman to come home to, a warm, good-smelling kitchen welcoming him, this promise of contentment to ease him.

She looked up. “Hi.”

He tossed his hat on the table and went around to her side. He pulled a chair close to her and sat down. She turned in her chair so her knees were inside his. He leaned toward her for a kiss and she put her arms around his neck and met his lips.

And he felt brand-new.

“Something smells good,” he said.

“Some chicken thing...”

He laughed against her lips. Iris, he’d learned, didn’t do a lot of cooking and certainly nothing fancy. But then, neither did he. “What kind of chicken thing?”

“Sort of an enchilada thing, but not really.”

“Iris, you going to make me guess?”

“Well, it’s a couple of cans of cream soup, a can of tomatoes, some chicken br**sts, sour cream, taco seasoning...”

His lips went to her neck and he sighed, resting them there. “Sounds delicious.”

“We used to make it in college a lot. It takes no skill, no brains.”

“Is it ready?”

“A little longer,” she said. “Want to tell me what’s wrong, Seth?”

“I don’t want to move,” he said. “Are you going to get mad if I say I need you? Because I need you, Iris. Like I need air.”

“I need you, too.”

“Can we stay like this forever?”

She laughed and ran her fingers through the hair at his temples. “With food and bathroom breaks?”

“Together,” he said. “I just meant can we stay together forever?”

“I’m hoping so. I’ve loved you forever. Except when I hated you...”

“Good, then.” He kissed her neck and pulled her closer. “Forever, then. We should get married before I do something stupid again. Maybe the second school is out? Whenever you can be ready.”

“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?” she asked him.

“No,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about anything sad or mean or wrong right now. You make me feel like everything is good. When I’m holding you, everything is sweet and clean and kind.” He pulled away a little and smiled. “And aroused.”

“I like that, too.”

“I should get a shower before that chicken thing is done.”

“I should, too,” she said.

“We should save water,” he told her.

“We should. I think I’ll just go ahead and turn off the oven so we don’t have to rush too much while we’re saving water.”

“Good idea. I’m not that hungry. For food, that is. Baby, I love you so much. You make my world right.”

* * *

Late that night, after lovemaking and chicken casserole that vaguely resembled an enchilada pie, Iris snuggled in Seth’s arms and listened to him talk about his day. He groaned about Sassy wearing eau de vineyard, flirting with him a little sloppily while Robbie was trying to negotiate some kind of custody shift to try to protect Rachel. Rachel, who didn’t seem to want too much protection. Then on to visiting with one of the biggest ass**les in town, the guy who had probably personally taught Brett Davis how to pummel a woman.

“I wake up in the morning thinking how lucky I am to live in a sweet little town where the people are nice and generous and care about each other. And then I’m reminded that all people have problems, sometimes of their own making, and that it’s my job to recognize them and do what I can to protect the innocent,” he said.

“If the town and people were as perfect as we like to sometimes believe, we wouldn’t need a deputy, Seth. We’re humans. We stumble all the time. And now, from what you tell me, even Brett is innocent, in a way,” Iris said.

“In a way that bears watching very closely. The fact that maybe he can’t really help it is no excuse to let him run wild. Watch, Iris. And be careful. Apparently he has a real short fuse, even if he doesn’t let it show often.”