Cuffing The Law Book 2 in The Willowbrook Series

Chapter 2

Deacon

Every time I see that girl, she makes my heart skip a beat and race. My mouth goes dry and I just get tongue tied and twisted. She does strange but wonderful things to my body and I have to resist the urge to touch her. She's my friend. She's my best friend's kid sister and there isn't anything I would want to do that'd upset our relationship.

Hell, we've known each other since we were knee high. She was my prom date too but I chickened out of kissing her at the very last minute, even though that beautiful face of hers was uplifted and her lips were ever so slightly parted. Just the thought of it makes me feel it in my groin. Jeez, I am standing in Bluebell's diner I've got to think of something other than Daisy and real quick.

"How are you ladies this fine day?" I ask Daisy and her bestfriend Lottie, they've known each other for a long time too and if you see one, you're bound to see the other. The mischief those girls would get up to still makes me shake my head. And the way they got the boys all twirled around their fingers in school, well that was something else. Those girls never had to carry their books to school, there was always some kid in tow willing to do that for them.

They needed help with anything and the pair of them had it. Logan and I used to shake our heads a lot at how these girls played on their looks, but not only do Daisy and Lottie have superior looks, they have the nicest and sweetest personalities too. Unless you cross them. Well then, Daisy sure is a little firecracker, another reason I like her so much. That girl is nobody's fool.

"We're all good, thanks Deac. Talking about the fundraiser in a couple of weeks time." Daisy says. Lottie is looking me up and down. She makes me feel like an object at the best of times. I smile at her, she doesn't stop taking in my body. Yeah, I feel a bit uncomfortable. But you know I work out, I'm the law here in Willowbrook and as such it's my job to stay fit and be active so I can protect the folk here as and when I need to. Although to be fair, here in Willowbrook there isn't much that goes on. We're a tightknit community and we don't get much trouble.

The odd drunken brawl at Lazy Dukes, some petty shoplifting with a couple of teenagers, mostly those from Copper Town. We don't have bad kids here in Willowbrook, thank goodness.

"So," Lottie begins, "what are you doing for the fundraiser? Are you doing the dunk again?" I shake my head. I'm never doing that again. Last year, Logan threw the balls for Daisy and Lottie and I spent most of my time in the cold water, he hit the disc every damn time.

"Not this year. I think last year was my last year on that, I think it ought to be Logan this year so I can get my own back." The girls chuckle.

"He's playing band this year again but having a longer stint. And he and Sage are going to help his ma out on the cake stall."

"Ah, well then I'll have to get him some other way." I smile at the ladies. Being so close to Daisy with her long blonde hair, that hangs over her shoulders in waves and those baby blue eyes of hers, makes me all hot under the collar.

A man could lose himself in those eyes for eternity and then some. "You heading off anywhere nice after your coffee?" I ask, tongue tied.

"I'm heading back to work." Daisy says. Man, I don't know why I don't just ask her out on a date. But I am not risking our friendship and I don't want to have a no by way of response, I'd feel like a complete idiot.

Instead, I shuffle some. "Deacon your table is free." I hear Babs, who owns the diner say from behind the counter. "Get yourself seated and I'll bring your coffee and pancakes right over."

I turn to her and thank her. "Ladies, have a good day." I say and tip my hat, then leave for the table. Mr. Jefferson one of the older residents of Willowbrook is seated next to mine.

"See you later." Shouts out Lottie and then I hear the two of them giggle. I've got used to that, they've been giggling over me for as long as I can remember. But I did notice how Daisy got a cute, blush to her cheeks when I spoke to her. It's adorable.

I try not to think what it would be like to touch her and make her blush some more. "Morning, Marshal Deacon." Old man Jefferson says.

"Good morning Mr Jefferson." I say as I sit down and place my hat on the table in front of me. Debs arrives with my strong black coffee and a stack of pancakes.

"Fill your boots. If you want a refill just holler." She says and beams with her wide smile. I like Barbara she's been running Bluebell's diner for a long time, it was always our go to place when we were kids and I'm pleased she has no intention of retiring just yet. Besides, I'm sure one of her kids will take it over and keep it running.

That's what folk tend to do here in Willowbrook, they take the businesses over from their parents and everything seems to stay the same. Sure, some of the premises get a new lick of paint to freshen them up, maybe new signage but for the most part this small town hasn't changed ever since I was a kid. It's homely, the folk are welcoming and yeah, it can be a bit much when everyone knows your business but it's home and I wouldn't want to be anyplace else.

"See you chatting up that Miss Daisy again." Jefferson says. I raise my eyebrows.

"No, Sir. Not chatting her up. We're friends is all." He humpfs.

"She likes you, young man." He says with all the wisdom of an older man. I almost choke on my coffee.

"I don't think so, not anymore than she does any of the other guys around town, Sir. She's my good friend." I tell him and begin to cut into the stack of pancakes which I've now drizzled Maple syrup all over. There's a small pot of blueberries to the side and I throw those over for good measure.

"Trust me, young man I know when a young lady likes a man."

"As you say, Sir." I say and tuck into my pancakes. Sure, Daisy does like me but only as her friend. I can wish though.

Logan teases me about her all the time, he keeps telling me I ought to do something about these darn feelings of mine and ask her out on a date. Maybe one of these days I might but for now, I'm way too scared of being rejected and ruining what we've got. What if she said yes and everything is perfect then goes horribly wrong.

Trust me, I've seen the best of lovers end up as enemies and it sure ain't pretty.

I finish my pancakes and watch as Lottie and Daisy finish their drinks and stand to pay. Daisy is wearing a cute summer dress with cherries on it, she looks like the perfect wholesome American girl that she is. Fire burns in the pit of my stomach for her. What I wouldn't do to have my arms around that tiny waist of her and her chest pressed up against mine.

A man can dream, right?