Pretty Witches All in a Row by Lisa Olsen Page B

playfully on the behind with his oven mitt, giving her a look that said they’d talk more about it later. 
    “I’ll be right back,” she promised, whispering “be nice,” at her father as she passed. 
    When wasn’t he nice?  “Sorry about that.  Barbecue night; it’s kind of a weird tradition around here.” 
    “I think it’s nice,” Annaliese smiled back.  “You made barbecue food?”
    “Ah no, Buster’s Barbecue delivered, I just popped it in the oven to keep it warm ‘til the cowpokes arrived,” he grinned.
    “I didn’t know they delivered.”
    “They don’t.”  He leaned close, as if to impart a great secret.  “I know a guy…” he added sotto voce, affecting a mob-type accent. 
    “That must come in handy.”
    “We order a lot of take out down at the precinct,” Nick shrugged.  “So… you just happened to give Veronica a ride home?  How exactly did that come about?”  His brows climbed slightly.
    “She stopped by the shop.  I was heading out in this area… I offered her a ride.”  Anna gave him a tentative smile.
    “Makes sense.  Stay for dinner?  We’ve got ribs a’plenty and all the trimmings.”
    “Oh, I don’t want to intrude on your dinner…”
    “No really, there’s always room for one more, especially good Samaritans who make sure my daughter gets home safely.”  He tried for his most charming smile as she hesitated.  “Besides, there’s another question or two I was hoping I could pick your brains on later.  It would save me a trip across town.” 
    “More questions about the investigation?” 
    He had her now, he was sure of it.  “Stay for dinner.  We’ll talk over dessert, I’ve got ice cream; chocolate and chocolate,” he waggled his brows playfully.  “You do eat meat right?  I mean there’s bacon on the potatoes, ham in the beans, it’s pretty much a carnivore-fest in there.”
    “Yes, I eat meat.  I believe in the food chain as long as it’s humane.”
    “Good, then grab yerself a hat and saddle, ‘cause we gots plenty of vittles to be et.”  He took off his cowboy hat and settled it on her head.  “You gotta leave yer six shooter by the door though.”
    Annaliese tipped the hat back a little, her smile widening.  “Afraid I ain’t got no six shooter, Sheriff.”  She waggled her empty hands in the air.  “Are ya gonna frisk me?” she challenged.
    Was she flirting with him?  Oh, this was a bad idea on so many levels… but he found himself grinning right back.  “Might could, might could… maybe we could save that friskin’ for later when the youngins are down fer the night?”
    “Might could,” she drawled, ambling past him, deeper into the house as Veronica reappeared at the bottom of the stairs. 
    * * *
    Dinner was a lighthearted affair, with plenty of belly laughs and more than one biscuit tossed across the table.  Annaliese kept up with their quirky sense of humor without batting an eye, making the occasional comment that sent them into such fits of laughter, Nick started to tear up.  It had been a long time since he’d laughed like that.  Sure, he had great times with Veronica, but it was different having another person to share it with.  It added a new dimension, one he hadn’t realized he’d missed. 
    Veronica was absolved from dish duty to start on homework and Nick started to stack the dirty plates in the sink. 
    “Give you a hand?” Annaliese offered, bringing her plate to join him at the sink.
    “I usually find it’s best to let them soak for an hour or ten.  In fact, sometimes the longer I let them sit, the less dishes there are in there the next time I look,” Nick kidded.  “Besides, you’re a guest; you shouldn’t be schlepping dishes, go have a seat.  You want some coffee or tea?”
    “No thanks, I think if I have anything else you might have to roll me out to my car.”   
    “It was the ice cream, wasn’t it?  I told you not to have the chocolate and the