Dodger looked in her rear view mirror and sure enough there was the red jaguar not even a car length behind. "Damn, that lady sure can drive." she admitted to herself. Just looking at Caemen made the seasoned sheriff's heart skip a beat and bring a cool smile to her lips. They were coming up on their destination, The Rosewood Cafe, the only food place around besides the burger joint down yonder. That place was were the teenagers hung out. "Gettin' a little too old for that now." Dodger thought to herself. She signaled with her hand to the Cafe, next thing she knew she was coughing and going through a dust cloud. As Dodger pulled into the parking lot she saw a short, long haired blonde leaning up against the sports car. She turned off her Bronco and came around front of the truck.

"What took ya'? Was beginning to think you stood me up." Carmen said with her sunglasses on the edge of her nose. Dodger shook her head and walked towards the door, hold it open, "And pass up a pretty thing like you? I'd have to be plum crazy." That comment caught Carmen off guard, she's never been one to let words take her breath away, but hey there's always a first for everything. She walked her tight body up to the door, locked her Jade green eyes with sky blue ones, the gaze was intense, giving Dodger butterflies in her belly. The blonde got with in inches of the dark deputy's face, kissed her cheek and walked through the door while saying, "And they chivalry is dead."

Carmen immediately started to berate herself, "Why on God's green earth did you go and do that? You kissed a deputy on the cheek. Not just ANY deputy, a woman! You can't go to the "Dark" side. People would freak, not to mention your own parents. You're in too deed already girl. Bail out while you can." Her mind was racing, her heart too, but for a completely different reason. "Listen Carmen, this might be scary but try to be open to it. No one has ever been this nice to you without wanting something out of it. Enjoy it." Carmen calmed down a little bit, enough to notice that Dodger was still at the door, still holding it open with a surprised look on her face.

"Sheriff...Sheriff! Snap out of it. I need to know what's good on the menu." She took the lanky woman's wrist and had her follow over to a booth. They both sat down and waited for their waitress.

Dodger couldn't believe what just happened. "She kissed me. Did she mean to do that. God I hope so." The Deputy analyzed every potential angle as to why this perplexing lady would do such a thing. She couldn't help herself, habits of being a cop. She looked across the polished wooden table and let her eyes roam over every feature the blonde had to offer. Her lips were perfectly shaped and rose colored, her eyes, Oh Lord her eyes, as green as the football field on a Friday night. They sparkled like the stars in a summer night sky. My stars, she's beautiful. Unbeknownst to Dodger, she had been starring at Carmen for the past five minutes, making her tad uncomfortable.

"Dodger, Dodger." whispered the blonde, as she put a hand on the sheriff to break her out of the day dream. "Hmm, oh I'm sorry Darlin'. You ready to order?" Dodger gave Carmen a brilliant smile. "Sure am. I'll just have whatever you're havin'." said the little lady.

Dodger removed her dusty black cowboy hat and gave a look of astonishment, "You sure?" she raised an eyebrow. Carmen scoffed. "Yes, sheriff, I am. Don't let this pretty little body fool you. I can put away some food."

"Alright. We'll see about that." Dodger had to see this. "This is the woman of my dreams, she drives fast AND she can eat!" The deputy had a goofy grin on her face when Lori, the waitress, came up to their table. She was Dodger's silly face and shook her head, "This one is in love...again. We'll see how long that will last." "What can I get ya folks?" she asked the couple.

"Crap not Lori. I hope she doesn't stir up some bullshit today." Dodger put on a fake smile and gave a false sense of kindness for Carmen. "Hey there Lori. I'll have the usual with a sweet tea and she'll have to the same." She glared at Lori, giving a warning not to cause trouble, especially not today, with her aquamarine eyes.

"Hun, you sure you want what this bottomless pit is having? It looks like you're better suited for a salad, not a side of beef. " Lori said making a snide comment at her ex-lover.

"Lori..." Dodger said in an inauspicious tone with fake smile.

"It's alright Sheriff." calming down Dodger, she turned her attentions to the waitress, who was walking on thin ice. "Yes I'd like the same as the Sheriff here. I'm quite capable of handling myself. And if you have it, I'd like some Wild Turkey whiskey in my tea, thank you." Carmen flashed her pretty white teeth at the piqued waitress.

Lori wrote down the orders quickly and turned about towards the kitchen, barking out the orders at the lone cook. Any fool could tell that the brunette was mad. Dodger sighed and ran her fingers through her short hair. "Sorry 'bout that."

"Hmm, 'bout what?" Carmen tilted her head and moved some of her liquid gold hair behind her ear.

"No wonder Lori is so sore. This gal is beautiful, without even tryin'." Dodger came into realization as to why her ex had been such a smartass. "Oh, um, 'bout Lori. I think she's still sore about me and her breakin' up and maybe a tad jealous of you." She said sheepishly.

"Oh sheriff, dont apologize. I can hold my own when it comes to heifers like her." Carmen remarked absent minded.

That comment made the deputy throw her head back and laugh. She didn't care who looked at her in the diner. That shit was hilarious. Lori came just in time to see Dodger wipe away a tear of laughter, that burned her britches even more.

"Here." she said curtly under her breath, almost slamming down their plates and glasses before she stormed off out back to smoke a cigarette. Lori by all means wasnt an unattractive lady, in fact she won the tri-county beauty pageant two years back. She had long mahogany hair that curled at the ends, hazel-green eyes that were very expressive, a smile that would charm the skin off a snake. Her body was curvy in all the right places, even her long legs had some thickness to them, must be the Native American in her.

Carmen was too busy watching the pissed off waitress to notice the behemoth of a T-bone steak and a loaded bake potato that was suffocating in thick white gravy. "Holy shit. What did I get myself into?!"

Dodger saw how huge Carmen's eyes got, big as a cows'. "Would you like a kids mean instead." She said snickering.

The little blonde gave a smile, that meant "Whatever" and she ripped into her steak like a starving coyote. This thoroughly please and on a small level terrified the sheriff. She shrugged her shoulders and dug into her meal, but with more grace. She took pity on the next cow that the blonde would come across.

Both ladies finished up their man-sized meals and manly drinks. Carmen cleaned her mouth with a napkin, Dodger did the same, except with the back of her hand. Carmen chortled and shook her head. Dodger saw that and cocked her head to the side, "What? Do I still have something on my face?"

The little blonde covered her mouth and chuckled, waving her hand side to side. "No." she said finally. She cleared her throat, "I don't want to be rude, but you're such a guy, but at the same time a beautiful woman. How'd did you get mixed up with likin' women?" she asked hesitantly. Dodger was taking a huge swig of her sweet tea and nearly choked when she heard the question. She caught herself just in time before it sprayed all over her guest. She cleared her throat a bit to remove the remaining liquid that was caught in her windpipe.

"Oh gosh sheriff, I'm so sorry. You okay? I shouldn't be nosy, askin' questions that are none of my business to ask. Forget I ever mentioned anything." Carmen was a flustered having almost killed the only law enforcement in town. Dodger's reaction didn't help at all, she was afraid she'd insulted the deputy and moved to leave when a strong but gentle hand held onto her arm. She looked at the weathered hand and followed it to cobalt colored eyes that twinkled with reassurance that no harm was done.

A low calm voice was the next thing she heard, "Ms. Santiago, please sit back down. No need to run off, you didn't do me no harm. It's a fair question that I get asked often." She gave a comforting smile and that put the blonde at ease, enough for her to take back her seat. Dodge never did remove her hand from Carmen completely, only to move it, to hold one of the smaller hands of the Austin city girl.

A/N: I sure hope that yall are enjoying this story. I know its moving slow but it's kinda on purpose =) I appreciate those who have commented, favored, and are following this story. Makes me feel all kinds of good. Have any comments, questions, or concerns, dont be afraid to message me. Blackirish