"Shooed out of my own damned kitchen, sheesh," Gus griped, but it was light-hearted at its worst. He grabbed himself a beer for his trouble and sat on the couch, leaving her to work her confectionary magic. Such as it was.
Gus suddenly found himself with a moment alone, and while his eyes were on the movie, his brain was elsewhere. This was good fun and all, but it was still a little weird. If anyone stopped by, they would definitely raise an eyebrow at a (much) younger woman in the Sheriff's house, having some beers and baking a cake. It was harmless, of course, but that didn't change how things looked. He hadn't been married to a WASP for eighteen years and not become acutely aware of what the neighbors were likely thinking.
And really, what did it say about Lucy's state? Most women her age had friends that were.. well. Women her age. Not lonely Sheriff's whose most recent foray into dating included coloring in shapes on a tablecloth.
The light-hearted banter was good for him after the very unpleasant, uneasy way he'd left things with Justice, but he felt like it was almost too much in the other direction. Fluff and substance just didn't mesh well, even if both were good for the soul.
"How's it going in there?" he called out, taking a very thoughtful swallow of his beer. He hadn't been drinking enough to get a buzz going, but that was very much on purpose. After what had happened with Justice? He'd rather not have a repeat performance.