Shay lifted her gaze to Allyson.
Allyson met it and smiled. "Sounds to me like Jaylynn's a sore loser liar who needs to get out of town before the truth gets out."
"More pie, anyone?" James's mom held out a sweet potato pie.
A little later, when they had a moment alone while washing up, a job they volunteered for, Shay nudged James aside with her hip as she moved to rerinse a glass he'd left soapsuds on.
"Your family's different."
James nodded. "They like you, too."
"They like confrontation."
He grinned that irresistible smile. "Cannons love a challenge."
She grinned back. "So that's why my attitude didn't scare you off."
"No, this is why." He kissed her, quick enough not to get caught but long enough to be a promise of much more later. "The attitude was just familiar."
He turned back to the dishes but Shay was tired of hiding her feelings. She slid between the sink and him, and slipped soapy hands behind his neck. She kissed him again, long enough to reveal that she would be more than holding her own later, and quick enough to keep him from taking her on his mama's kitchen floor.
James nuzzled her neck, measuring the odds of getting caught versus assuaging the new hunger that had just sprung up.
She really did smell like forever, but he wasn't going to tell her that for a while, maybe in a few months. Maybe sooner.
Bogart padded in and gave a bright bark.
Shay looked over. "Someone needs a walk."
"Come with me. There's a park at the end of the block with a wooded area on the other side."
Shay turned and saw that the invitation in his eyes included more than a stroll. She smiled. "I'll get my jacket."
"I'll bring a blanket."
James winked at his partner who barked again then gave him what he would swear was a great big lolling-tongue doggy grin.