Page 38 of Tangled Emotions

My son shrugged. “You said you wanted to see peaches.”

A sly smile crossed my brother’s face. “It’s a figure of speech.”

“You need help.” I glared at him.

“Come on, Mattie, we can go get a pizza before the game and do your homework.”

“Yeah! Pizza!”

My son wrapped his arms around me. “Love you, mama.”

“I love you too. Be good.”

Shaking my head, I got back to work and finished my counts so I could enter the order later when the new kid showed up for his shift.

I made my way to the front of the house and saw him come through the front door.

“Hi, Edie. Mister Malone said you would be training me tonight.”

“We’re going to start you on small things. The better you are at what you do, the more opportunities you’ll get.”

“Great. What first?”

“Dishes.”

“Is, uh, Evelyn here?”

“She is. Would you like her to show you what to do? She’s already back by the dishwasher.”

“Sure.” He smiled.

I pointed to the back and smiled to myself. “Through that door and you’ll see the sinks.”

That’s for meddling in my life, little sister.

After he disappeared through the door, I walked over to the dessert case, about to check what we had left, when I heardhisvoice up front again.

“Hockey’s not bad. I haven’t been to a game in years.”

“If you wanna go sometime.” Big E shrugged. “I wouldn’t be opposed to a beer drinkin’ buddy.”

“That sounds good to me.” Frank bobbed his head.

“Again?” Shaking my head, I walked over to them. “You’re back again?”

My brother slipped past me, going back to the kitchen, and left me alone with Frank.

“Admit it, Edie, you missed me.” He winked at me, and I felt my cheeks heat.

“You’re crazy.” I flipped a mug over and poured him coffee. “Counter’s for paying customers.”

He groaned. “That mouth.”

“Oh yeah?” I smirked at him. “What about my mouth?”

He cocked a finger at me to come closer, and lord help me, I went. His nose skimmed along my cheek to my ear. I felt the skin on my neck fill with goose pimples, and then his deep voice dropped to a husky whisper.

“One of these days I’m going to show you what that mouth is really made for and have you begging for more.”