Chapter 14.1

“All right. I know I did. What I’m wondering is, how did you know I did? It’s a pretty casual question, did you move here to be near family.

Something anyone would ask, if they were curious.” “Something your readers will want to know?”

“For right now,” she told him honestly, “it’s what I want to know. What makes you think it’s for any other purpose?”

“Your eyes changed.”

She blinked. “My eyes changed?”

“Your ears grew, all the better to hear me with.”

Shannon huffed out a breath. “You’re making fun of me. Never mind. Let’s back up a minute. You said you’d planned to give me a yes or no.”

“That’s right.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

He pulled another rib from the rack on his plate. “Why didn’t I what?”

“Oh, man, it’s a good thing I like this brisket too much to throw it at you. You’d try the patience of a saint. Why didn’t you give me a yes or no when I asked if you had family here?”

Nick licked a dab of barbecue sauce off the spot between his thumb and forefinger. Slowly. He watched her whil