Page 39 of To Hold and Protect

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mabel.” Not really.

“Your uncle was a waste of space. Let’s hope that doesn’t run in the family.”

Well, yes, you old bat, it runs in the family. We’re all a complete waste of space.“I didn’t know my uncle very—”

“You’ll deal with that silly book club, I trust,” Miss Mabel said to Parker, cutting Willow off and dismissing her.

“Yes, ma’am. And may I say you look lovely today, Miss Mabel. That dress is very pretty. Orange is your color.”

“This old thing? You’re a silver-tongued devil, Parker Church.” She patted his arm. “You’re my favorite Church brother.”

The lady clearly ate up his praise, and Willow managed not to roll her eyes. The woman should never wear orange. It clashed with her blue hair, the kind of bluish silver some older women’s hair turned from too much product. After Miss Mabel headed down the sidewalk, Willow shook her head and grinned at him. “Favorite brother, huh?”

“She says the same thing to Tristan and Kade. Her favorite Church brother is the one who happens to be talking to her and telling her how pretty she looks.”

“Well, for such a little thing, she scares the daylights out of me.”

“You and the rest of the town. Where you headed?”

“Katie’s Corner Kitchen. Since my kitchen is demolished, I decided to take a break and give the diner a try for lunch.”

“It’s just the Kitchen to locals. I’m headed there myself to meet my brothers. You should join us.”

“Okay.” He’d gone from Mr. Grouchy Pants to Mr. Sweetie Pants, and when first meeting him, she hadn’t expected to like him, but she did. A lot. It was a nice surprise.

“Have you eaten here before?”

“I haven’t. Is it good?”

“Yep. Kade swears Katie’s burgers are the best he’s ever had, Tristan alternates between a hamburger and a melted ham and cheese sub. Katie has several healthy things on the menu, and those are what I go for. You’ll like whatever you decide on.”

He opened the door, and as she entered ahead of him, he put his hand on her lower back. “They’re at the back table.”

She headed that way, disappointed when he dropped his hand. That was the moment she knew what her decision would be. She wanted his hands on her, wanted to feel his fingers dance over her skin, wanted more of his amazing kisses. There was nothing wrong with having a secret affair if the two people involved were agreeable and understood what it was and was not. She’d leave for the beach as soon as the house was finished and sold, which was good because they’d have an expiration date.

“I found a stray,” he said when they reached the table.

Both his brothers stood, and she smiled. Such manners. “Hope you don’t mind if I join you.”

“By all means,” Kade said. “Besides, you’re prettier to look at than that ugly mug standing beside you.”

She didn’t mistake that he was teasing his brother and not flirting with her. “Well, I just met his girlfriend, who he thinks is the prettiest girl in all the land.” She sat, and the three bothers did after her, with Parker taking the chair next to her. “She said he’s her favorite Church brother.”

“Ah, you’ve met the infamous Miss Mabel,” Tristan said. “Don’t tell my baby brother, but I’m her favorite.”

Kade snorted. “Dream on, bro, she loves me best.”

“She’s...um, interesting? She accused me of spying on her.”

All three chuckled. “Interestingis an understatement,” Tristan said. “Get Parker to tell you the UFO story and how our mayor, who is her nephew, came to be part alien.”

Huh?“Like an outer space alien?”

Parker nodded. “Yes, and you’ll need to make a visit to Marsville’s UFO museum.”

“Is that the Beam Me Up place you mentioned the other day?” A UFO Museum? She so had to go there.

“No, Beam Me Up is a honky-tonk bar in town,” Parker said.

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