Page 37 of In Step

“Nope. Just... distracted by possibilities.” I left it at that.

“Ah.” He nodded sagely. “Well, I hope he knows how lucky he is. Although why you’d want to walk away from all this—” His hand swept over his body. “—I’ll never know.”

I snorted.

“Still, you can’t blame me for trying. Painted Bay is hardly a gay dating mecca, or dating mecca of any kind, to be fair, and you get tired of fishing out of the same small, murky pond.”

I chuckled. “Maybe don’t put that in your tourist brochures.” Cora’s car pulling into a parking spot in front of the hardware store caught my attention. “Oh, oh. Trouble at t’ mill.”

Jam hummed. “I take it things are still tense in the Madden clan?”

“A little. The locks are changed, but Judah says Cora is still a little... frosty.” I winced as Cora walked past Terry and Judah with barely a word. “Ouch.” Terry patted Judah on the shoulder, then followed Cora inside.

“Shit, here he comes.” Jam turned his back to the window, but not before Judah had caught us both staring and waved.

“Too late,” I muttered.

Jam huffed. “The man likes to think he’s the centre of attention.”

I laughed. “That’s because he nearly always is. Now ring up this perfume bottle, and we’ll take the other props as well.”

“I’m not charging you for the props. If they survive, give them back. If not, we can discuss it later. Consider it my community service.”

I didn’t know what to say. “That’s amazing. Thanks.”

He winked. “Small towns. Shit for getting laid, great for barn raising and similar sports.”

I laughed just as the bell above the door chimed and Judah swept into the shop. “Are you two done ogling my family dramas, or shall I throw down with my mother in the main street when she comes out again?”

“My money’s on Cora,” I said, handing over my credit card.

Judah leaned on the service desk, looking pale and tired. “What can I say? The woman can hold a grudge. Her icicles have grown icicles, but she’ll come around. Martha’s on our side, and Mum just has to get her head around it. To be honest, I think it’s Leroy’s stance more than mine. I doubt it ever occurred to her he’d nab anyone who could actually put up with him. Or that we might, as couples, need actual private time, let alone have sex other than between seven and ten on weekends and maybe not in the bedroom. Shock, horror.” His hand flew dramatically to his mouth.

I was stopped from laughing by the visible tremor in his fingers.

He saw me looking and shoved his hand in his pocket. “It’s gonna take her a minute to realise she hasn’t actually lost us, just gained a couple of adults instead of kids, and two more men to dote on. She’ll get there, although we might need a few extra polar fleeces while she works it through.”

“Well, she lovesme,” I reminded him. “Brought me a coffee this morning while I was waiting for you, and a brownie to go with it.”

Judah’s gaze narrowed. “Did she now? Crafty little witch. I got nothing, of course.” He sighed and glanced across the road to the hardware store. “Dammit. We might have to force a conversation. I’ll talk to Morgan. Maybe Friday night after our dance lesson.” He looked at the collection of props. “Have we got everything we need for the class today?”

I checked the list. “Hat stand, coat that we can make look like tails, top hats—or close enough with some work, long white gloves, a glittery sequined thingy for Hannah to wear, two canes in addition to Hannah’s, and the rest we can come back for. Check.” I saluted. “That’s one dance number off the list.”

He grabbed the coat stand, leaving me the bags. “Right, then let’s go. Morgan needs his car back, and I might try and fit in a rest before the class.”

Alarm bells went off in my head and I grabbed his elbow. “Judah?”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’m, ah, spinning a little.”

My heart caught. “Shit. Well, you’re not carrying that. Here.” I shoved the coat stand at Jam. “Come on, let’s get you home. I can start the kids off with the help of the physio if you’re not up to it later.”

Judah nodded, the relief unmistakable along with the misery in his eyes. “I might have to take you up on that.” An admission that told me all I needed to know.

By the time we got him to the passenger door, he was already staggering. As soon as we had him safely inside, Jam put a call through to Morgan while I tore down the tiny main street and past a gaping Cora who looked as pale as a ghost.

* * *

Kane

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