because they’re coming back now.”
Dylan popped up from his chair and raced over to the buffet counter. Sawyer winked at Jessica when she returned to the table with her plate and Colin’s. Sawyer helped Dylan make his selections, while he decided on chicken-fried steak with white gravy, mashed potatoes, fluffy biscuits and sweet tea. He was back in the South and the food on his tray made him feel as if he had really come home.
“I’ll go and get the drinks,” Jessica said as he set his plate on the table.
“We’ll go together. You need to let me know when you’re going to be home so I can return your picnic hamper,” he said as he filled two glasses with milk.
Jessica gave Sawyer a sidelong glance. “I don’t have to be home for you to bring it back. You can either leave it at the front door or on the patio.”
“And let coons or some other critter get into it?”
“You heard about that?”
“Yep. My mother said she has a problem with raccoons trying to get into the garbage bins. She claims she saw a few during the daylight hours, which means they’re probably rabid. Have you been bothered with them?”
“I haven’t seen any.” Jessica added a splash of cream in her coffee. “I keep Bootsy inside, and whenever I take him out I make certain to carry pepper spray.”
“You walk a cat?”
“Bootsy is a dog, not a cat.”
“Who ever heard of a dog named Bootsy? What happened to Bruno or even Bruiser?”
“He’s too small to be a Bruno or Bruiser.”
He wanted to tell Jessica he was only teasing. “I’m sorry,” he called out as she turned, heading back to their table.
“No, you’re not,” she said, not bothering to give him a backward glance.
He quickened his step. “Yes, I am. I apologize for insulting Bootsy.”
Dylan took the glass of milk from Sawyer. “Uncle Sawyer, you have to meet Bootsy. He’s a cool dog. Right, Colin?”
“Yep,” his twin agreed. “Can you please buy us a dog, Uncle Sawyer? We asked Momma but she said she doesn’t have the money.”
Jessica leaned closer to Sawyer, her shoulder touching his. “See what you’ve started?” she whispered.
He turned his head, his mouth only inches from Jessica’s. At that moment he wanted to kiss her. Not a long, lingering kiss but a mere brushing of lips. Time appeared to have stood still as he found himself caught in a maelstrom of hypnotic longing. He did not want to believe he was thinking of kissing his sister’s friend in a public place and in front of his nephews.
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“When later?” Dylan asked.
Sawyer stared at the boy. “I have to talk to your mother first. If she says yes, then we’ll contact a breeder and go look for a puppy.” He knew Rachel had the money to buy a dog, and suspected she didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of the animal once the excitement of having a pet faded for her sons.
“My dog is a rescue from a puppy mill.” Jessica peered at Sawyer over the rim of her coffee cup. “There are too many dogs in shelters waiting for good homes. And if they’re not adopted, then they’ll be put down. I’m seriously thinking of getting another rescue as a companion for Bootsy.”
Picking up his knife and fork, Sawyer cut into his steak. When he was his nephews’ age he had begged his mother for a dog and most times Mara had had to take care of his pet when he stayed for after-school sports.
“Can I go back for seconds?”
Colin’s question broke into Sawyer’s musing. “Take your brother with you. And this time try to put something green on your plate.” The two boys bolted from the table and dodged diners carrying plates overflowing with food. “How often do you come here?” he asked Jessica.
She touched her napkin to the corners of her mouth. “No more than once or twice a month. I really prefer cooking for myself.”
“That’s because you are an incredible cook. Who taught you?”
“My grandmother was an art teacher turned caterer and I used to watch her whenever she prepared for a party. What’s incredible is that she never had any professional training. Folks would ask for her recipes, but she refused, saying they were family secrets.”
“I guess that means you’re not going to tell me what seasonings you use on your chicken.”
Jessica closed her eyes while affecting a sexy smile. “You guess right.”
Sawyer wanted to scream at Jessica not to do that. It was as if she was inviting him to kiss her. He continued to stare at her mouth. “You’re tight with Rachel, so that should act as brownie points when it comes to you thinking of us as family.”
Jessica rested her left hand on Sawyer’s right. “Nice try.”
He decided to try another approach. He didn’t want to know her family secrets as much as he wanted to know about the woman who seemingly had charmed his family. “How long have you lived here?”
“I moved to The Falls two years ago. Before that I lived in Beckley.”
“Beckley is less than a half hour’s drive from here.”
“I know,” Jessica agreed, “but I got tired of renting. There were a few houses on the market but most of them were out of my price range. Then I discovered a foreclosed property over on Porterfield Lane. I negotiated with the bank to buy it, but only if they approved a home improvement loan, and as they say, the rest is history.”
“Good for you.” Jessica did not know she had just gone up several more points with Sawyer. It was obvious she was quite the businesswoman. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also feminine and intelligent. The winning combination was something he’d found missing in some of the women he had dated. He had come back to Wickham Falls to reunite with his family, but making friends with his sister’s friend was definitely a plus. Dylan and Colin returned with dishes of lime gelatin and frozen yogurt covered with chocolate syrup and colorful sprinkles. “You said get something green,” Colin stated proudly when Sawyer stared at the shaky dessert.
“That I did,” he said under his breath, while ignoring Jessica’s smug grin. It definitely was a gotcha moment.
She pushed back her chair and he stood up at the same time. “I have to leave now. Thank you for brunch.”
“Miss Calhoun, can we come see Bootsy?”
Jessica pointed to her mouth and Colin picked up a napkin to wipe the chocolate syrup staining his. “If your uncle Sawyer wants to take you with him when he brings back the picnic hamper, then you and your brother can come and play with Bootsy.”
Dylan popped a cube of gelatin into his mouth. “Please, Uncle Sawyer.”
Sawyer
