Sharpshooter: Do you believe in life after death?

Kentuckygirl: That’s a hell of a conversation starter. What made you think of that? Are you sick?

Sharpshooter: I don’t get sick.

Kentuckygirl: Everyone gets sick.

Sharpshooter: I don’t. What size top do you wear?

Kentuckygirl: You’re changing the subject.

Kentuckygirl: Why do you want to know?

Sharpshooter: Because I want to imagine you in my arms.

Kentuckygirl: I hate to disillusion you, but I don’t want to have sex over the Internet.

Sharpshooter: Get your mind out of the gutter.

Kentuckygirl: Sorry. Does size matter to you?

Sharpshooter: No … unless you do change your mind and want to have sex over the Internet, then I have a ten-inch dick.

Kentuckygirl: Whose mind is in the gutter now?

Sharpshooter: Trying to make you more comfortable. So, what size are you?

Kentuckygirl: I don’t measure myself, but I wear a large and an x-large if I want to be comfortable.

Sharpshooter: I want you to be comfortable when I’m fucking you so …

Chatroom closed

Sharpshooter: Woman, I know you know I was joking with you.

Kentuckygirl: Ha, ha.

Chatroom closed.

Sharpshooter: Be that way. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Kentuckygirl: Bye

Chatroom closed.

* * *

“Is that it? You didn’t leave anything behind, did you?” Greer dropped a large box on the bed in the room that Dustin had said Mrs. Langley had given her. “I don’t want you making excuses to come out to the house. I don’t want you showing up when I’m entertaining.”

Holly pulled out two pictures of Logan, setting them on the dresser facing the bed. “Make sure you wash your sheets before inviting Diane over to spend the night. I won’t be there to change them for you.” She flipped over the top of the box so she could pull out the clothes that hadn’t fit into her suitcase.

She had expected Dustin to drop her off and leave her in a dark house. Instead, Dustin, Logan, and Greer had driven her, while Logan had excitably told her he was staying with her and she would be taking him to school in the morning.

Nothing had gone the way she had expected it to. When the Porters had come home from the fishing trip, she’d had her things ready. They had sat and talked to Logan, telling him that Holly wanted to live in his grandmother’s house until it sold, because she didn’t want it to sit empty.

Yeah, she had volunteered to leave; that much was true, Holly thought caustically.

Logan came running into the bedroom, leaping onto the bed. “Can I sleep with you?”

“Boy, you can sleep in the same room you always slept in when you visited your grandmother.”

Logan’s face drooped.

“Do you ever get tired of being a party pooper?” Holly wanted to stick her tongue out at Greer, yet she didn’t want to set a bad example for Logan.

Winking at him, she helped Logan off the bed.

“It’s getting late, and your dad is waiting to give you a bath. When you get your pajamas on, I’ll read you a story.”

He ran off before Greer put a damper on her suggestion.

“That boy doesn’t need to be running in the house.”

Holly rolled her eyes. There were several things she wouldn’t be missing living with Greer.

“Do you remember what I said about Logan not wanting to visit you when you’re old?”

“Yeah?”

“Did it go in one ear and out the other?” Holly gave him a droll look.

“Boys need discipline. My pa—”

“How close were you to your father?”

Greer’s mouth closed in a tight line.

She raised her eyebrow at him. “I rest my case.”

“How do you think Tate, Rachel, Dustin, and I turned out?”

Holly thought about the Porters and how much they loved each other. They might not have many friends, but they had always been fair to her. Despite Greer’s complaints about her living in his home, he had never made her feel uncomfortable by leering at her the way most men did. When he went to the grocery store, he would even buy items that he had noticed she liked. During certain times of the month, she would find her candy bar stash replenished. He had even noticed when Dustin had bought her the wrong brand of shampoo and had come home from work to find it replaced with the one she used. He was also the one who took Logan out to shop for her, for her birthday and Christmas.

None of the Porters knew how to back down from a fight. When a friend of Sutton’s had wanted to leave town, Tate, Greer, Rachel, and Dustin raked together what cash that could spare, giving it to Sutton to give to Cheryl to start over in another city.

The townspeople might not like the Porters, but they could also name someone in their family whom the Porters had helped without expecting anything in turn. Shade had bought Greer a new truck after he had watched out for Bliss, one of the female members who had a former boyfriend who wanted her back. Holly was sure Greer would have done it for free just for the excitement.

“You don’t have to raise Logan as hard as you all were raised. He may have taught you right from wrong, but did it give you the affection you needed as a child?”

“That’s what our ma was for. If you want to know if I wish my pa hadn’t been hard on me, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’ll raise my kids the same way I was raised. The same his pa raised him.”

“Your wife may have something to say about that.” Holly pulled the mound of clothes out of the box, dumping them onto the bed.

“My wife will do what I tell her.”

Her blood began to boil. Picking up the box, she thrust it into his arms. “How do you know what she’ll do? You can’t even pick one.”

“Got it narrowed down to two.”

Her eyes narrowed at his smug grin.

“Which two?”

“Kentuckygirl and Jo. Diane didn’t make the cut. She burnt the meatloaf she cooked for me last night. Woman can’t make a meatloaf without burning it, I’m not going to trust her to cook me a steak.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my goodness. Can you tell me how Kentuckygirl is still on your list? Did she make a meatloaf and send you a picture of it?”

“Now you’re being ridiculous. I’m going to ask for her recipe.”

“Greer …” Holly didn’t know what to say. His method of trying to find a bride was too asinine to be believed. “Okay, forget Kentuckygirl. How about Jo? How do you know she cooks?”

“Ate a couple of things she brought to the church potlucks.”

Holly was ready to pull her hair out. “She brings things that she pays Willa to bake.”

“I ain’t got no problem with a woman being resourceful.”

“You can’t eat cake and cupcakes every night. If I give Logan something sweet to eat for dessert, you blow a gasket, saying I’m going to make him fat.”

“I don’t want Logan to end up dead like his mother. The doctor said we have to watch his sugar intake.”

Stunned, Holly sat down on the side of the bed. “That’s why you’re always watching what he eats?”

Greer frowned. “Yeah. And that’s why I don’t eat them in front of him.”

“The doctor told us to monitor his sweets, not to never give them to him. I’m very careful with what I give him. That’s why I make cakes with no sugar, using unsweetened applesauce, and I ask Willa to make special cupcakes and other things to keep him from being deprived.”

“How was I supposed to know that? You could have told me there was no sugar in them.”

“Because I didn’t want Logan to know.”

“Damn, now I feel bad. I just thought you were a lousy cook.”

“You think I’m a bad cook?”

“Where dinner is concerned, you’re not bad. But where desserts are concerned, yeah, you’re pretty bad.”

“Have you ever tasted any of those sugar-free desserts?”

Holly tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t when Greer gave her a cocky grin. It was the same infectious smile he had given her the night of the carnival.

She tried keep the protective barrier that steeled her heart against him. She was still furious at the way he had talked to her that had led to her moving out, but every time she was about to write him off, he managed to find a way back inside.

She had tried too many times since she had met him to hate him, but she couldn’t. Each time, he would find another way to become entrenched, making her fall in love with him even more.

Logan came running back into the room, dressed in his pajamas.

“Daddy said, since you won’t let me sleep with you, he’ll stay and sleep with me in my bed. Is that okay? If you want, my bed is big enough for you, too?”

Holly laughed, picking Logan up and cuddling him close. “How about I tuck both of you in and then come down and sleep in my bed? Your daddy snores, and I have to be at work early in the morning.”

“Dustin doesn’t snore.”

“Yes, he does.” Holly carried Logan out of the bedroom, going to the foot of the stairs.

“I’ve had to share the same bedroom with him for most of my life. I’d know if my brother snored.”

Holly frowned. “Maybe it was his TV I heard then. I just assumed the sounds coming from his room were snoring.”

“I’m going on home. Lock the door after me.” Greer took Logan from her arms. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his comb then parted his damp hair to the side that he normally lay on. “You remember what I told you?” he asked when he put his comb back in his pocket.

“Yes, sir. I won’t forget.”

“Good.”

Holly locked and bolted the door behind him.

“What aren’t you supposed to forget?” She couldn’t stem her curiosity about the stern warning Greer had given his nephew.

“That’s a family secret. I’m not supposed to tell you.”

Holly paused at the foot of the stairs. “I’m part of your family, aren’t I?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can tell me.”

“No, this secret is just between me and Uncle Greer. Not even Daddy knows.”

“Darling, you can tell me. I won’t tell your uncle you told—”

Logan’s jaw set stubbornly, just like Greer’s. “A man doesn’t break his promises.”

Holly’s worries melted into a puddle. “No, he doesn’t.”

* * *

“If you’re done with those folders, I can file them?”

Diamond took one of the top ones, leaving the remainder. “I’m finished with them.”

Holly picked them up off her desk, seeing the one she kept. “Are you going to take Holt’s case?”

“No. A good lawyer will get him off, but it won’t me.”

Holly was glad Diamond wouldn’t be taking the job. She wouldn’t have to listen to Greer badgering her about being a traitor. He took the feud between the Hayes and Porters seriously. She knew the two families competed for the same market, each bragging who was the best grower. Holly wished the Feds heard the same gossip and arrested them all. Well, everyone but Tate and Dustin. Now, if that happened, she would have the talk Greer said she needed to have with Diamond about representing what he considered the criminal element in Treepoint.

Diamond stood up, stretching. “What are you doing for lunch?”

“I thought I’d take a walk, unless you need me?”

“No, I’m having lunch with Knox. Do you want to join us?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I need to walk off the cupcakes you talked me into yesterday.”

“Don’t blame me. Willa was trying out a new flavor. The woman’s been coming up with a different flavor every day since she became pregnant. The whole town has packed on more weight than she has with her pregnancy. Hopefully, the baby will slow her down.”

“That’s not likely to happen. She’ll come up with two new flavors a day to prove she can handle it.”

Diamond sighed. “You’re right. That woman is a menace to womanhood and my expanding ass. The baby is due any day now. I hope he or she arrives before I have to go up a pant size.”

Holly laughed as she went into the front office to file the folders.

Diamond came out of her office, carrying her purse. “Do you want me to bring you something from the diner?”

“No, thanks. I might really get industrious and go by the house and start a load of laundry. Dustin dropped me off a bag of dirty laundry. He didn’t trust Greer to wash them. The last time he did, Greer shrunk his favorite T-shirt.”

Diamond gave her a concerned frown. “How is it working out living in Mrs. Langley’s house?”

“Strangely, it’s been great,” Holly admitted.

“How’s it strange?”

“Logan is there more than he spends at his. Usually, Dustin does, too.”

“Why is he staying there?”

“He’s been working late. By the time he shows up, we’re eating dinner and Logan doesn’t want to leave. So, one night Logan stays. Then the next, he goes home.”

“I bet you don’t miss seeing Greer.”

She unhappily looked down at the files she was holding. “He’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“Don’t tell me you’re missing him?”

“It’s sad, isn’t it?”

“You need to find another man to take your mind off him. You should go out with Caleb Green.”

“You think I should? Maybe next time he comes into the office, I’ll see if he’s still interested in that lunch date.”

“He has to come by the office tomorrow. If you don’t ask him out, I will do it for you.”

“All right, then I will.”

“That’s my girl. I’ll be back in an hour unless I can convince Knox to take the rest of the afternoon off with me. Don’t be shocked if you don’t see me until tomorrow.” Diamond left her with a gleam in her eyes that said she wouldn’t be back.

Holly finished up the filing, trying to come up with different ways to ask out the Assistant Commonwealth Attorney. She wished she were more assertive where men were concerned. She had never felt comfortable being flirty or outgoing to make herself available to men. If anything, she shied away from their attention when they looked at her in a sexual manner. She had gone on many dates with normally placid men who, once they had her in their car or her home, became octopi, thinking she was an easy lay just because of her bra size.

Going to her desk, she took out a pair of tennis shoes then took off her low-heeled pumps and put on the sneakers. Locking the door, she then left the building, leisurely walking down the sidewalk.

She turned the corner that led toward the sheriff’s office, not seeing Knox’s squad car there or at the diner across the street. She now knew Diamond had convinced her husband to take the rest of the day off.

She continued her walk, deciding to go through the church’s playground. The memory of the night she had almost gotten attacked was still in her mind, but since it was daylight, she knew her pastor and Willa were in the church, so she should be safe.

There were several picnic tables set up so that anyone could sit if they wanted to. Closing the gate behind her, she saw she wasn’t the only one there. Greer was sitting on a blanket with two food boxes she recognized from the diner. She thought about ignoring his presence, but he would more than likely call her out on it if she did.

Casually hiding her nervousness, she changed the direction from the large playground. “Hi, Greer.”

He turned from staring at the parking lot. “Hey.” His greeting wasn’t very enthusiastic.

Irritation kept her from moving away, even though she knew he wanted her to.

“You look like you’re waiting for someone.”

His jaw tightened. “Jo’s on her way. She’ll be here any minute, so shoo.”

Any thought of teasing him disappeared. “Oh … Then I’ll leave. I don’t want to interrupt your picnic.” She started to walk away.

Holly had no idea that his relationship with Jo had progressed to picnics. Neither Dustin nor Logan had said anything to her, and she hadn’t wanted to bring up Greer to them for fear of appearing too interested.

She wished she’d had time to prepare herself instead of seeing the intimate setting he had arranged for their lunch.

“Might as well sit a spell. She doesn’t seem to be coming here anytime soon.”

She took a step backward. The last thing she wanted to do was see them together.

“Sit.”

Holly dropped to the blanket, dismayed that she had obeyed his order as she had seen Logan do.

Aggravated at herself, she started to get up, but Greer’s placing one of the boxes near her and, seeming unconcerned, opening his to take out a chicken leg stopped her.

He nodded at her, taking a bite of chicken. “Might as well eat. It will be cold before she gets here.”

Unsure of why, she opened the box to see a chicken leg and fried potatoes. Unable to resist, she picked up the chicken and took a bite.

“That tastes so good.”

Greer’s lips quirked. “Is it good because you didn’t have to cook it?”

“I hate frying chicken.”

“I know.”

Holly raised a brow. She had never complained when Logan asked her to make it, yet she had always tried tempting him with anything else to keep herself from making it.

“I’m not on a first-name basis with this chicken.”

Greer’s head tilted back as he laughed. The skin of his neck was tanned, dipping into the flannel shirt that he had unbuttoned to his chest. Holly had to force herself to look back down at her food to keep from staring at him.

“How are my hens doing?” she asked.

“Still breathing, if that’s what you’re asking. I have a couple of eggs sitting in the fridge. I’ll drop them off one day this week.”

“You can keep them. I can buy—”

“I don’t need them, and you can fix them for Logan for when he stays over.”

“Then thank you. I’d appreciate it. I can give what I can’t use to Willa.”

Greer reached for a small cooler, taking out a small plastic pitcher and two plastic cups, handing one to her. After he poured her a cupful, she took a drink of the pink lemonade, enjoying the tart taste.

“Thank you. Jo’s going to be upset she missed this. I’m impressed.”

“Really? Why?”

Holly shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I imagined your idea of a date would be making a hot dog and watching a movie.”

“With beer instead of pink lemonade?”

“Yes.”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Go for it.”

“Is that the same cooler you put your fish in?”

“No, I bought a new one. Relieved?”

“Yes.” She finished her drink, holding it out for him to refill. “Can I have some more?”

“Woman, if you thought that was the same cooler, why did you drink the first one without asking?”

“I didn’t want to start an argument. It’s nice not fighting with you,” she confessed, waiting for the old Greer to show himself.

“Why should we fight? I got what I wanted.”

Her appetite disappeared at the reminder of what had led to her leaving.

“You can’t miss that dump.”

“It’s not a dump. It had a new kitchen.”

“That’s about it. The floor it rotted through most of the house. I’m working on fixing it up. Already replaced the floor. I’m going to paint it when I get the bathroom done in my new bedroom.”

“You’re tearing out my bathroom?”

“It’s mine now, so hell, yes, I’m remodeling it when I get the crop in. I’m about ready to bust that sink if it keeps dripping.”

“It’s vintage.”

“It’s pink. The whole fucking bathroom is fucking pink.”

“It was in style when your father did it. Tate said your mother loved it. He said she cried when she saw it.”

“Because it was so fucking pink. She hated it. She just didn’t want to hurt my father’s feelings.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Hell, no. One time, she gave Rachel and Dustin markers just so they could draw in there so she would have an excuse to tear it out.”

“Why didn’t Tate know that?”

“Because she didn’t say anything to him. She was afraid he would tell Pa.”

“But she told you?”

“Yes, because he blamed me, since I was supposed to be watching them, and made me clean it. Ma felt so bad, so she told me.”

“Is that why it’s still pink? She felt bad about you getting in trouble and decided to live with it?”

“Nope. She started working the tiles out so they would fall and break. Of course, I got blamed for that, too.”

“How did you get blamed for that?”

“Pa said I played my music too loud.”

“Did she give in then?”

“Nah, she kept thinking she would outsmart him.”

“Were you always blamed?”

“Me and Tate started taking turns.”

“Why would she do that?”

There was no way his father hadn’t realized why the bathroom was targeted, knowing that was where Greer had inherited his “not being outdone” from.

“Because that bathroom is fucking pink.”

“Now I understand.” Holly nodded.

“What do you understand?” Greer reached into her half-full box to swipe a couple of potatoes.

“That you and your family have inherited your craziness.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. You going to eat that other leg?”

She shook her head. “No, you can have it.” She leaned back on her hands, feeling full.

When she heard the rustling of a bag being dropped into her lap, she rose up and opened the bag. She barely managed to keep from dropping it.

“Where did you get chocolate-covered strawberries?”

“I had Willa make them for me.”

Holly tasted heaven when she bit into one of them. “I should save one of these for Logan.”

“There are more in the bag. Give him one when you pick him up.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to take—”

“I ate a few of them while I was waiting for Jo. You can have them. Enjoy.”

Greer threw the remains of their lunch in a trash can as she stood up, brushing down her slacks.

He folded the blanket, putting it under his arm, then lifted the cooler. “Come on; I’ll give you a ride back to work.”

“I should walk.”

“You can walk tomorrow. Let’s go.”

Holly followed him, carrying the bag of strawberries. She knew they were meant for Jo, but he had given them to her.

He would laugh his head off if he knew how much that simple lunch had meant to her. She had dreamed of spending time alone with Greer so many times. He had obviously wanted to impress Jo. Holly was glad she hadn’t showed. No woman would be able to resist the care and thought behind his lunch date.

When he opened the truck door for her, she nearly dropped the strawberries.

“Greer, are you sure you didn’t pull any of your plants early?”

He stared at her quizzically. “No. Why? Has anyone been asking you?”

“No. Are you sick? I can make an appointment at the doctor’s office.”

“I ain’t sick, either.” His face cleared. “Can’t a man do something nice for a pretty girl without anyone thinking I’m high or sick?”

“Yes.” She climbed into the truck. “It’s just not usually me.”

“You’re a girl, aren’t you?”

“I was the last time I checked.” Holly looked down at her breasts.

“They still there?”

What would he do if she asked him to check? The naughty thought that had popped into her head died a sudden death when she saw him wave to the woman who came out of the diner.

She started to scoot out of the truck, but his body kept her blocked inside.

“I can walk back to work if you want to talk to Diane.”

“I’m done talking to Diane.” Greer shut the truck door before she could get out.

She stared at him as he came around the front of the truck.

Getting inside, he backed out and turned onto the street. Diane could easily see in the truck as they pulled out into the street.

“She’s not happy you didn’t stop to talk.”

“She’ll get over it. She always does. Dustin heard she’s been seeing Luke Baxter.”

“You don’t seem upset about it.” Everyone knew Greer and Diane had been having an on/off relationship for years.

“I’m not. Guess I’m down to two women on my list. Next time you go out shopping, buy Logan a new suit. It won’t be long before the town will be hearing wedding bells.”