Mitch opened his eyes, quickly realizing he was sitting on the couch in what he had found out from Sissy was definitely the family room.

As Sissy told him, “Momma doesn’t let anyone but special company use the living room. But my daddy doesn’t like many people, so special company doesn’t ever come. So that room never gets used.”

The strange thing was, he could have sworn that only moments ago, he’d been sitting in the kitchen.

He looked at Sissy, and she gave a small shrug.

“You fell asleep at the kitchen table,” she explained.

“Oh. Uh…sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I’m glad it was actual sleep this time, and not total unconsciousness. Although it is hard to tell the two apart. With both, you just sort of drop where ya are.” To illustrate, her entire body went lax against the couch, her eyes closed.

“Then you wake up.” She opened her eyes, sat up a bit. “Then you suddenly drop again.” Again she went lax, making Mitch smile. “But this time,” she whispered without opening her eyes, “there was snoring…and a little drool.”

Mitch laughed and shoved his bare foot against hers. “I do not drool.”

“There’s no shame in the drool,” she said, sitting up.

“I don’t drool.”

“Then you won’t fit in here. Smiths are known for drooling and knuckle dragging.”

“I thought I saw scrapes on your knuckles earlier.”

Sissy stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes, making Mitch laugh harder.

Smiling, Sissy turned up the sound on the TV. She had on a sports channel so she could catch the latest stock car race results. “You know,” he said after a few moments, “I wanted to thank you for all this, Sissy.”

“That mac and cheese was good, huh?”

“I’m not talking about that.” Although he may have seen God after his first bite of that delicious meal. “I’m talking about this. You bringing me here. Taking care of me. Thank you. For everything. And sorry I was such a prick before.”

“I understand, but thanks for apologizing.”

They fell silent, and it had to be their first awkward silence ever. He hated it.

“Want to watch a DVD or something?” Sissy finally asked, sounding desperate. “My parents have a good selection.”

“Sissy, it’s okay.”

Sissy frowned. “What’s okay?”

“You…being madly in love with me. It’s okay. I know how enticing it must have been to have me lounging around your house…naked. And deliciously vulnerable.” Mitch raised his eyebrows. “Needy even, while in your bed.”

“Mitchell…”

“No, no. There’s no need to deny your feelings. Not when we bothknow the truth.”

“Are you done?”

“For the moment.” He grinned. “Saucy.”

Finally, Sissy laughed, the uncomfortable moment gone. “What is wrong with you?”

“My mother constantly indulged me.”

“Clearly. DVD or not?”

“Whatcha got?”

“Everything probably.” She stood and walked to the bookshelf filled with DVDs and old VHS tapes. There weren’t a lot of books. Mitch sensed the Smiths were not big readers. Sissy went on her toes to see the higher shelves, and Mitch had to bite back a growl.

Christ, the woman had the best legs. The kind of legs Mitch could easily imagine wrapped around his neck.

“Deliverance?”

“That’s not funny.”

Sissy giggled. “You Yankees. Mention Deliverance, and y’all get so freaked out.”

“And with good reason.”

“How about Die Hard.”

“Perfect. Lots of shit blowing up and guns.”

“And hot German men for me.” She pulled the DVD box down and went to the good-sized TV across from the couch. It wasn’t as big as Bren’s or even a flat screen, but Mitch felt more comfortable in the modest digs of the Smiths than in the wealth of his father’s.

The movie started, and Sissy sat at the far end of the couch.

Mitch cleared his throat and stared at her.

“What?”

“Get over here.”

“I’m comfortable.”

Mitch sighed. “Do I really have to pat the couch and say, ‘Here doggie’? Are you really going to make me sink that low?”

“But I’m comfort—”

“I’m sick!” he howled, forcing Sissy to quickly slide over until she sat next to him. He didn’t stop until she did, either.

“Happy?”

He settled down, resting against her side. “Very.”

The movie had barely started when a knock at the door had Sissy up. What bothered him was that she had one hand on the butt of the .45 she’d taken off him earlier, which was still tucked into the back of her shorts. She even released the safety.

She sniffed at the door and frowned, glancing at him. She opened the door slightly.

“Yes?”

“Hey, Sissy Mae.” When she only stared, “It’s me. Frankie. Big Joe’s boy.”

“Frankie?” Sissy pulled the door open to reveal some…wolf. “I can’t believe it.”

To Mitch’s surprise, Sissy threw herself into that wolf’s arms, and the wolf looked real happy about it, too. Of course, it didn’t hurt much that she was wearing nothing more than that damn T-shirt and those unreasonably tiny shorts.