Yours Seductively

Chapter 9.4

   Looking pleased with herself, Sally rested a hand on her cousin's arm. "I'm glad you could come, Tyler."

   He brushed a light kiss against her cheek. "You look lovely, as always."

   "And you are charming, as always." She motioned toward Jane, who was skillfully dividing her attention between Amy, Tom and Jay, who had gravitated to her side with the others. "Isn't it a nice surprise to see Jane?"

   "Yes, it certainly is."

   "She and I ran into each other at the bank this afternoon, and I asked if she would like to join us."

   "That was nice of you." He made sure to keep his mixed feelings hidden behind a bland smile.

   Dave, who'd been setting plastic containers of food out on a large concrete picnic table, joined them. "Hey, Tyler."

   "Hey, Dave. You haven't gotten into the food yet, have you?"

   "No, I've managed to stay out of it so far. Sally threatened to whup me if I even took a bite of anything."

   Tyler chuckled and glanced down at his petite cousin. "I have no doubt that she could do it."

   "Neither do I. That's the only thing that's kept me out of those containers. But I'm warning y'all, I can't wait much longer. I'm starving."

   Seeing that Jane was still occupied with the children, Tyler turned his attention to the baby girl lying in an elaborate stroller next to the picnic table and looking around with wide eyes. "How's Blaire?" He asked, lightly stroking her downy hair.

   "Growing like a pretty weed," Dave reported proudly. "Won't be long before she's running around playing with the rest of the kids."

   "I can't wait to seen out newest family member," Sally murmured. "I'm looking forward to going to Atlanta this weekend to visit Sarah and Jake and the baby."

   "I'm still having trouble picturing Jake as a father."

   Sally giggled. "You know Jake will be great—even if he isn't exactly...well, average."

   "So, are we just going to stand here and gab, or are we going to eat?" Dave asked, eyeing the food containers with growing impatience.

   His wife sighed and shook her head. "Honestly, Dave. Anyone would think you haven't eaten in days."

   "It's been hours. I'm hungry," he said plaintively.

   "So am I," Tyler agreed.

   Jay has joined them in time to pipe in, "I'm hungry, too."

   "Then I suppose we'd better eat," Sally said matter-of-factly.

   A few chaotic minutes later, they were all gathered around well-filled plates of food. Dave, Sally and Jay sat on one side of the table. Tom has scrambled between Tyler and Jane on the other side. Holding Amy in his knee, Tyler managed through experience to feed himself and his daughter at the same time. Not that he was as hungry as he'd claimed to be. With Jane sitting so close to him, it was hard to think of food.

   Conversation during the meal was suitably casual, pretty well dominated by the children. He and Jane put in what he thought was a creditable show of acting like mere acquaintances, though occasionally their gazes met and held for a few moments over Tom's head. He wasn't sure their ruse fooled Dave—not much escaped the sharp-eyed cop—but maybe they'd managed to keep Sally guessing.

   He glanced across the table, saw his cousin's smile, and he was only fooling himself.

   "We're going to the beach," Jay announced loudly, drawing Tyler's attention away from his own thoughts.

   "The beach? That sounds great," Jane said encouragingly. "Where?"

   "Alabama. My aunt—Dad's sister—and her husband have a beach house there and we're going to spend a whole week with them."

   Jane looked at Dave with dramatically widened eyes. "The police chief's going to be gone for a whole week? Whatever will we do? Honoria might be hit with a crime wave."

   "I've told my deputies to keep an eye on you," Dave drawled without missing a beat, making Sally, Tyler and Jay chuckle and Jane wrinkle her nose at him.

   "I'm through eating, can I go play?" Tom asked.

   Tyler glanced at his son's plate, decided he'd eaten enough, and nodded. "Stay close."

   "Want to throw my Frisbee with me, Jane?" Tom offered.

   "Jane hasn't finished eating," Tyler murmured.

   But Jane has already set her plastic fork down. "I've had plenty. I would love kto play Frisbee with you, Tommy."

   Trying not to look as eager as his younger cousin, Jay stood. "I guess I'll play, too," he said as though he was granting them a favor.

   "The more the merrier," Jane assured him.