Page 8 of Redeemed

"Uh, no," JT said, suddenly unsure of himself. "But, I was thinking hand holding, my arm around you, the occasional kiss, maybe? No tongue, of course." He gave himself a mental face palm.Smooth, JT, real smooth. Now she's bound to be even more uncomfortable.

Sofia was quiet for a beat trying to get the mental image of JT's delicious mouth on hers, their tongues dueling, tasting each other for the first time. She gave herself a little shake.Dios mio! Stop it before you embarrass yourself.

"Uh, yeah, that sounds like a plan," Sofia answered, trying to put a trace of her usually bubbly self into her words. She gave herself a silent pep talk.You can do this Sofia. It's just pretend so you can get Magda off your back and make the rest of the family relax a little.

Luckily, at that point, they had arrived at the town square where booths and tables were set up all around the perimeter with food and drink to buy from local churches and businesses as well as activities for the kids. Maggie and JT had chosen not to set up a booth for Common Grounds this year. With Maggie's pregnancy and their events schedule, they thought it best to sit out this year and Sofia had to agree. There were plenty of other choices.

One of the most popular booths was always the ladies of the Methodist Church selling baked goods. She knew from Dani that Miss Etta, Miss Lu's caregiver, had her famous Texas Sheet Cake for sale. It was always one of the first to go and she hoped she could get a piece before they were all sold out. JT's chocolate cake was a showstopper, but Miss Etta's was heavenly. She could smell Bubba's Roadhouse's brisket smoking from the opposite end of the square and wafts of cinnamon and nutmeg coming from the Southern Baptist church's booth selling hot, mulled cider. Children chased each other around and climbed over hay bales that had been set up to play in. Everyone was having a good time, enjoying the relatively cool day and the company. She truly loved fall, especially in her small town. Even if they didn't get the trees turning bright colors, fall in East Texas had its own kind of charm. Though it could still get hot during the middle of the day, they did get a bit of a nip in the air that was always refreshing after the long, hot summers.

As JT came around the truck to open her cantankerous door, she saw a children's pumpkin carving table just to the right of them. Several small children were busy digging orange guts out of the pumpkins, readying them for the adults to carve in the face of their choice. She tried to control her laughter when she saw little Kimberly Ann, age three, making a disgusted face as she squished the orange goo between her chubby little fingers. She was obviously not pleased that someone had tricked her into this messy activity.

JT stood beside her and closed the door to the Jeep. "What's so funny?"

"Look at her face!" Sofia said quietly and pointed discreetly to the little girl, still trying to hold in a belly laugh and ending up snorting instead.

He followed her finger and saw the girl, now with her hands held above her head, imploring her exasperated mother to clean her chubby royal fingers. JT's mouth broke into his signature smile that she hadn't seen in months. It was like the sun coming out after weeks and weeks of storms. She forgot all about Kimberly Ann and soaked it up.

"She looks like someone gave her a dead squirrel to play with instead of a pumpkin," JT said laughingly watching Kimberly Ann's mother acquiescing to her princess' silent request, probably just thankful it was silent and not a screaming meltdown. "Megan surely has her hands full with that one. She's a pistol for sure!"

Still watching the little girl being tended to and her seven-year-old brother, Brice, next to her giving a big brother eye roll worthy of an award, JT casually rested his arm across Sofia's shoulders. She didn't think he even realized he did it, it came so naturally to him. When he continued to scan the other kids' antics, she slowly tucked herself up under his shoulder and slipped her arm around his waist, resting her thumb in the belt loop of his Wranglers.See Sofia, nobody exploded. No sirens went off. This is good.

Resting his other hand on hers at his waist, JT looked down at her, the grin still on his face. His chocolate brown eyes were somehow lighter than she had seen them in months. He looked like the carefree JT she had come to know and care for over the last five years. The five yearsbefore the incident. He raised his nose to the air and hummed in satisfaction. "Mmmmm...Smell that?" he asked. "Bubba's been working overtime with that brisket. I keep trying to get him to give me the recipe. Hell, I even offered to buy it off him, but no go. I think a taste test is in order. You hungry?"

She nodded, happy to bask in the warmth of his smile. "And, on the way by we have to stop at the Methodist Ladies booth for Miss Etta's chocolate cake before it's all gone."

He shook his head with mock sorrow. "There's another secret recipe I'm never going to get. I keep trying to replicate it but it's never quite the same. Maybe you can charm it out of her."

Arms still around each other, they took off across the square to secure their lunch before touring the other booths and checking out the winners of the pie and homemade canned goods contests. Sofia thought she could happily get used to this pretend boyfriend thing.

Chapter eight

Meet & Greet

Ashortwhilelater,heaping plates in hand, they sat at tables set under the few trees that littered the open square. Sofia looked around for familiar faces as they tucked into their meal. When she didn't immediately see anyone, she returned her attention to JT and their lunch. She tried to relax and just enjoy the day and the company. And, the view across the table wasn't bad either. Suddenly a shadow appeared from over her shoulder.

"Sofia?" she turned slowly at the voice behind her and pasted on a smile.Here goes nothing.

"Hey, Selena," she greeted her sister.

"Hi, Selena. Where's Andreas?" JT added.

She waved a hand in the general direction of the hay bale forts. "He took the boys over to play in the hay." She refocused her attention on JT and Sofia. "What are you two up to?"

"Just having some lunch before we check out the booths," JT said smoothly and easily took Sofia's hand on top of the table to make sure Selena didn't miss the gesture.

Sofia saw exactly when her sister noticed the touch. Her eyes widened, then immediately narrowed. Sofia held her breath for the questions to start but, to her amazement, Selena didn't comment. "I'd better go help Andreas before the boys get away from him. See you later."

As she walked off, Sofia stared at JT, mouth agape. "What just happened? She didn't say anything about you holding my hand."

JT grinned at her and pointed with his chin in Selena's direction. "Oh, she noticed alright. I don't think your mama is going to be as subtle about it though."

Sofia followed his gaze. Sure enough, Selena was in a huddle with their mother who was in line to buy cider. She saw them both stare in their direction. "Oh, great," Sofia muttered.

JT squeezed her hand tighter. "This is good. Might as well start getting 'us' out there with the most important people," he said, encouragingly.

"You're right, I just..." Sofia was interrupted by another familiar voice.

"Mija! What is this?" Sofia's mother asked, coming up to the table.

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