Page 89 of The Usual Family Mayhem

“Have you been holding that since you came in?” Celia asked.

“His nonsense is out of control,” Gram said at the same time.

Jackson took the pages and started reading.

I broke the contents down for Gram and Celia, which was the point of my partially clothed, completely spontaneous visit in the first place. “There are sections about sales and deliveries. A list of the items you offer. There’s also a reference to the ‘special’ gift boxes and pie recipe cards.”

Jackson read the beginning of that section out loud. “An undetermined amount of money is spent on packages that are off the menu, including information on a raisin pie that is not for sale otherwise.”

“Does it talk about poison?” Gram asked.

Oh. My. God. “Should it?”

Jackson finished reading. “This doesn’t connect the pies to the customers with dead husbands. The line I read is under the financial section, which makes me think the point is about spending habits and nothing else.”

“How we spend our money isn’t Harlan’s business.” Gram’s grumbling echoed throughout the room.

Jackson lowered the offensive report summary and set it on the table. “You left my condo to warn Gram and Celia? Not for any other reason.”

“Like what?” Celia asked.

“Don’t interrupt when it’s getting good.” Gram thumped her finger on the table. “Answer the man, Kasey.”

The mood flipped. Chaos gave way to a tingling that felt like excitement. I blocked out Celia and Gram and gave all my attention to Jackson. “I didn’t intend to leave you. I didn’t want to go.”

He smiled this time. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Okay, now we really should give them some privacy.” The chair skidded across the floor as Celia got up. She motioned for Gran to join her.

Gram answered with a snort. “It’s our kitchen.”

“We have to get ready to go anyway,” Celia pointed out.

Gram continued to grumble and snort and aim all kinds of grumpy noises in my direction. “You’re lucky we have church, or I’d stay in that chair all morning.”

Yeah, I felt lucky. “Enjoy the service.”

It took another few minutes for Gram to stand and move some dishes around. Her stalling was not subtle. Finally, Celia guided Gram out of the room, leaving me with Jackson and a heap of energy pinging between us.

“This is a uniquely embarrassing situation.”

He shrugged. “I’m not embarrassed.”

“Of course not. You’ve got clothes on.” He looked great without them. Just saying. “Who would have guessed you owned lounge pants.”

He took my hand and leaned in closer. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I thought you woke up and regretted what happened between us last night.”

Every woman’s magazine I’d ever paged through suggestedto go slow and play coy in this situation. Don’t be the first one to make commitment-like noises and risk scaring him away.

I ignored every syllable of the lame advice. “I don’t. You?”

He played with my fingers. Lacing his through mine. “I regret we didn’t continue this morning.”

He got more adorable each day. “Sweet talker.”

“You look cute in my robe.” He touched the space where the lapels met.

His fingertip brushed against my skin, making my breath hiccup in my chest. “Let’s keep this G-rated. I’d bet the house Celia and Mags are spying on us right now.”

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