Page 28 of Hold the Line

“And some people are assholes, so there’s that.”

One beat. Two. Then laughter burst from somewhere deep within Deacon. Dropping his fork, he tossed his head back, letting it roll out of him.

Delight curled inside me. Giving that to him felt so good I could have melted into a happy puddle. Something told me Deacon hadn’t done a lot of laughing in his life. I didn’t consider myself an especially funny person, but I’d gotten him to do it twice since we’d become reacquainted, so I must have been doing something right.

He grinned at me as his laughter died off. “You’re right, Phoebe. A lot of assholes out there.” Picking up his fork, he paused. “That wasn’t the question I’d expected you to ask me about prison.”

“What’d you think I’d ask?”

“I dunno. What I did to get in there, what it was like—that kinda thing.”

“I’m curious about that too, but what I asked seemed less invasive.” I nodded toward his plate. “Maybe I’ll ask something else in a bit. Eat first.”

He waved his fork over his food. “Besides your baking, this is the best thing I’ve ever had.”

I had to stop myself from showing any reaction. My mother was a great cook, but this wasn’t anything special, just an everyday dinner in the Kelly house. That pasta and roasted chicken were a big deal to Deacon killed me. I wished we’d been better friends when we were younger and I’d invited him over. I wished he’d had a better life. I really wished things had been different.

I swallowed my emotions and smiled. “I’ll have to tell my mother. She’ll be honored.”

“She really knew this was for me?” he asked.

“She really did.”

His eyes narrowed. “Your family’s okay with you spending time with me?”

“They had questions, but in the end, they trusted my judgment. If I’d been able to tell them you were the one to rescue me that day, you’d be invited to family dinner every week.”

He lifted a brow. “In that case…”

I laughed. “If you’re free next time I go, you’re welcome to join me. My family is protective, but they won’t bite.”

As soon as I said it, it was like a curtain fell between us. Deke concentrated on his food, answering me with a grunt I interpreted as,“No way in hell is that happening, lady.”

“Or I can bring you leftovers again,” I added.

“I won’t turn that down.”

When he finished, he washed his plate and utensils, even though I told him he didn’t have to, then turned to me as he dried his hands.

“Ask your questions.”

“All right.” I opened the container of blondies I’d brought home from my parents’ house and slid them across the counter toward him. “First one: do you want dessert?”

Huffing a laugh, he grabbed a blondie. “If you’re making it, the answer is always yes.”

“I like that.” I tipped my head toward my living room. “Would you like to sit down and hang out for a while?”

His eyes darted back and forth between mine. “I’m having trouble not wondering what’s in it for you.”

“Remember what I said the other night? If I get tired of your company, I don’t have a problem asking you to leave.”

He grinned and bowed his head, following me to the couch. “You’re forthcoming.”

“I am.”

“It’s a good thing.”

I hoped he still thought that after I asked him everything on my mind.

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