Page 41 of Slow Burn
“That’s only ‘cause Jocelyn’s prettier than a picture,” Cole drawled, letting his gaze flick her way.
Jocelyn's mouth curved, half humor, half suspicion. “Smooth, Hauser. You use that line often?”
He winked. “Only when it’s true."
“And it is true,” Ellen agreed with a smile, tugging Jocelyn into a hug.
Cole got the quick version of the embrace—Ma saw him near every day—and then she was already ushering them toward the house. The scent of meatloaf hit him as soon as the door opened, cinnamon riding the air, too. Must’ve been the pie she’d promised.
“Hey, there, kids.” John lumbered out from the back den, yanking his cheaters off and stuffing them into his pocket.
Jocelyn gave a shy wave.
“None of that, here, Jossie.” John wrapped her up against his barrel chest, and Cole leaned against the wall, watching. “You’re family.”
“Proof would be that we got into a disagreement in the living room,” Cole said when Jocelyn was freed.
“Just one in a long line,” Ellen added with a pat on his cheek.
Jocelyn glanced his way, wry understanding in the twist of her lips.
“Yes, Darlin’,” Cole said with a smirk. “It was mostly me doing the disagreein'.”
“To put it mildly,” John put in.
The spike of irritation hit Cole fast, and his jaw tightened before he tamped it down. His daddy missed it, of course. No one else did. Story of his life.
“That was just a warm-up," Jocelyn said, attempting to lighten the mood again. "I’ll win the next round.”
Cole's laugh was low and only a little forced.“You are welcome to try.”
Her half-smile kicked the rest of his mood, and he let himself relax again.
Ellen beamed at the exchange, then gestured for them to file into the dining room while she went to the kitchen. The table was set with her good china, a vase of flowers in the center—the whole spread. Felt unnecessarily fussy when the standard fare had sufficed last time.
But Jocelyn noticed the effort, her soft gasp pulling his attention to her. He saw how it affected her in the delighted smile that slid across her face as she took it in. Made the whole production worth it, and he filed the image away like a squirrel hoarding acorns for the long winter.
He pulled her chair out, and she smiled at him for it—genuine, easy—and that was another thing he stored up. Could live off one of those smiles a week if he had to. Maybe they’d be alright after their talk earlier. Things felt lighter just then, anyway.
Cole took the spot opposite Jocelyn, leaving the ends for his folks, as was standard.
“Sweet tea!” Ellen sang as she swept in with a pitcher.
John followed with the meatloaf and a salad bowl.
“So much for sugar intake,” Cole said with a look at his mama.
“Special occasions, remember?”
He turned to his daddy. “How many of those this week, Pop?”
John made a show of counting on his fingers. “Three or four.”
“Uh-huh.”
Ellen spun on her husband as he moved to sit. “John Hauser! You said you’d watch it so I wouldn’t have to worry about this dinner.”
“El.” He let out a sigh, and that was the whole of his defense.
