LITMIR.BIZ

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went to her dad, who slipped an arm around her, and smiled broadly at her potential stepmother.

      “Honey, you remember Mrs. Kennedy, right?”

      “Of course I do, Dad. Nice to see you again, Mrs. Kennedy. I had a great time at Bible Study the other day.”

      “Call me Cathy, sweetie. This is my wife, Louise.”

      Hemorrhoid! Why were all the good ones gay? “Very nice to meet you, Louise,” Faith said, trying not to sigh.

      “You’re going to Bible Study?” Jack muttered.

      “With Goggy,” she muttered back.

      “Trying to get the house in the will?”

      “I think I’ve earned it, don’t you?”

      “Wasn’t that the most interesting verse?” Mrs. Kennedy said. “Boys, we were discussing the history of blood rituals in the Old Testament. Circumcision, human sacrifice, that sort of thing.”

      “Makes me a believer,” Jack said.

      “This verse was about circumcision with a flint stone,” Faith added, giving her big brother a look. “You wonder why some traditions die out. I mean, flint was good enough back then...why fix it if it ain’t broke?”

      “So how was the crop this year, John?” Mrs. Kennedy asked, and Dad started on his favorite subject.

      “How was your date, sis?” Jack asked.

      “Wonderful,” she answered, as Levi was in hearing range. “Very charming guy.” But Levi wasn’t looking at her; instead, he stood up and opened his arms as his sister approached. Sarah Cooper dropped her backpack and went right to her brother, hugging him tight.

      “Thank God I’m home,” Sarah said. “I thought my brain would explode.”

      “From an entire week at college?” Levi said.

      “Listen, G.I. Joe. You have no idea how hard it is.” She rested her head on his shoulder, and Levi kissed her hair, and the gesture was so unexpectedly sweet and natural that Faith found herself...softening. Levi might be a pain in the ass, but his sister loved him. Jack, on the other hand, had only done things like film her seizures and hide in her closet with a knife when she was nine.

      “I can’t imagine you giving me a hug in public,” she told him.

      “Me, neither,” Jack said. “You’re so irritating.”

      “No, I’m not,” she said, grinning. “I’m your favorite sister.”

      “Only because you used to live three thousand miles away,” he said. “These days, it’s a toss-up.”

      “Well, even if you wanted to hug me, I’d never let you, because you smell funny and don’t know how to eat in public and—oof!”

      Jack had grabbed her in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. “God, you’re heavy,” he grunted. “Lay off those Girl Scout cookies.”

      “Shut up and put me down,” she said, smacking him on the head.

      Dad was watching with a smile in his eyes. “You’re so much like your mom,” he said.

      The words, intended as a compliment, made Faith’s smile slip.

      “Thanks,” Jack answered. “I get that a lot.” Then he noticed Colleen smiling at him, and his grin disappeared.

      “Don’t be scared, Jack,” Colleen said. “I only bite on request.”

      “Well, I’m heading home,” Dad said. “Jack, you ready?” Her father tousled Faith’s hair. “’Night, sweetie. Oh, hi, there, Sarah, how are you?”

      “Hi, Mr. Holland,” she said. “I’m fine, how are you?”

      “I’m going, too,” Faith said, her heart sinking a little. Another crappy date. Ah, well. At least she hadn’t wasted too much time running a background check. She’d go home, cuddle with Blue, call Jeremy and give him the report, then discuss how he’d make this up to her. “Have a good night, everyone.”

      “Hey, Faith,” Sarah said. “Um...do have a second? I was wondering if I could talk to you. About San Francisco?”

      Faith glanced at Levi who was on the phone, then back at Sarah. “Sure, honey.”

      “Your nephew? Ned?” Her cheeks blossomed with color. “He was telling me you’d been out there a few years. Do you like it?”

      A crush, how sweet! “I love it out there. It’s gorgeous.”

      Levi shoved his phone back in his pocket. “Sarah, I have to go on a call. You want to come?”

      “What is it this time?” Sarah asked. “Another chicken under the porch?”

      “It’s actually a possum in the Hedbergs’ basement. Their dog went crazy, which scared the cat out the window, so now they’re afraid a coyote will eat the cat.”

      “Isn’t there animal control in this town?” Sarah asked.

      “Yes, but the guy’s old, and it’s past ten.”

      “I’ll pass. Meet you at home.” She turned back to Faith. “So, did you like living away? I just can’t imagine living anywhere but here. I mean, I remember how you were, um...left at the altar. Maybe you went because you... Oh, jeesh. Sorry if I’m bringing up bad memories or whatever.” Sarah grimaced.

      “No, no, that’s fine. Common knowledge.” Alas.

      “Faith, can I talk to you for a minute?” Levi said.

      He didn’t wait for an answer, just took her by the arm and towed her away. The simple touch made her entire arm buzz with heat. Levi’s green flannel shirt made his eyes look darker, and crikey, he had big, manly hands. So...alpha. Colleen said big hands meant—

      These lustful thoughts will send you straight to hell, her conscience chided in the sharp voice of Mrs. Linqvest.

      “So, listen,” Levi said.

      “Yes, sir, Chief Cooper.”

      “Sarah’s got some serious homesickness going on. Trying to drop out of college and move back here. I’d really like her to get an education. So if you two are talking about living away, I’d appreciate it if you encouraged that. I don’t want her to end up here because she never gave anything else a chance.” He ran a big hand through his hair, and Faith’s inner slut gave a moan. She remembered that hair, the soft, silky—I’m serious, said Mrs. Linqvest. Knock it off. He shoved his hands in his pockets, the fabric of his shirt straining against those thick, masculine arms.

      Faith cleared her throat. “No, I get it. Everyone should live away from home, at least for a while.”

      His eyes came back to hers. “Exactly.”

      His eyelashes were awfully nice, long and straight and blond.

      “You go get that possum,” Faith said. It sounded vaguely sexual, for some reason. Yes, Levi. Get that possum. Don’t stop getting it. Get it good. Mrs. Linqvest got out the ruler. “I’ll hang out with your sister. We can walk home together.”

      “Thank you.”

      The words caused a warm, liquid rush through her knees. “You’re welcome,” she said, her voice a little husky.

      Then he turned and left, raising his hand as someone called a good-night to him.

      * * *

      BY THE TIME LEVI GOT BACK from the call (the possum having been flushed out through the hole in the stone foundation, the hole temporarily patched with the help of young Andrew, and the cat found safe and sound, much to the sobbing relief of the Hedberg girls), O’Rourke’s was mostly empty. “Did my sister go home?” he asked Colleen, who was wiping down the bar.

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