“What did you do?”
Ian put the fake gun away and said. “I got down on my knees and begged for forgiveness.”
“Since you’re sitting here today, I’ll assume she granted it.” Jesse said in an amused tone.
Ian cocked his head to the side. “Yes. But it was tense for a minute there. Finally she said I was going to have to earn her forgiveness if I could, handed me the gun and slammed the door in my face.”
“Clearly you did. What’d you do with the gun?”
“I checked it and discovered it wasn’t loaded. If I’d been in my right mind, I would’ve known Piper would never point a loaded gun at a human being. But I wasn’t in my right mind. And I wasn’t sure she was either.”
Jesse leaned back. “Are all the ladies around here such good shots?”
“Most are. You wouldn’t want to be on the other end of a gun with them.”
“Does that include Harley Ann?” Jesse asked casually.
Ian’s eyebrows went up. “Actually, Harley Ann didn’t grow up around here, so I couldn’t say if she’s a crack shot or not. She moved here a couple of years ago to live with her Great Aunt Edna. There’s some big mystery in her past that no one knows about. I just met her myself when I came back to town.”
“Really.” Jesse said softly. “I wonder what that’s about.”
Ian shrugged. “Like I said. No one knows. I believe her great aunt knows, but you don’t want to question
Miss Edna about it. We all thought she was a witch when we were kids and avoided her like the plague. She’s got a wicked edge to her tongue.”
“Beautifulandmysterious. That’s a rare combination.” Jesse said with a grin.
Ian gave him a sour look. “Don’t mess with her, man. She’s Piper’s friend and I really do believe she’s been through some shit in the past.”
“You didn’t see the look in her eyes out on the porch yesterday. The lady is definitely interested in playing.”
Chapter 5
Harley Ann listenedto Piper’s phone ringing and thought about how she felt about the possibility of the flowers being from Jesse. A shiver of excitement spun down her spine. Well, that was a positive sign. She hadn’t completely lost her interest in men.
Given her record, that was a minor miracle.
“Hello!” Shouted Piper over the phone dragging her from her musings.
“Uh, is this a bad time?” She asked.
“I’m so pissed off at Jesse Miller I could eat nails and spit fire.”
Uh. Oh. This might not be the most propitious time to talk to her best friend about her possible romantic interest in that guy.
“Do you need me to come over?” Harley Ann asked.
“No. I left the house before I popped him one right in his smug mouth.”
Harley Ann heard noise in the background, then a soft curse. “I’m at the farmer’s market site sitting on a table. Can you come out here and help me blow off this steam before I do something I should probably regret but might not?”
“Sure. I’m on my way.” Harley Ann stopped in at the parlor. “I’m heading out to meet Piper at the farmers market site. I shouldn’t be gone long.”
Aunt Edna gave her a long look. “What has she gotten up to now? Or was this your idea to do some silly boy talk in private?”
Harley Ann stifled a laugh. She and Piper were too old to be sneaking around giggle over boys.Isn’t that why you called her in the first place, whispered a voice in her head. She shook it off. “Piper’s mad at Ian’s friend and wants me to meet her so she can vent in private.”
“That boy best watch his step. Piper just might shoot him if he doesn’t watch out.”
