When the Devil Wants In by Cate Ashwood

Author:Cate Ashwood [Knight, Cate Ashwood and J.H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-449-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

BRUNCH WAS a big deal in the Turner family, apparently. Matt and Birdy made the omelets, but John and Ilene made grits and bacon, sausage gravy and biscuits, while Melonie put together a fruit buffet. Matt never did get a chance to change out of his uniform.

The tension eased as they ate, everyone relaxed, laughing and talking. As if Melonie hadn’t been through one of the most harrowing events of her life, as if Matt hadn’t witnessed a showdown between them where lines were drawn and crossed and everyone seemed to come out ahead, despite the fact that there wasn’t a clear winner.

Once the table was cleared, John and Melonie stepped out onto the porch. Matt went to follow them, but Ilene stopped him.

“Don’t go pickin’ up that filthy habit with them,” she said. Her words were commanding, but her tone light, almost teasing.

Matt stood and went to the sink, taking over rinsing the dishes while Ilene loaded the dishwasher. “I won’t. I promise,” he said with a laugh. “My mother would kill me.”

“She sounds like good people.”

Matt laughed softly. “That’s what John says too.” He glanced out the window, saw Birdy sitting in one of the chairs by the fire pit. “But, yeah, she is. She’d love it here.”

Ilene finished the top rack and started on the bottom. “Must be hard, bein’ out here, so far from your kin.”

“It can be, yeah,” Matt said honestly. “Makes it easier having friends here now, though.”

“I’m glad.” Ilene’s smile met her eyes. “John needed a friend too,” she said, watching him out the window. “He’s got Chloe, of course, but… a man needs other men around sometimes.”

It took everything Matt had not to laugh. She couldn’t be more correct. “Guy time.”

“Exactly. Even my Ray has his bowling team and his friends down at the VFW. My John needs more in his life.”

Ilene might be a strange sort of mother, but she had some kind of instincts when it came to her son. Even if she didn’t know him, she knew him.

After a long pause, the sound of running water, dishes softly clanking together, Ilene said, “I’m sorry you had to witness all that.”

Matt had wondered if she’d bring it up. “Don’t be,” he said softly. “I’ve seen much worse, and for far worse reasons, on the job.” He didn’t know if Ilene was referring to the fight between her and Melonie, or the call the night before, but it didn’t really matter. His answer was the same either way.

“I imagine that’s true.” Her smile was thin, not quite forced, but not as inviting, not as at ease as Matt had gotten used to. “We just don’t usually put ourselves on display like that is all. Family business is private, no need to go showin’ our behinds in public.”

The dishes were loaded, the kitchen cleaned. Matt said, “Sometimes we just do what we have to and then carry on.”

Ilene nodded. “That’s exactly right, hon.”

Birdy came in, excited. “Mawmaw, we’re gonna roast hot dogs and marshmallows tonight.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.