“Yeah.”

“And?”

“And I think he was undressing you with his big, dumb dog eyes. He’s not to be trusted. Plus I heard the Van Holtzes have a real problem with mange.”

“First off, Egbert Ray Smith, Mr. Van Holtz has a mate he’s devoted to. And secondly, the Van Holtzes haven’t had a breakout of mange for at least a decade.”

“That makes me feel better. I also heard they spread distemper. They’re dirty, nasty distemper dogs, runnin’ around, spreading disease to unsuspecting pretty She-wolves like yourself.”

“Eggie Ray!”

“It’s true. The males of that Pack are known for having Canine Transmitted Diseases. CTD.”

“I’ll only say this once to you: The Van Holtzes do not—” Darla stopped talking abruptly and leaned back a bit, eyes narrowing on Eggie’s face. “Egbert Ray Smith . . . are you jealous?”

Eggie snorted. “A Smith jealous of a Van Holtz? Why do you ask? Did hell freeze over?”

“So you’re not jealous?”

“No. I’m not jealous. That’s what the Smiths would call crazy talk.”

“Huh. I see.”

“I have no reason to be jealous of a goddamn—”

“Blaspheme!”

“—Van Holtz, and I’m not about to start now. For anybody. I was just giving you a friendly word of warning.”

“About the Van Holtzes and their CDT?”

“Exactly.”

Darla turned in his arms and sat down on his lap. “Unlike your brothers . . . you’re kind of quietly stupid.”

“Sometimes.” Eggie scratched his head. “It’s not my fault, though. It’s your fault!”

“My fault?”

“You’re confusing me and making me do stupid and ridiculous things. Things I would never do!”

“Such as?”

“Instead of doing what I do well, which is hunt down these murdering friends of yours—”

“They’re not my friends!”

“—and killing them so you can’t be hurt or at risk ever again, I’m not doing that because I know you wouldn’t want me to. So, instead I’m sitting here, about to go have dinner with my family. Which is also your fault, ’cause they wouldn’t have invited me if it weren’t for you.”

“Of course they would have.”

“Darla, no one likes having me around.”

“I do.”

Eggie studied her. “You do?”

“I’m here, arguing about dog mange and other ridiculousness, Eggie Ray. And the only reason for that must be because I like being around you. You’re so cute and charming. . . in your own terrifying, predatory way, which works fine for me because, you know . . .She-wolf.”

His arms still around Darla, Eggie hugged her tight, burying his face against the side of her neck. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me, Darla Mae.”

“I know, darlin’, but with some effort, I’m sure we can make that better for you.”

Eggie chuckled and gripped Darla’s waist, lifting her up. She squealed a little and laughed and he loved the sound of it. Turning her around, he brought her down on his lap facing him, her legs straddling his waist.

Once settled, Darla pushed Eggie’s hair off his face and, without fear, looked into his eyes. “Your beard’s growing back.”

“Yep.”

“Will you have to shave it when you go back on duty? And cut your hair?”

“Depends on what they have me doing. I’m not like other Marines, Darla. My training was different, where I’m stationed is different, I rarely wear my uniform, even the job I do is different.”

“Were you drafted?”

He snorted, smiled a little. “Smiths don’t get drafted.”

“No, I mean when there was a draft.”

“Smiths don’t get drafted,” he repeated. “Not after what happened with us during World War I.”

“What happened during World War I?”

Eggie stared at her and finally answered, “Nothing.” When her eyes narrowed, he decided to keep talking. “Anyway, we were told we were no longer allowed in the military except on a case-by-case basis. I actually had six weeks of evaluation before I ever went into Basic Training.”

“Because of the nothing that happened during World War I?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You are the worst liar.”

Eggie sighed and admitted, “It ain’t my strong suit.”

Darla started to say something but his momma yelling from the backyard beat her to it. “Eggie! Darla Mae! Come on, you two. We’re about to eat.”

“Be right there,” Darla called back.

“You hungry?” he asked her.

“Starving.” She pressed her hands to his shoulders. “Can I ask you something first, though?”

“Sure.”

“Something you said earlier . . . about not going after Mr. Kozlow’s sons . . .” Eggie nodded. “You said you didn’t because you knew I wouldn’t want you to.”

“Yeah. I knew huntin’ somebody down and getting them before they can get you wouldn’t sit right with you.”

“It wouldn’t. I mean, I know my sisters won’t ever agree with my philosophy on this sort of thing, and I can’t say I’d feel the same way if it was one of my nieces or nephews, but for me . . . personally . . . it would just bother me.”