Feeling uncomfortable, but not knowing why, Darla nodded. “Well, thank you so much, Mr. Smith. Have a good night.”

“You, too. And take care of yourself tomorrow.”

Darla glanced back at the wolf. He watched her from under the branches of the trees and she had no idea what to make of the look he was giving her—and not sure if she wanted to make anything of it.

Eggie stood with his butt resting against the passenger door of his car. He smiled when he saw her and that made Darla smile back.

“You ready?”

“Yes.” She walked to him and went up on her toes, kissing him lightly on the mouth. “Let’s go home.”

And as Darla turned from him and reached for her door handle, she quickly edited her statement to, “I mean, let’s go to your house.” She opened the door. “I mean, let’s go to your home.” She cleared her throat, knew her face was red from blushing.

So awkward. Poor guy probably thought she’d bought that furniture just for herself. Horrified, Darla sat in the passenger side and closed the door. Eggie got in the driver’s side a few seconds later. He closed the door and looked at her.

“You done babblin’?” he asked.

Darla nodded. “Uh-huh.”

“Good.” He kissed her. “Now let’s go home.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“The problem is,” Eggie explained as he closed the front door of his house, “that you have two Alpha Females in the same town. Momma ain’t ready to give up her position yet.”

Darla stopped in the middle of the living room and faced him. “Will Janie have to fight to the death against your mother?” Because she really didn’t know who would win that one.

“An Alpha fight to the death hasn’t happened in about half a century. Doubt my momma plans to start all that up again.” When Darla only stared at him, he asked, “Does Janie Mae plan to start all that up again?”

Darla forced a laugh and headed into the kitchen.

Eggie followed her. “Any more sweet tea?”

“In the fridge. I’ll get it.”

“Nah. I’ve got two hands. You want some?”

“Sure.” She picked up a pad and pen and walked to the corner of the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

“Need a list. A few of your aunts and cousins asked for pies. I’m getting together with my sisters tomorrow to bake.”

“Hope you ain’t doing all that for free.”

“Nope. We have cold, hard cash.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “It feels so decadent making money from my wares.”

Eggie chuckled, took two glasses down from one of the overhead cabinets and poured the sweet tea. He placed one glass on the counter besideDarla and walked to the other side of the kitchen so she could have some space.

While he sipped his sweet tea, he watched Darla work on whatever she was working on. She had her bare foot pressed against the opposite knee so that she was balanced only on one leg, and she used the pen to occasionally scratch the back of her neck. There was just something so beautiful and perfect about the whole thing. Something that Eggie didn’t understand but knew he had to have in his life for as long as the Lord allowed it. He couldn’t imagine not coming home to her. To find her in his house. In their house.

“I love you, Darla.”

She froze, the pen resting against her neck, her body still being held up by that one leg.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Eggie went on. “Just listen.” He put his glass down and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I feel like I’ve been waitin’ my whole life for you. Not someone like you, but you. And I know being with me for the long term won’t be easy. I know I’m not real chatty. Not real friendly. I find almost everyone but you, the full-wolves in the forest, and that Columbo guy on TV real annoying. And I don’t really have any intention of changing. I’m not even sure I could if I wanted to.” Eggie cleared his throat. “But I promise to always be faithful. Never to argue with you over ridiculous bullshit. To keep my blaspheming to a minimum. And to never take you for granted. I will do whatever I can to make you happy. If that means living in San Francisco or Timbuktu, I’ll do it. I just never want you to feel trapped. But, if being with me isn’t what you want . . . you just say the word. I’ll still protect you, Darla Mae. I won’t let anything happen to you, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to be with me. I want you to be with me because you want to be with me.”

Eggie took a breath. “Anyway, that’s it. Just felt the need to get that off my chest. Hope I didn’t make the night uncomfortable for ya.”

Darla dropped her raised leg, her bare foot slapping against the ground. She placed the pen on the counter and took a step back.

She slowly faced him, eyes downcast. “Eggie Ray . . .”

Eggie steeled himself, waiting for her to “bring down the hammer” as McMartin liked to call it.

She sighed, deep and long, then walked across the kitchen. “There’s just so much going on right now. People trying to kill me,” she said as she went through one of the brown paper grocery bags she’d brought from the store earlier in the day. “Poor Mr. Kozlow. A sudden influx of pie requests. Your mother calling me a polygamist. Suddenly getting along with my sisters. It’s just all too much, Eggie.” She walked over and stood in front of him.