“Joe, have a seat.” Mike’s tone was friendly but direct.

I sat in the wicker love seat, pulling Joe down next to me. Muffy leapt into my lap, covering me with licks.

I set the bottle down and buried my face into her neck. “I missed you too, girl.”

Mike lifted the lid to his grill and turned his steaks. “This has gone on long enough and we’re gonna put a stop to it tonight.”

For a moment, I thought he was talking about the steaks. Mike never meddled in other people’s business. Ever. But then again, he was probably tired of taking cover during Violet’s tirades.

Turning around, he pointed his tongs at Violet. “Rose is a grown woman and she’s entitled to date who she wants, whenever she wants. You may be her older sister, but that doesn’t give you the right to run her life.”

Violet gasped. “Am I supposed to sit back and say nothing while I watch her make the biggest mistake of her life?”

“You need to respect her decisions.”

Her mouth pursed as she shook her head. She leaned on the chair arm, turning her attention to Joe. “We don’t know anything about you. You waltz into town and put my sister in danger, then make her fall in love with you. Then you come and go as you please, makin’ her miserable during the week. Now she’s thinkin’ about running off with you.” She turned her stare on me. “I’m not a fool, Rose Anne Gardner. I know what you’re thinking. But he could be a serial killer for all we know.”

“Violet!” If I hadn’t already told Joe that I loved him, I’d have been seething with anger that she mentioned my feelings so casually, as if they weren’t mine to tell. Well, seething with more anger than I’d come over to her house with. And how did she know I loved him, anyway? I’d never told her. “You know good and well he’s a state police officer. How can he be a serial killer?”

She squinted. “Stranger things have happened, Rose. What’s he hiding?”

I tried to stand, but Joe pulled me back down.

“No,” Joe squeezed my hand. “Let her talk. You say you don’t know anything about me, Violet, but that’s your fault, isn’t it? Since that night you walked into Rose’s house and found me helpin’ her paint, you’ve had it out for me. Why?”

“I already told you. We don’t know anything about you.”

“Then ask.”

For once, Violet was speechless.

“What do you want to know?”

She quickly recovered and lifted her chin. “Your family, for one thing.”

“Oh Lordy, Violet!” I snapped. “That again? Can’t you just let it go?” Joe wasn’t comfortable talking about his family and I wasn’t going to let her bully him into exposing his past.

Joe tensed, involuntarily digging his nails into my hand.

“Joe, do not tell her anything you don’t want to share.”

He took a long swig from his bottle then leveled his gaze at her. “I’m not sure what my family has to do with me and the choices I’ve made with my life, but so be it. You’re Rose’s sister. Your blessing is important to me and I know it’s important to her even if she won’t admit it. But let me tell you this,” He leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee. “I don’t need your blessing. I love Rose and I’m not goin’ anywhere. I’m proving it by sitting here endurin’ your inhospitality and condemnation when the only thing I’m guilty of is lovin’ your sister.”

Her mouth opened as though she was about to say something, but she closed it without making a sound. Joe had left her speechless twice. I couldn’t be more proud of him.

Mike tipped his beer with a grin and took a drink.

Joe’s voice lowered into a growl. “Now what do you want to know?”

Violet inhaled, then a smug smile twisted her mouth. “Where are you from?”

“Little Rock.”

“But where were you born and raised? Who are your people?”

“Who are his people?” I screeched.

Joe dropped my hand and put his arm around my back. “El Dorado.”

“So you were born there and lived there your whole life.”

“Until I went to college in Little Rock and stayed there when I joined the state police.”

“And did you finish college?”

What was with her haughty attitude? She and Mike didn’t go to college. Most people in Henryetta didn’t. Surely she wasn’t going to hold that over his head.

“Yes, Violet, I did. When I set out to do something, I do it.”

That was clearly a challenge.

“So what was your major?”

“Pre-law, then law school.”

I tried to hide my surprise, but Violet didn’t, her mouth falling open as she peered over her sunglasses, reassessing him with this new piece of information.

“Then why are you an Arkansas State Police detective? Why aren’t you practicing law?”

“Because I never wanted to be an attorney. I only went to law school to appease my father. I always intended to be a police detective.”

“What does your father do?”

“He’s an attorney in El Dorado.”

“And your mother?”

Joe’s arm stiffened.

“Joe, you don’t have to answer her questions.” I turned to my sister. “That is enough, Violet. This is not the Spanish Inquisition.”