“
Miranda, honey, sit down. I wish you’d eat something.” Peering out the window, Aunt Teeta gave a shudder. “Y’all be sure and take umbrellas. There’s supposed to be a doozy of a storm coming in.”
“How much of a doozy?” Etienne asked. “Medium doozy or big doozy?”
Aunt Teeta flapped her dishtowel at him. “Monster doozy. Big bad winds, flash-flood rain, and maybe even tornadoes kind of doozy. Miranda, don’t you feel well?”
“Just”--Miranda brushed it off--“kind of sick to my stomach, I guess.”
“What, darlin’, something keep you awake last night?”
Etienne stared at her. Gage stared at her. Aunt Teeta stared at her. Thank God for Gage, who finally seemed to sense her growing distress. Cramming the last bite of sausage into his mouth, he scraped back his chair from the table.
“I’ll make sure she eats something later,” he promised Aunt Teeta. “Come on, we better go. We’re gonna be late.”
Miranda threw him a grateful look as the three of them trooped out the door. Still, once they reached Etienne’s truck, she couldn’t resist.
“You really are cute and precious,” she said, touching a fingertip to one of his dimples.
Gage’s face went redder. He grabbed her hand and boosted her into the front seat. “See if I come to your rescue anymore.”
“And I have to agree with Roo and Ashley. You’re especially cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“Yeah?” Gage’s lips moved against her ear. “Don’t tempt me. I bet you’re especially cute when you’re embarrassed, too.”
Miranda stared at him in surprise. Gage gave her an innocent smile, then climbed in beside her. Etienne seemed completely unaware of their little exchange.
”
”