Free Love Songs by Bernadette Marie Page B

green-gray color now and full of holes. I’m throwing this away.”
    Warner bit into his sandwich again. And just like that, the woman of his dreams was throwing away his bachelorhood.
    The bite of his bologna lodged in his throat with his thought. He coughed to clear the blockage.
    She was taking over his life and his clothes. Already she’d taken over his mind which was leading to his heart.
    As she walked away with the shirt wadded up in her hand, he cleared his throat. He’d officially tumbled in love with her. Damn—that was fast.
     
    When Warner was finished with his sandwich he walked his plate to the sink. There were no other dishes in the sink. Clara’s bedroom, her most intimate space was cluttered with her individuality, but her home was tidy.
    The dishwasher was running a load of dishes already. Now what?
    He let out a chuckle. You wash the damn thing, he thought.
    Warner opened the cupboard under the sink and took out the bottle of dish soap and a sponge. When the plate was clean, he held it over the sink and looked around for a towel. One hung from the handle of the oven. Sunday was stitched on it.
    As he pulled it down and dried his dish he had to think hard. It wasn’t really Sunday was it? No…no he knew that for a fact.
    Clara walked into the kitchen and stopped. She smiled easily and he liked that.
    “Did you wash that plate? You could have just set it in the sink.”
    “That didn’t seem right. I’ve been cleaning all day. Maybe I’m still in the cleaning mood.”
    “If you say so.” She pulled out a chair from around the kitchen table and sat down. “I have a show tomorrow night.”
    Warner tucked the towel back over the handle of the oven and looked at Clara for direction as where to put the plate. She pointed to a cupboard.
    He had to admit there was a bit of alarm in his chest when he noticed a pink handled pistol sitting there.
    Hoping he was discreet enough, he put the plate on the stack, closed the door quickly, and sat down across from Clara.
    “Last four shows, right?”
    “Yeah. Friday night. Matinee on Saturday. Saturday night and Sunday night.”
    Warner nodded. “And the gig on Sunday.”
    “I won’t be there.”
    “I know.” He swallowed hard. “I’m trying to still wrap my head around that.”
    She leaned in over her arms which rested on the table. “I want you to come and see me. My family is coming tomorrow night. I’d like you to be there.”
    Heat rose in his body. The feeling was uncomfortable enough, but when he hadn’t showered all day it wasn’t good either. “And when you say your whole family you don’t just mean your mom and dad.”
    “You catch on quick.” She laughed and sat back in her chair. “In fact, I think Darcy’s dad is here from Florida with a lady friend and he’s coming too.”
    “Of course, because the Keller family isn’t big enough.”
    That made her laugh hard. “Right.”
    Was this a test? Would he pass if he refused? What was he thinking? He didn’t want to refuse. He wanted to be there.
    “I’d love to come. Where do I buy a ticket?”
    Clara’s eyes softened and so did her body. “God you are cute.” She stood up and walked to him. She pressed a kiss to his forehead. “One will be at the box office waiting for you.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Now, you march upstairs and get a shower. Christian has some lounge pants on the dryer you could wear until we get your clothes clean.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She cupped his chin in her hands and looked down at him. “And then I want to show you what I set up for us.”
    Huh, he couldn’t even begin to imagine where that was leading, but anywhere with her was where he wanted to be.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Clara was the perfect hostess. She’d handed Warner a warm towel and a toiletry kit with a toothbrush and a razor.
    “The snarky man in me wants to ask if you have overnight guests a lot. But the gentleman in me knows that’s not why you have these.” He held up the sealed