Free Tart by Lauren Dane

needed to stop talking. He made her blurty, which was not something she’d experienced with too many people.
    “How about we go on a picnic?”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. Let me deal with the food. Can you meet me at the house?”
    “All right.”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven thirty.” He kissed her, fast, and then stepped away; this time he stood on her porch and put his coat on.
    She lifted a hand and waved, watching as he walked away.

6
    C al looked up to see his sister Mary come through his door holding one of his favorite things: a canvas tote he knew would be filled with food.
    “You’re an angel sent from heaven.” He went to her, taking the bag and kissing her cheek. “Come in. Do you have time to eat dinner with me?”
    “Calvin Whaley, it’s nine at night. You haven’t eaten dinner yet?” Mary looked around the room, one eyebrow raised. “You can’t work every minute of the day. It’s not healthy.”
    “I have work to do. It’s do it here or in the office. I prefer here where I can drink a glass of wine and take my shoes off.” He led her to the kitchen where he began to unpack the tote while she got plates.
    She was petite, his baby sister. Curly hair like their grandmother and while Cal’s eyes were blue, Mary’s were brown with flecks of gold. She was like a sprite on speed as she bustled around his kitchen, muttering to herself.
    “You need a woman. Or a man—I don’t care which—who cooks and will make sure you eat.” She dished up some cucumber salad to go with the skewered chicken she plated. “Hang on, there’s a sauce.” She opened containers until she found what she was looking for and pushed it at him.
    He hopped up onto a barstool at the island in the kitchen and began to eat. “Holy crap. The problem is, Mary Whaley, you’re such an amazing cook that no matter who I was with, I’d be unhappy with their cooking. You’re too good.”
    “Ha.” She frowned.
    He’d known her all her life, of course, which is why he could tell she wasn’t there just to bust his chops about not eating right.
    “So why don’t you tell me why you’re really here. Not that I don’t appreciate the food, but you have that look you get right before you deliver a lecture and it’s not about my work habits.”
    “I’ve been wrestling with myself for the last few days. Telling myself I shouldn’t say anything. But of course that argument never wins.”
    She sat next to him and pushed a glass of juice his way.
    “What? You’re starting to scare me.”
    “Jules is seeing someone.” She blurted it and Cal tried to keep his expression casual but this was his sister so she saw right through that.
    “Not the first time. She’s had dates before. Why tell me? Unless.” He sat forward and held her eye contact. “Is this guy hurting her?”
    Mary made a face and he felt better. “No, no. At least I don’t think so. This guy is . . . you know him actually. It’s Gideon Carter.”
    “Gideon?” He knew his old friend had recently come back to Bainbridge for good. Gideon had even called and left a message, saying he’d love to get together soon.
    “Look. I’ve watched you watch her for years. Unless you want it that way forever, now’s your time to move.”
    “How could it be serious? He’s only been back a week, right? Maybe two?”
    “Yes. But they . . . she talks about him differently. I’ve seen him look at her. This isn’t some fast, shallow thing. This isn’t fun . It could be more. And you know, it should be if she wants it to be. He appears to be into her and all.”
    “So why tell me?”
    Mary just stared at him.
    “She’s not for me.” He pushed to stand. “We’ve been friends a very long time. It suits us.”
    “Does it? Must be why you’re pacing at the mention of her dating someone else.”
    “Well of course. I worry about her like I’d worry about you.” He cringed as he said it. Despite the jokes about unethical attorneys, Cal hated to lie. He