Free At First Touch by Tamara Sneed Page B

as an NBA game filled the fifty-six-inch plasma screen. One of the things he would miss once he married was being to relax with a beer in front of the plasma without any interruptions. Basketball in high-def. It was about as perfect as a bachelor could get, without his woman sitting next to him in stilettos and little else while feeding him a plate of buffalo wings.
    A knock on the front door of his apartment instantly nixed his fantasy of two uninterrupted hours of basketball.
    â€œCome in, Mom,” he called.
    Beatrice opened the door and walked into the living room carrying a foil-covered plate of food. Wyatt’s stomach immediately grumbled as the smell of pot roast and potatoes assaulted his senses. His mother did not fight fair.
    â€œI figured you were in here sulking about our little argument this morning, so I brought you dinner,” Beatrice announced as she set the plate on the wood coffee table in front of the sofa.
    â€œI’m not sulking, and thanks for dinner,” he muttered as he reached for the food. He briefly closed his eyes in ecstasy when he saw that large piece of peach cobbler on the corner of the plate.
    Beatrice propped the decorative pillows on the easy chair next to sofa and sat. She watched Wyatt inhale the food for a moment, then said evenly, “As long as I’m alive, I will not allow that woman to desecrate our business or your father’s memory by making an adult movie in the house.”
    Wyatt choked on his food and coughed to clear his throat. He took a quick swig of beer. “Quinn does not want to make a porno in the house. In fact, it’s about as far from a porno as you can get. It’s some depressing and serious independent movie. Come on, Mom. Do you really think I’d allow that? Do you really think Boyd would allow that in this town?”
    â€œNow, that you mention it, I spoke to Mayor Robbins this morning, and he has not heard of any movie being made in town. Not only was he surprised to hear the news, but he was mortified. This is a peaceful town. The last thing we need is a bunch of Hollywood types running around here causing problems.”
    â€œYou spoke to Boyd about this?” he asked, annoyed.
    Beatrice bristled. “I didn’t think this movie was a secret. She does need Boyd’s permission. I thought he already knew.”
    â€œYou should have called me first.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t answer your cell phone. Besides, this is my town, and my home that that woman wants to corrupt. I had to talk to someone since you obviously don’t see the danger.”
    â€œI told you that she’s not making a porno or anything close to a porno.”
    â€œWell, I don’t see what other movie anyone would put her in,” Beatrice said with a sniff.
    â€œYou know Quinn. You know her family. You always go on and on about what a lucky man Graham is.”
    â€œCharlie is a decent, sweet woman. Eliza did not raise a fool, so I know Graham would not marry a woman who was not worthy. She’s nothing like the other two sisters. Everyone in town knows that. All you had to do was watch the other two at Graham’s wedding. Kendra was stumbling around drunk, while Quinn was grinding against every man she could find, married or not.”
    Wyatt resisted the urge to correct his mother. Quinn had grinded against every man at the wedding except him.
    Beatrice continued, “And look at the way she dresses. I’m surprised the poor thing hasn’t died of pneumonia with the clothes she flounces around in this weather.”
    â€œHer clothes are her business, and she’s not making a porno. What valid objections do you have to the movie being shot in the mortuary?” he demanded.
    â€œI know trouble, Wyatt, and that girl is trouble. I already heard about what happened today in the diner.” Wyatt groaned, then took another swig of his beer. Beatrice nodded, knowingly, “Yes, I heard how she sauntered