Free Killer Cousins by June Shaw Page A

navy sports coat. A pinch of dark chest hair was visible where his shirt opened at the collar. His jeans were pale blue, hiding soft briefs probably the same shade.
    Intimate parts of my body reacted.
    I struggled to close my mouth.
    My peripheral vision let me spy Stevie staring at my face. Maybe wondering why I didn’t speak. Or possibly I was drooling.
    I ignored her, focusing completely on Gil.
    His thick, steel-gray hair had grown a little near the temples, where a sprinkling of hair had turned silver. His eyes were deep gray. It took only a moment for them to survey his restaurant. His gaze met mine. A smile lit Gil’s face. He strode toward me.
    I met him halfway across the room. We hugged. He was also glad to see me. Very glad, I could tell as we hugged tighter.
    “What a surprise,” Jake Bryant announced in the mike. “Here he is, everyone. The man who gives us Cajun Delights, Mr. Gil Thurman.”
    I pulled away from Gil.
    He grabbed my waist and drew me partway in front of him. I smiled at everyone staring at us and clapping. I gave them a wave. I wasn’t sure what Gil was doing behind me. I was pretty sure he wasn’t waving. He probably awarded them his great smile. I liked the feel of him clinging to my waist.
    “Would you like to come up here and speak to your guests?” Jake asked him.
    I shifted aside so Gil could pass to the bandstand while people clapped.
    “Stay here,” he said in a deep-throated whisper. He gripped me tighter and kept me in front of him.
    I didn’t mind. Mmm, warm and comfy snug against him.
    “We’re happy you’re all here,” Gil said in a loud tone, and I kept smiling at all the people. “We hope you enjoy your experience. Please let anyone on our staff know if there’s anything at all we can do for you.”
    I raised my hand like I was telling them ’bye. And then Gil’s large hand tightened on my waist, nudging. We moved to a recessed area, away from everyone.
    “Hello. How are you?” he said to me, his head leaning down. His lips that I knew to remain warm moved toward mine.
    Heat flooded my body.
    “So you know each other,” my cousin said.
    I jerked away from Gil. “Stevie,” I said in a high-pitched tone. “Oh, this is the restaurant’s owner, Gil. Mr. Gil Thurman.”
    Her eyebrows drew toward each other. “From what I just saw, I don’t think you ordinarily call him Mister. But I’m happy to meet you, Mr. Thurman.” She accepted his handshake.
    “Don’t you call me Mister, either,” he said. “I’m Gil. And your name, lovely lady, is…?”
    Color flooded Stevie’s cheeks. She giggled. “Stevie Midnight.”
    “She’s my first cousin,” I said.
    “I’m sure Cealie’s told me about you. But with the years creeping up, I forget. Please excuse me,” Gil told her.
    “No way are years creeping up on you,” Stevie replied. She kept grinning at him like a flirtatious thing was going on at her end. Then she addressed me, “But I doubt if cousin Cealie mentioned me. I sometimes think she’d like to forget I exist.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” I gave her hand a friendly squeeze and smiled at Gil. “She’s one of my favorite relatives.”
    I let go of Stevie’s hand and discreetly pinched my right palm. Hoped my lie wasn’t a big one.
    “Come join us at our table,” Stevie told him, still wearing that silly expression. Her eyes actually sparkled. Her cheeks stayed rosy.
    No, don’t join us. What would Gil and I say in front of you?
    “Thank you. I will.” Gil swung an arm out, letting us lead the way.
    “But we were almost through eating,” I said.
    Gil saw my smile vanish. He looked amused. He widened his smile at me, probably looking forward to seeing me squirm while I tried to explain our relationship to my cousin.
    She stepped out ahead of him. I walked behind Stevie toward the table where we’d sat. Gil touched my lower back. His hand remained, its heat shooting pleasant chills to significant parts of my body.
    “Here we