Free It Happened One Night by Sharon Sala

Sterling,” he said quickly. “This is my wife, Tisha.”
    â€œCome in,” Harley said. “Sam’s out back cooking hamburgers and if you all brought your swimsuits, feel free to jump in the pool.”
    â€œLove your accent,” Tisha said, and took her cakefrom Charlie’s hands. “You can go outside and play, but be nice, you hear?”
    â€œReal cute, honey,” Charlie said, and patted his wife on the rear as he headed for the kitchen and the patio beyond.
    Tisha rolled her eyes and then grinned at Harley.
    â€œHe’s not quite housebroke yet,” she said. “Can’t take him anywhere.”
    Harley laughed. It was the first time since this whole day started that she thought she might have found a friend.
    â€œAccording to my mama, the best ones are always like that,” Harley said. “I’ve got some beans baking in the oven, so follow me.”
    â€œOooh, you cook, too,” Tisha drawled, then spied the other wives and had to stop for a hug and a hello. It was a couple of minutes later before she made her way into the kitchen where Harley was taking a large pan of baked beans from the oven.
    â€œThose smell heavenly,” she said.
    Harley smiled. “Grannie’s recipe, but it makes so much that I never make them unless I have company.”
    Tisha gazed around the kitchen, noting the changes that had taken place since Harley’s arrival.
    â€œWe were all here about three years ago for a party, but that was when Sam had the pool put in. Haven’t been here since, but it looks like you’ve fixed the place up a lot.”
    â€œMostly just new curtains and paint. Have to dosomething while Sam’s gone to occupy my time. I’m thinking about looking for a job, but haven’t decided what I want to do.”
    â€œDid you work before you and Sam got married?” Tisha asked.
    â€œYes, for an insurance agency. Very boring. I’m not doing that again.”
    Tisha filched a handful of potato chips from a big plastic bowl and started munching as she watched Harley flit about the room. First impressions were usually her strong suit, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on who Sam’s wife really was. Being the nosey person that she was, she pressed on for answers to satisfy her curiosity.
    â€œYou sure pulled a good one,” Tisha said.
    Harley looked up from the boiled eggs she was peeling.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œSnagging Sam. Taking him off the marriage market, so to speak.”
    â€œOh, that,” Harley said, and reached for another egg. She had to get them peeled and deviled before the hamburgers were done or the cookout just wouldn’t be right.
    Tisha frowned. It wasn’t exactly the giggle she’d expected from a newlywed.
    â€œDon’t tell me the bloom is already off the rose,” she said.
    Harley paused and looked up, a slight grin on her face.
    â€œDo you always speak in analogies?”
    This time it was Tisha who’d gotten lost in the conversation.
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    Harley’s smile widened. “Well, first you tell me I pulled a good one and now you’re asking if the bloom is off the rose. Why don’t you just come out and say what you mean?”
    Tisha swallowed the last chip she’d been chewing and dusted off her hands.
    â€œAll righty then, since you asked, how long have you and Sam known each other? He never mentioned you until he came back from Las Vegas and then, according to Charlie, you were all he talked about. As for the bloomin’ rose, you aren’t as gooney-eyed as I expected a newlywed to be.”
    â€œOh. That,” Harley said, and began cutting the eggs in half and dumping the yolks into a bowl.
    She didn’t know Sam had come into the kitchen until he slid his arms around her waist and kissed the back of her neck.
    â€œTisha, are you grilling my ever-loving wife about our love