Free A Hero for Tonight by Roni Adams

erupted, and once again Shane’s attention was drawn to Krista. He caught her gaze again and couldn’t look away.
    When she drew her bottom lip into her mouth and turned back around, she appeared as uncomfortable with him here as he was being around her tonight.
    This is crazy .
    He and Krista had been in each other’s company their entire lives, and it was never pleasant, but it wasn’t awkward like this. Still, he had to admit, as weird as it was, for some reason he was glad to see her.
    “This isn’t your peanut theory again, is it, Dave?” Karen rolled her eyes at her husband.
    “You laugh, Mrs. Anderson, but it’s what caught you.”
    Krista frowned and glanced between the two of them. “What peanut theory?”
    Shane groaned. “Dave thinks women are like squirrels.”
    “What? Please don’t say something about bushy tails or liking nuts or something weird.”
    Dave lifted his empty beer bottle. “No, but that could be interesting, too. I’m just saying, if you are trying to get a squirrel to come to you, you can’t rush at him with peanuts in hand. You have to lay out the peanuts one by one, ever closer, then you sit quietly by and let it come to you. You build its trust slowly, inch by inch—it’s no different than women. Aren’t I right?” He turned to Shane. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
    Karen laughed. “You’re asking Shane? He’s never had to chase any woman. They just come to him, and he looks them over to decide if their peanuts are worth his time.”
    “I don’t have women coming to me in herds, or however squirrels congregate.” Shane took a drink of his beer. “Do squirrels move in herds, swarms?” He looked over at Karen, but Krista was in his line of vision as she crossed the small kitchen to set a basket of bread on the table and his question fell to her. “
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve only seen squirrels alone. I don’t think they’re a pack animal.”
    Her cheeks turned pink and he wondered what was embarrassing her.
    Dave made a production of pulling out his phone. “I’ll tell you what they are.”
    With a grin, Karen snatched it out of his hand. “Chili is ready. I think we can all manage to get through dinner without knowing whether squirrels move in packs or not.”
    Shane started to sit down at the same time Krista did, and their hands collided on the back of the wooden chair. She jerked hers away as if his touch was disgusting. He frowned. She sure hadn’t seemed to mind his touch the other night.
    “Sit here, Krista.” Karen waved to the chair next to hers.
    Shane sat down heavy in his chair and reached for the basket of bread as the others took their seats. “Did the Bills lose today?” he asked Dave.
    “Yeah, but at least it was close; not like last week’s massacre.”
    “That new quarterback isn’t doing very good. I’m not sure they’ll keep him on after this season.”
    Karen set a bowl in front of him. Shane picked up the shredded cheese to spoon a heaping pile on to his chili.
    “They need to give him a chance. It’s only his fourth game. I don’t understand why the guy gets judged so harshly,” Karen scoffed. “What do they think, he’s going to win every game first time out?”
    “For the money they pay him, he should bring it every single game,” Dave argued.
    She scooped a spoonful of sour cream onto her chili. “Whatever. I just think it takes the guy a while to learn the ropes.”
    “Good thing they don’t think like that in the marines, huh, Shane? Do you give the privates a break because they haven’t been in the game very long?”
    “Well, football isn’t the marines. It’s a game. That’s all it is, a game.” Karen waved away her husband’s example before he could respond. “Krista, this bread is fantastic. Thanks for bringing it.”
    Shane had his mouth full of the fragrant loaf. It looked like any other white bread, but one taste and it kicked his ass. His eyes watered. He reached for his beer only to find