Honey and Smoke Read Online Free PDF Page A

against me when my business license comes up for renewal before the City council.”
    Norma, who had served on the town council for two decades, dismissed the worry with a gracious wave of one hand. “This kind of wedding isn’t for everyone. But married is married. Those that are gonna make it will make it no matter what kind of ceremony they have.”
    “That’s right,” Max added, feeling a little annoyed. The Hitching Post was a longtime local tradition. The chamber of commerce had
asked
him to reopen it. It drew tourists, who came to snap pictures in front of the tiny old Victorian house with its sweeping water oaks and the aging sign that flashed “Get Hitched” in red neon over the front-porch steps.
    “You might be interested to know that I don’t own this place. Norma does,” he told Betty Quint. “My father willed it to her.”
    “If you want to see some
real
strange things, stay around tonight and watch a medieval wedding,” Norma added. “Sometimes the groom trips over his armor.”
    Max stepped a little closer to Betty, pushing a little, testing the waters. He’d never wanted to test the waters so badly in his life, he realized. “Why don’t you stay and watch? I’m doing three more ceremonies tonight, but I’ll be finished by nine. Then we could go over to the steak house and have a late dinner.”
    Betty Quint’s complexion was Irish cream, and exasperation showed in it easily. “No, thank you. I just wanted you to know that the mushroom basket was a nice gesture, your apology is
definitely
accepted, and the incident is closed.”
    Max took another step. “Then why not have dinner with me?”
    Norma rose from her bench and said diplomatically, “I better go see about keeping Scarlett and Rhett on schedule. You hustle on over to the reception before long, Maximilian, and let’s sign their certificate.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be there in a second.”
    “Nice to see you again, Mrs. Bishop,” Betty said politely. “I want to come by when you have more time. I hear you have some pretty queen-size quilts for sale.”
    “Always do. And you’re always welcome. I’m always here. Upstairs.” Norma left the parlor with a spry, forceful gate, her heavy arms pumping.
    “Nice lady,” Betty noted. She took a step back from Max. “She seems to have a way with you. Remarkable.”
    “She’s the heart of this place. She keeps the appointment books, takes care of the costumes, orders me around like a sergeant at boot camp. I grew up being best friends with her son, and we joined the marines together. He was killed in Vietnam. She and I sort of adopted each other after that.” Max leaned toward her. “But enough chitchat. You smell wonderful. Tangy.”
    “I’ve been making barbecue sauce.”
    “Mmmm. I’m a rib man.” He let his gaze travel down her chest, then back up.
    “Mine are hickory smoked.”
    “Must have been painful.”
    She was breathing a little too fast now, and he liked the way her nostrils flared a bit each time she inhaled. She frowned at him. “My restaurant will open soon. Chicken, pork, and beef barbecue. Chopped or sliced. Sandwiches or plates. Eat-in or carry-out. Stop by on the first day. I’ll be giving away free samples.”
    “I like free samples.”
    “I bet.”
    He grasped his chest woefully. “You don’t approve of me.”
    “Not since you invaded my cave and mashed my face into mushrooms and manure.”
    “I admit, it’s not the usual way I’d want to meet a woman. But I don’t think you’re my usual kind of woman.”
    “Oh? You mean because I don’t wear leather underwear or have skulls tattooed on my forearms?”
    He laughed, liking the way her eyes never left him despite her anger. “First of all, because you’re a civilian. Second, because you’re refusing to have dinner with me—women
never
do that. Third, because yesterday you were a helluva lot more angry than frightened. I’ve known some pretty warlike women, but they were trained to