Page 24 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

“Huh,” she said, and there was something in her voice thatmade him look up. Her arms were crossed and her eyes narrowed.

“What?”

“It’s just I happen to know he canceled.”

“Snooping isn’t attractive, Amanda.”

“Did you forget that I transcribe the voicemails?”

“I meant your current snooping. Right now. This minute.”

“So why’d you say it was fine when you didn’t meet with him?”

“Why’d you ask if you knew he’d canceled?”

“I wanted to see if you were upset about it. He’s cute. Andyou said he was gay. I saw how the two of you looked at each other. I admitthat I hoped you’d express some disappointment, but now I think there’ssomething you’re hiding. So. Spill.”

Jesse groaned. There was no way out of this. She’d just keepon harassing him; she’d been this way since they were kids. “I went to SmokyMountain Dreams and caught him after his show.”

Amanda’s lips curved up and her eyes glinted. “You did whatnow?”

“You heard me.”

“And? Did you see him? Did he like the design for thelocket? More importantly—did he likeyou?”

Jesse put aside his work. “I’m not a twelve-year-old girlwho needs to chat about my crush. Especially not with my sister.”

Amanda moved from the doorway and plopped down in the chairopposite him. “You are the worst at keeping secrets. It’s like everything aboutyou justgives it all away. I can tell—he liked thedesign for the locket andyou slept with him!”

Jesse cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes. “He liked thelocket design. Events transpired.”

“You are such adork. ‘Eventstranspired.’ Pfft. Did the events include orgasms?”

“Why do you want to know? You’re my sister. I don’t want tohear aboutyoursex life.”

“I don’t want details. I just want to know if you’re…youknow, interested in him. Because it’s time you got interested insomeone, Jesse. Male, female, no one cares—just beinterested in someone. Be happy again.”

Jesse couldn’t help but crack a smile at that, even as hesnorted under his breath. “You make it sound so easy. ‘Be happy again.’ Like it’sa choice.”

“Itis.”

“Right. Okay, Christopher liked the locket design. Butobviously I thought it could be a little better since I’m working on it, MissObservant.”

Amanda waved her hand. “I stopped actually looking at yourwork ages ago. I just make shit up out there to sell it.”

Jesse glared. He knew she was familiar with the details ofevery piece. Now she was just yanking his chain.

Amanda continued to study him. “So? Was it a one-time thingor…?”

Jesse wished he knew. The sex had been terrific. Christopher’ssheer enthusiasm alone hadn’t been that unusual—most guys were eager to getoff—but somehow Christopher’s urgency had a sweetness to it that made Jessewant to sample it again. Even if that was probably a bad idea.

“I’ve never actually been in a relationship with a guy,Amanda. I’ve had sex with plenty of them, but…” He shrugged. “At the most, itwas a repeat situation along with some friendship. I’ve never been in love withanyone other than Marcy. I wouldn’t know where to start.”

But he’d wanted that, hadn’t he? He’d wanted to find out,and that’d been the problem. And he’d been too chicken shit to go looking forit, and that was something Marcy wouldn’t have tolerated. She’d have pushed himoff that cliff. Hell, she’d beengoing topush himoff the cliff when suddenly she’d fallen off one of her own.

“Come on, you know where to start. You’ve seen a moviebefore, watched TV, read a book. Ask him on a date.”

“Listen, I think I made the first move with the wholestalking him at his place of business thing. Seems like it’s his turn.”