“No,” he said slowly, “although you’re right. Dottie Jean packed the breakfast for me. Biscuits and gravy, I believe.”
“Why, Bud Briggs. You mean you’re going to indulge in an artery-clogging breakfast? How positively amazing.”
“No,” he said slowly, “actually, you’re amazing.”
Well now, she never saw that coming. “Pass the gravy, Bud, and stop being silly.”
“Not yet.” He paused to reach for her hand. “You asked me a question a month ago, and I never did answer you.”
“I did? What question was that?”
“You asked what the FBI had that was better than anything I had in Port Neches.” Bud shifted positions to face Sue Ellen. “I gave you a whole line of nonsense about facts and figures. What I didn’t count on was that you would show me there’s something a whole lot more important than all that.”
She glanced down at her hand, enveloped in the warmth of Bud’s fingers. Just beyond the edge of the Neches River, a slice of orange sun peeked through. “And what might that be, Bud?”
“You,” he said softly.
His response startled her. “Me?”
“You. I turned down the FBI, Sue Ellen, and I have to tell you it feels right.” Bud moved closer. “Remember New Year’s Eve?”
“Yes.” Despite her good sense, she moved an inch in his direction. “I believe I do.”
“Well, there was a moment there when I missed an opportunity.”
Like a moth to the flame, Sue Ellen allowed Bud to draw her into his embrace. “Was there?” she managed.
“Oh yes. I believe it started something like this.” He paused. “Ten, nine, eight, seven. . .”
Time slowed, and the world seemed to stand still. A cool breeze blew across the pier, bringing with it the scent of morning. “Oh my,” Sue Ellen whispered.
“Six, five, four. . .”
“Sue Ellen?”
His lips were close. Too close. And yet not close enough.
“Yes?”
“If you’re not falling for me, now’s the time to say so.”
She met his gaze. “Three, two. . .”
“One,” was his response.
And then he kissed her.
Sue Ellen’s Fabulous Fudge
2 cups chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips)
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
Melt chocolate chips and condensed milk together in a saucepan on low heat (or microwave on high 3 minutes, stirring at 1-minute intervals). Add in vanilla and stir well.
Pour into 8x8 pan lined with foil and refrigerate until chilled, approximately 2 hours. Remove foil and slice.
Pretty Is As Pretty Does
The Rhonda-Vous House of Beauty Guide to Essential Southern Style
P- is for petroleum jelly. Yes, ladies, petroleum jelly is your friend. Not only does this miracle substance remove all traces of makeup from your face and rough skin from your heels, but it also makes a mighty fine lip gloss. Like your gloss with a little flavor? No problem! Flavored lip-gloss is easy to make. Just add a dash of powdered Kool-Aid (steering away from grape or lime and using a nice lemonade or cherry flavor, of course) or for those special occasions, chocolate! How? Easy! A dab of petroleum jelly and a chocolate chip melt together just fine in the microwave and make your lips kissable and yummy. Oh, and an application of petroleum jelly to the pole that holds up your bird feeder will keep the squirrels out. Stick to unflavored for that use or you just might draw flies. And we all know it’s tacky under any circumstance to draw flies.
R – is for rub. Yes, rub. No, not the kind that goes on your barbeque. I’m talking about the mentholated topical ointment your mama used to rub on your chest when you had the sniffles. And no, we are not rubbing it on our chests. Perish the thought! However, a nice coating of rub on your feet will keep them smooth and ready for summer. I’d recommend wearing socks unless you don’t mind tangling up in the sheets and leaving a mark where the rub saturated through.
E – is for eyes. Your eyes are the first things a man will notice about you, or at least they ought to be unless you ignore your mama’s warnings about dressing trashy. Make your peepers sparkle with a lovely shade of shadow that highlights your best features. Don’t forget your mascara, which will apply thicker and stay longer if you dust your lashes with baby powder between the first and second coat of mascara. And ladies, if you’re going to a wedding or funeral, do consider buying a special tube of waterproof mascara for these occasions. Why risk stealing the spotlight from the bride or the dearly departed with a tacky case of raccoon eyes?
T – is for terrific face cream. Now, I’m not talking about something you find on the shelf with those expensive oils and lotions. Just pass on by that part of the pharmacy and head over to the department selling hemorrhoid essentials. Yes. I am serious. What shrinks your undesirables also shrinks the pores in your skin leaving you looking fresh as a baby’s bottom. I would recommend you use the gel and not the cream so you don’t look like you’re wearing frosting. No, I am not kidding. Just try it and you’ll thank me.
T – is for teasing. No, not the kind that ends up irritating a man more than capturing his attention. I’m talking about teasing your hair. In the South, we know that the higher the hair, the closer to heaven. So, unless your mama’s gene pool gifted you with naturally bouncy and beautiful tresses, you’re going to have to improvise. And that means you’re going to have to learn to tease. Some stylists call it back combing, but whatever the name, the procedure is the same. Lift up a section of hair and using your rat tail comb—yes, that is what they are called—comb down toward the roots until you’ve got a nice little lift. Now listen close on this next step. Way back when, girls would apply a nice coat of hair spray to seal in the style. I don’t recommend that unless you like the helmet head look. Instead, I want you to apply a coat of hair spray to your comb and repeat the process of teasing one more time. Now see how that holds up? You’re welcome.
Y – is for you! Because what man in his right might can resist you? Not one with any good sense, and not after you have followed all these beauty tips. Just remember, pretty is as pretty does!
For more great romances, check out www.forgetmenotromances.com
Don’t miss the other two Biloxi Brides:
Not on the Menu
Gone Fishing
About the Author
Kathleen Y’Barbo
Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of more than fifty novels with almost two million copies in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and Book of the Year by Romantic Times magazine.
Sadie’s Secret, a Secret Life of Will Tucker historical romantic suspense novel and the winner of the 2015 Romantic Times Inspirational Romance of the Year, is in stores now: http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/sadies-secret-2014/
For another book with times to Kathleen’s home town of Port Neches, Texas, Firefly Summer, the first novel in the contemporary Pies, Books & Jesus Book Club series features a character with the same name as her mama—Bonnie Sue. And a very similar personality, though she will never admit it. For a peek at Firefly Summer, click here: http://amzn.to/1LhPdeq
When not wearing her writer’s hat, Kathleen is a paralegal, a proud military wife, and an expatriate Texan cheering on her beloved Texas Aggies from north of the Red River. Connect with her through social media at www.kathleenybarbo.com.
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