He spun her around and set her down. “Yes, definitely. I’m looking at the gorgeous one with the red hair and the jean jacket. Introduce me if you know her.”

She picked up his hand and led him to the table. “Gemma and Colleen, this is my best friend, my surrogate brother and cousin, and part of my carnie family, Blaze. Darlin’, meet Gemma and Colleen, Raylen’s two sisters.”

Colleen held out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Blaze’s eyes never left her green ones as he shook her hand, holding it longer than necessary before letting go and turning to Gemma. “I understand you’ve been a big help in getting everything ready for Lizelle’s Christmas party.”

“We just call her Liz,” Gemma said.

The man was dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged a six-pack of hard abs and strained at the bulging biceps. His hair was blond, in need of a decent cut, and his eyes were as dark as Liz’s. He had two days’ worth of light brown scuff that matched his eyebrows, a slight dent in his chin, and dimples when he smiled.

“Order up!” Jasmine yelled.

Liz grabbed Blaze’s arm. “Come on. You’ve got to meet Jasmine and…”

“Hey, y’all! Got any special left? I’m starving!” Raylen yelled as he came through the door.

“And Raylen.” Liz could hear the excitement in her own voice.

Raylen extended a hand. “You have to be Blaze. Liz wasn’t expecting to see you until this evening. It’s nice of you to drive up here and surprise her.”

“I couldn’t wait to see my favorite girl,” Blaze said.

“Order up!” Jasmine called again.

“Gotta go work. You want the special, Raylen?” Liz asked.

He brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “Yes, darlin’, I want the special.”

Then he turned back to Blaze. “Come on and sit with me and my sisters. I’ll buy your lunch. Want some turkey and dressin’ or one of the best burgers in the world?”

“I’d like one of those famous chicken fried steaks,” Blaze answered.

Raylen led the way to the table. “Folks come from miles around to get Jasmine’s chicken fried steaks. You won’t be disappointed.”

Raylen and Blaze were being polite, but the tension in the room reminded Liz of two tomcats that had just jumped on the yard fence at the same time. Time stood still. The sun was afraid to move. The clock stopped dead. Liz could imagine their fur fluffing out and their tails straighten up as they met in the middle of the café floor.

“Colleen was just barely a speed bump, but what’s going on out there is a mountain,” Liz whispered to Jasmine as she picked up the tray with Colleen and Gemma’s orders.

“It’s all relative. I’d say she was the speed bump that got you ready for the big hairpin curve instead of a mountain.” Jasmine laughed. “He’s pretty, but he doesn’t make me have hot flashes. Go on out there and sit with them. I’ll bring out the guys’ orders when they are done and meet him.”