Foxy Lady by Marie Harte Page B

hardhead in his generation, and most of his progeny took after him.
    Hell, every family had a black sheep. She glanced at Meghan and exhaled with frustration.
    One of Jason’s uncles on his mother’s side said, “Don’t mind the Neds, as we call them. Bunch of stubborn morons. We’re pleased as punch to have Jason and Meghan for a visit. And it’s right nice of your sisters to visit as well, Meghan.”
    Meghan blushed and sat next to Tilda, Jason’s mom. “Well, I haven’t been home much since college. And Jason and I are planning to live in Seattle far away from all of you, so it’s nice to be with family again.” She dared Julia to contradict her with a sharp smile.
    “So you’re not going to go live back home?” Tilda asked.
    “No.”
    Ned and his brothers joined them. “Where is it you’re from again?” he asked. He kept his attention on Julia while he spoke. “I don’t remember Meghan or Jason saying.”
    “It’s a small town near Glacier Falls National Park. You wouldn’t believe how cold it gets out there,” Ty said with a smile at Tilda. He blatantly ignored Ned, who didn’t like that one bit.
    Julia bit her lip to keep from grinning. Ty had a subtle way of letting someone know his displeasure. Trust a fox to be sneaky.
    “Oh, I don’t know about that,” Tilda said. “Last year we had a record low of thirteen degrees.”
    Gabby chimed in and soon everyone smiled and laughed, sharing stories ranging from the weather to Jason’s antics as a young child, which had Tilda and her brothers vying to outdo one another. Ned Sr. remained conspicuously mute.
    Throughout dinner, Julia enjoyed herself. Ned and his brothers remained distant. His father outright ignored them all in favor of the television and some stupid basketball game in the other room.
    “Would you excuse me, please?” Ty asked Tilda.
    “Bathroom’s down the hall on the right,” one of the uncles offered and threw himself into another story, this one involving Tilda and his youngest brother.
    After Ty disappeared from the dining table big enough to seat sixteen comfortably, Gabby leaned in to say, “Not what you were expecting, huh?”
    “Well, I can see now where Jason gets his disposition. The family’s actually quite nice, if you ignore Ned Sr. and three of his four sons.”
    Gabby nodded. “Ned’s been staring at you since you arrived. You’re going to have to talk to him at some point.”
    “I know. No time like the present.”
    Tilda and Meghan stood to gather plates. Though the men didn’t offer to help, they did compliment her for the meal. Gabby and Julia rose as well and helped clear the table.
    Julia reached for Ned’s plate. “Ned, can we talk?”

Chapter Five
    Ned pushed back his chair and stood faster than she could blink. “Been waiting all night to talk to you.” He glanced in the direction Ty had gone and nodded to himself.
    Julia sighed, handed Gabby the plate, then motioned to the back door. “How about on the porch?” In private. She looked pointedly at his brothers.
    Itchy quickly said, “We’ll go with you.”
    “Yeah. I don’t want to miss this,” Snitchy added with an evil grin.
    Julia held back a growl. “Ned? I want to talk to you. Alone .”
    He glanced from Itchy and Snitchy to her. “Good idea.” He shoved his brothers back and herded her toward the back door.
    From the other room, Julia heard Ty and Ned’s father swearing over the muted sound of the television. What the hell was he doing with Ned Sr.?
    The pair of them bemoaned Gonzaga and cheered Syracuse. Good Lord. He was bonding with that odious man over basketball?
    Ned prodded her outside, past the surprised faces of his mother and her sister, and she shivered at the brisk wind slapping her face.
    “Nice weather, huh?” He leaned against the porch rail and crossed his arms. “See, I can make small talk.”
    “Ah, okay. Ned, I just wanted you to understand—”
    “I cut my hair. Had Mama iron my jeans.”
    She