Rescued (A McKenzie Ridge Novel Book 1) by Stephanie St. Klaire

and heavy neckin’ in a parkin’ lot at the park, is not datin’ and a non-love life, things have changed since I was of age, girls,” rebutted Gran, and she was about to drop the final bomb that should get Sam singing like a canary, Granny style. “Sounds like it was pretty steamy, left you speechless, and all.”
    “Wait, how did you know there was a date, and the whole speechless thing?” Sam was flustered, damn this small town and its nosey geriatric mafia. “Where exactly was Carol watching me from, Gran?”
    “Well honey, you parked right next to her! She was in the car, fixin’ to leave when the two of you walked up. She felt it rude to interrupt by starting up her car.” As if flabbergasted by the idea of minding one’s business by starting their car to leave, Granny may as well have just said ‘duh.’
    “Right, rude, more so than sitting in a car listening in. Let me guess, you were on the phone the whole time?”
    “Well honey, I just told you that she had called to…“
    “Right, right, tell you about the new baby. Got it.” Sam planted her face firmly in her hands before resting it on the table. “How embarrassing!”
    “This is hilarious, Sam! I bet half the old ladies in this town are getting steamy windows talking about it! This is awesome, epically awesome, Sam!” Everly could hardly catch her breath, laughing at her sister-friend and all her embarrassing shame. Not that she had anything to be ashamed of, but she was happy to let her think so, the show was just getting good. “Way to give the geriatrics something to look forward to!”
    “Hey now, those old ladies are my friends, missy, and they are just looking out for our Sam. That Dawson is a dreamboat, hubba, hubba! He’s the one they hope gets called in if one of their pacemakers should fail and they need a little mouth to mouth.” Another slam dunk from Granny, earning her more eye rolling and pink cheeks from Sam, and cookie crumbs shooting through Everly’s teeth as she laughed out loud.
    “Oh geez, thanks for the visual, Gran. Sam, you need to warn your dream boat—sounds like there is a conspiracy over at the senior center to trap the guy into some covert, undercover naughty! Poor guy will be on a ‘date’ and not even know it!”
    “I’m glad you find this so funny, Everly. Look, I appreciate the concern or support, whatever it is, but this is just a friendly, friends, friend thing. Nothing more, nothing less. We grab breakfast here and there, share some interests, it’s like the male version of you, Evie!”
    “Last I checked, you and I never swapped spit or did heavy petting body checks on each other in public places!”
    “EVERLY! Okay, I am done talking about this. I can’t even look at you right now, after that, eww. We are just having dinner, as FRIENDS, no big deal.”
    “Okay honey, friends it is.” Granny chimed in. “Now finish that plate of snicker doodles before they find my ass. At my age you don’t even have to eat them for that to happen and I need to keep this thing in shape so I can find my own neckin’ partner.”
    “Gran!” Sam and Everly said in unison, completely shocked by Gran’s need for lovin’.
    “What?!? I ain’t dead yet! I may be old, buy I’m still a lady that needs…“
    “Whoa! Got it Gran!” Everly cut her off before it went from awkward to needing therapy.
    “I’ll stick to tea. I don’t need the sugar or coffee keeping me up tonight. I went and left the door unlocked today. I don’t get it, I could have sworn I locked it. I’ve left the lights, TVs, and even the water on too, lately.”
    “You don’t think someone is over there meddlin’, do ya?” Gran asked ready to grab her gun and sleep over.
    “No, Gran, nothing that dramatic ever happens in McKenzie Ridge. I just have a lot on my mind.”
    “You don’t suppose that mama of yours has blowin’ back through do ya? Somethin’ she might do if she’s in between husbands.” Lou didn’t trust Bette