Seven Day Fiance: A Love and Games Novel (Entangled Bliss) by Rachel Harris

and the tiny dynamo holding court on the church pew would always be Mama. And the salt-and-pepper lovable grump beside her would always be Daddy. When she turned, he stood and pulled her into his strong, Old Spice–scented arms. Angie blinked back tears. Why had she stayed away for so long?
    Reining in her emotions, knowing everyone was watching, she nodded toward the sea of faces scattered around the yard. “Did you declare my homecoming a town holiday? Because if not, I think some of your good people are playing hooky.”
    The beloved mayor puffed up his chest, but she caught the twinkle in his eyes. “Don’t you talk about my constituents, petite fille . These good people missed you, yeah.” He looked away and cleared his throat. “So have we.”
    Seeing the solid, stoic man get sentimental nearly broke the dam on those tears she’d blinked back. “I missed you, too, Daddy.”
    They stared at each other for a long moment, him tight-lipped and nodding, her losing the war on her emotions. Luckily, a familiar voice cut in saying, “Little Red, ain’t nobody was missing this show.”
    Angelle spun around with a squeal, causing her gathered aunts, uncles, and cousins to laugh as she raced forward. Lacey Sonnier, her blond-haired pixie other half, hopped off the porch railing. Growing up, they’d been thick as thieves, spying on their brothers, telling tales in the stables. Their marathon phone sessions grew less frequent after the first few months in Magnolia Springs, and a punch of regret hit Angie’s chest for not keeping in better touch.
    Wrapping her in an enthusiastic hug, Lacey twirled her around, plopped her back on the ground, and announced, “Our Cracklin Queen’s returned!”
    With only a slight wince—she was mostly used to her cousin’s antics by now—Angelle rolled her eyes. “And ready to pass along the title,” she muttered with a laugh. She had nothing against the honor, other than the requirement of eating her weight in fried pork fat. It just felt like one more tie to the old Angie. The girl she was trying so hard to leave behind.
    Lacey grinned. “Honestly, Little Red, you didn’t think you could sneak back and not stir up the phone tree, now did you? You’re the hottest piece of gossip this town’s seen in years, and everybody wants in on it.” A heavy footfall came from the steps, and her blond eyebrows flew toward her hairline. The buzz of conversation around them ceased. “Especially when the gossip looks like that .”
    Angelle couldn’t believe it. Just that fast, the enormous lie she’d told had slipped her mind. Memories of her and Lacey pranking their older brothers had swept her away so completely that she’d blanked on all the reasons she was here. This wasn’t a simple family reunion. She was a woman on a mission. A mission to prove how fabulous she was doing on her own, and convince her hometown that quiet little Angie had somehow landed the sexy beast standing behind her.
    Lacey muttered a string of naughty curses under her breath, utilizing the words holy and hot in ways that made Angelle blush. Or maybe that was the man himself. She turned to smile at her so-called betrothed, and her breath stuttered.
    Holy boudin balls, is right.
    There was no denying that Cane was scrumptious—and completely out of his element on her family’s weather-beaten porch. There wasn’t one thing that she could point to and say, that’s what targets him as a city boy. It was everything put together.
    It was just Cane.
    From his sexy, disheveled hair (sans ball cap), to his stubbled jaw and lack of cowboy boots, Cane screamed city. Add in the trademark battered black leather jacket draped over his thick forearm, and you had the epitome of an outsider. Sure, his casual outfit was common enough, but the way Cane wore it made all the difference.
    Dark wash jeans rode low on his trim hips. Black cotton hugged the defined muscles of his chest and arms. He held out a large, calloused hand,