Jerry slowed his stride and began the cool down portion of his morning run. His thoughts had turned again and again to the petite woman that he had held in his arms the night before. Even in his dreams she had been with him. And now, as he was ending his run, he was continuing to think of her.

Instead of ending up headed back toward his condo, he was going to make a stop at Needham's Market because he needed to pick up something to take with him when he met her parents. He wanted to do everything he could to make a good impression.

The small store was a friendly hub which connected a few of New Haven's newer neighborhoods with one of the older ones. Unlike the larger mega stores that seemed to be popping up everywhere, Needham had a very personal touch. Mr. and Mrs. Needham knew the names of everyone who came to the store regularly.

Jerry wasn't really all that regular - between all the women he called family, he didn't find that he had much opportunity to do any serious grocery shopping. He only ran in for the occasional item. However, he still managed to be on a name basis with the couple as he seemed to always manage to get to know people who wanted to be known. He had never really question that about himself, having simply figured that he just liked people. He hoped that worked in his favor when he met the Storm's.

Having completed his cool down, he strolled the long way around the parking lot, allowing the cool morning air to rid him of the remnants of perspiration clinging to his body.

Moving through the front door of the market, he waved a friendly greeting to Mr. Needham was busy with a customer at the service counter, and continued on toward the back in search of the female Needham. He was hoping that she might offer some suggestions from the items she had available.

He weaved his way through the isles and other morning customers, speaking to those he knew, before finally finding her near the meat/seafood counter. He came to a surprised halt when he saw her on the customer side of the counter, gesturing in her familiar manner, as she instructed a customer on the proper preparation of some cut of meat or other. It wasn't the activity that he found her involved in that surprised him. It was the customer that she was instructing. One Steven Storm, Kimbra's cop brother. And he was listening intently to what the diminutive middle-aged woman had to say.

Jerry's first instinct was to back away -- far way. He wasn't exactly looking forward to another "coincidental" encounter with the man. But then he stopped himself. If he was to have anything approaching the relationship he wanted to have with Kim, he was going to have to deal with Steven on some level. He just wasn't sure then was the time for testing what that level was going to be.

Deciding to go find something else to occupy his time until Mrs. Needham was free, he turned away to go back the way he had come.

A raised voice caused him to freeze to the spot as Mrs. Needham herself noticed him and called attention to his presence. "Jerry! Good Morning. Are you waiting to speak with me?"

Jerry turned and smiled. "Good morning, Mrs. Needham," Jerry said, then turned toward Kimbra's brother. "And you, too. I didn't want to interrupt. I can come back later." Please let me leave and come back later, he thought.

Steven didn't look very happy to see him. The wariness in the other man's gaze was all the confirmation Jerry needed to know that things hadn't really changed between them.

Mrs. Needham looked between the two of them, a curious frown marring her brow. The frown deepened as Steven responded to Jerry's good morning a beat too late.

"Good morning, Jerry. "

"So you two know one another?" Mrs. Needham asked.

"We've met," Jerry spoke up. "Several times, actually," he added and pointed back in the opposite direction. "I'm going to hit the pasty counter to check out your samples. I'll be back in a little bit."

"Okay, Jerry. I will look for you there." The woman smiled and went back to her task.

Jerry breathed a sigh of relief, until he heard the next thing she said to Steven Storm.

"What is going on between you two? A person would think that you were fighting over a woman. . . Tell me Steven. Or will I have to call your mother and ask her?"

Jerry groaned internally. This was not good. If he hadn't all but told her that he would wait for her at the pastry counter, he might have left the store and tagged Joan to make something for him.

He didn't have long to wait. And Mrs. Needham wasn't the one who showed up. It was Steven. He watched the other man approach, not sure if he should extend a hand, or search for the nearest safe exit.

Steven came to a stop in front of him. "Mrs. Needham is a good judge of character. She seems to think very highly of you."

Jerry felt a faint glimmer of hope that this might not turn out badly. "She's a wonderful lady. Always trying to teach me how to cook."

Steven nodded, and the beginnings of a genuine smile started at the corner of his mouth. Jerry wasn't sure how that was possible. "She's great. But she's got claws, too. She and my mother have been friends since before I can remember."

Jerry smiled, trying to imagine what Mrs. Storm might be like. He was sure that Mrs. Needham and Helene Dumas didn't travel in the same circles. Having pursued a modeling career overseas in her native France for much of his early childhood, Jerry knew that Helene had no intention of becoming domestic. Although, his mother and Jasmine's mother got along famously. It might be time to rethink Helene.

"That must have made things interesting," Jerry ventured.

Steven did laugh then. "You have no idea." He then quickly sobered. "Just because I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt doesn't mean that I'm not paying attention."

Jerry's smile faded, but then he caught the teasing glint in Steven's eyes and the smile returned. "You are brutal," he said. "I've never had a younger sister, so I've never had the pleasure. I guess I’m just going to have to wait until I have children of my own. And then there's my niece. I'll be certain to terrorize any young men who come around."

"Unless you've experienced it, there is no way to explain the way a guy feels about his little sister."

Jerry became very serious. "I want you to know that my intentions are honorable toward Kimbra. I don't know how to prove that to you except to show you by my actions."

"You haven't done so badly so far," Steven replied. "Even after I gave you a hard time, and she told you that there could be nothing between the two of you, you stuck around. Most guys would have moved on to greener pastures."

"She's been a good friend," Jerry said, thinking it wasn't exactly the right time to tell him just how close a relationship he wanted with his sister. "But you should know that she invited me to your parent's today."

Steven looked surprised. "She did?"

Jerry felt a sliver of doubt. "Is that going to be a problem?" he asked.

"No," Steven assured him. "She's just never done that before." He frowned thoughtfully. Then, "Listen, I need to get going. I'll see you later on at my folk's place. " He turned away and walked off. The frown never leaving his face.

The doubt in Jerry's heart grew. Something about the fact that he was going to be at his parent's house that night seemed to have struck a nerve. Jerry wasn't sure what that meant. And before he could ponder the matter, Mrs. Needham appeared, a knowing smile stretched across her face.

ch 17