But then Mrs. Needham had told him a thing or two. Her high regard made him take a second look. That and the threat to go to his mother. That had spoken more loudly than any argument his 'little' sister could have ever made.

After having spent a day with his family and Jerry, he was reluctant to admit that he liked the guy. If he was as he appeared, he would be a good match for Kim. Steven hadn't been able to detect a single false moment with the other man all day, and he'd looked. Hard. He was forced to concede the fact that he'd jumped to conclusions early on and that his own protectiveness had prevented him from truly giving Jerry a chance. He meant to make up for that. Well, in his own way.

He headed back out toward the back yard. Kim and Jerry would have to appear from that direction sooner or later. He shook his head and released a soft laugh. Why was it so difficult for him to let his sister grow up and have a normal adult relationship with a man? The answer when it came to him didn't make it all that much easier to accept. But it gave him something to work with.

When he'd left for college, Kimbra had been so young, just beginning her foray into young womanhood. And then, she'd left for college and gotten a job away from home. In his mind's eye, she'd made a leap from little girl to woman right before his eyes.

Before he could ruminate any longer, the subjects of his thoughts appeared just where he'd expected to see them. They were walking closely together, one of Jerry's arms looped around Kim's shoulder and Kim's arm around Jerry's waist. They moved slightly apart as they approached him, but Steven wasn't so blind that he didn't notice the looks in their eyes or sense the charged atmosphere near them.

He smiled at Kim and looked at Jerry. "Could I have a word?" he asked. He almost laughed at the look that passed between the two younger people. "I promise it's nothing horrible. Just a little man to man."

Kim made a mock disgusted sound. "I'll go see if mom needs any help." She pointed a finger at him. "Remember, she can take you."

Steven watched Jerry watching her go.

"I'm probably a brother's worse nightmare," he admitted, turning back to face him as they headed across the yard toward the basketball hoop.

"Yeah, you were. But that changed a bit. I just wanted to clear the air." Steven reached down and grabbed up the basketball where it lay near the metal pole which supported the goal. Turning, he bounced the ball to Jerry.

"Is this the 'you hurt-a my sistah, I'll break-a your face?' discussion?" Jerry asked, taking a shot from the imaginary goal line. The ball sank neatly through the rim, disturbing on the net.

"Not exactly." He couldn't help but chuckle a little as he caught the ball and bounced it back to Jerry. "But the sentiment goes without saying," he added as the other man took aim for his next shot.

The ball bounced off the backboard.

"Thanks," Jerry murmured insincerely.

"You're welcome." Steven grinned, his comment equally insincere, as he exchanged places with the younger man, moving out from the goal. After a couple of dribbles, he took aim.

"I'm in love with her, you know."

Steven's ball missed the basket altogether.

Jerry grinned wickedly at him as he retrieved the ball, and moved back out to the court to take a shot. "One good turn deserves another," he said, laughing.

Steven laughed, too. Then moved in as Jerry began to dribble, attempting to steal the ball. From there, the game of one on one was on. They were both laughing and breathing heavily when by mutual consent they decided to take a break.

"You're not half bad," Steven found himself complimenting Jerry. "Interested in a pick-up game next weekend? We met up at Southside around 2:30."

"How about I let you know?" Jerry asked. "The last game of the season is next weekend."

"Oh, that's right. I forgot about that. I hate I wasn't able to help her with the team. I guess it's a good thing you were there. I heard the other coach isn't very reliable."

Jerry frowned a bit, then shook his head. "Nah, he's not. But he's been there a lot more lately than he used to be." There was a pause as he glanced toward the house, then stared off the in the distance.

Steven watched and waited. His instincts to him that there was something more coming, but he waited for Jerry to make up his mind to tell him. He didn’t have to wait long.

"The other coach's name is Ray Santucci. I kind of have a bad feeling about him. I wouldn't be surprised if he was up to something illegal."

Steven frowned, taken aback. That wasn't what he had been expecting at all. "Are you sure about that Jerry. Have you seen something? Do you need to make an official statement?"

Jerry seemed very uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. "Uh. . . I don't want to get him in trouble if it's really nothing. It's just. . . there's a guy friend of his who is always hanging around, way in the background. I've seen them passing something between the two of them. I just have a feeling he's hiding something. I don't like him being around the kids. "

Steven blew out a sigh and thought about it. "What exactly is it that you want me to do, Jerry?"

"I don't know." He shook his head and started toward the house. "Look, just forget about it. It's probably just my imagination. If it still bothers me Saturday, I'll just ask him point blank. I mean, it's the last game anyway. The worse he can do is quit."

Steven grabbed his arm to stop him. "I'd never tell anyone not to listen to his or her instincts. Why don't I dig around a little bit, just to make sure everything is okay. How's that?"

Jerry nodded, visibly relieved. "Okay. Thanks Steve."

"Sure."

"It's kind of cool having a cop in your pocket," Jerry joked as they headed across the yard together.

"Hey, don't press your luck kid."

*

Kim bumped the door of her apartment closed with her hip after Jerry passed through it carrying the bulk of the food containers that her mother had insisted she take. "Apparently Mom is convinced that I'll starve if she doesn't load me up on food every weekend."

Jerry glanced back at her as she followed him into the kitchen and unloaded her own sacks on the counter. "Try being a guy. Every older woman I know is trying to feed me. My sister, Julia, is extremely jealous. Joan is always trying to teach her how to cook. It's sort of a running joke when she and Helene are home."

"I don't think I could get used to calling my mother by her name." Kim said, leaning against the counter.

Jerry shrugged, and settled an arm on each side of her. "It's always been that way," he said, leaning in closer. "We don't mind it. And she doesn't seem to mind if we call her mother from time to time."

Kim looked up into his eyes and promptly lost her train of thought. She could feel the heat emanating off his body, and it caused her own temperature to rise several degrees in reaction.

"I had a wonderful time today," he whispered, moving his face closer to hers, his gaze drifting from her eyes to her lips then back to her eyes.

"So did I," she whispered back, feeling slightly breathless. She knew that he was going to kiss her, and her lips remained slightly parted in anticipation. Her heart rate quickened, and every so slightly, he head begin to spin.

"I'm glad." Jerry moved minutely closer, but still didn't touch her. A bit of smile teased at one corner of his lips. He was enjoying the moment. "We're going to have to do it again."

"Umm hmm," Kim agreed, moving up on her tip toes and deliberately leaning into him. His heads moved upward to her neck and his lips moved down to hers. The sparks ignited between them and she lost herself in the kiss. It was the extremely unwelcome ringing at the phone directly beside them that drew them apart.

A dazed glance at the caller ID revealed that it was Steven calling on his cellular phone. She was half-tempted to ignore it and lose herself again in Jerry's arms, but something stopped her. With an apologetic look, she drew a little away from Jerry and picked up the phone.

"Yeah Steven? This better be good."

"I won't ask," Steven responded. "Put Jerry on, would you sis? I know he's there."

Kim frowned and looked up at Jerry. "It's for you." She handed over the received and moved to the other side of the room.