"You're pretty chipper for someone out carousing all night." Marliss picked up the full mug of coffee Lou had poured, set it on the table in front of Killian, and gave him a narrow-eyed look.
He smiled. He'd tried to be as quiet as possible when he came home, but nothing escaped Marliss and Lou.
"Watching out the window, were you?" He took a fortifying sip of the dark brew.
"I'm a light sleeper." Without asking, she pulled out a chair and sat down at the table with him. "Lou and me can never sleep until all the chicks are in the barn."
Killian laughed. "I think you're mixing your metaphors a little, Marliss. And I hardly think I could be classified as a chick."
"You're Dusty's chick. That's what counts."
"Yeah? Didn't count for much for a long time, did it?"
Marliss slammed her hand
