“You got it from Rory, right?” He shook the tie, and Brandon took it. Yes, he’d gotten it for his birthday last year from Aurora Walker, Oliver’s wife. She did have a way with a sewing machine and old clothing, and he looked down at the classic paisley pattern with wide stitches—a testament of yesteryear—that had been sewn into a skinny tie that mirrored today’s fashions.
He looped it around his neck and faced the mirror. The tie looked great, and he let his hands drop to his side as Dawson joined him. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Brandon knew he’d tell his brother everything whether he wanted to or not.
“Fine, Lenore is really pretty.”
Dawson grinned at him. “I’m sure she is.”
“She’s the woman I met in the hardware store a few months ago.” He turned away from his reflection and moved to pick up the polo. “But I’m still not dating right now.”
“No, you’re going to work for her.”
“Yeah,” Brandon said. “That’s all this is. I work with pretty people all the time.” He grinned at his brother. “I mean, you and Duke are practically models.”
Dawson burst out laughing, and Brandon led the way out of his bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen. He grabbed his wallet and grinned at his brother. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Ain’t no thing,” Dawson said. “Now we can sit in the back.” He smiled at Brandon and headed for the front door.
All Brandon needed now was his keys, and he swiped them from the hook beside the fridge, ready to go. But he didn’t go. He stood there in his quiet cabin and took a deep breath. Today felt important somehow, and Brandon didn’t want to miss something crucial.
“Well, you will standin’ here,” he told himself, and that got him over to the couch, where he kept Dumpling’s bed. “Hey, buddy, I’ve got to go.” He leaned down and stroked his big cowboy hand down the orange tabby cat’s back.
The cat purred and rolled so Brandon would rub his belly, which he did. “I’ll be back later.” And with that, he faced the front door and took the first step toward what he hoped was going to be a great Sabbath Day, from the sermon to the meal afterward.
4
Lenore saw Brandon pull into a parking space through the window of the restaurant, the same nerves that had made her leave the homestead too early now making her clutch the manila folder in a fist.
He didn’t hesitate as he dropped from behind the wheel, slammed the door, and stepped onto the sidewalk. Lenore’s pulse grew wings and fluttered through her whole body. She ducked her head away from the window, as if trying to hide from him—which was absolutely ridiculous, because she’d come here specifically to meet him.
The windows were tinted, and she knew he couldn’t see in. So she looked up again and watched him as he walked down the sidewalk with strong, sure steps. She wondered what it would be like to feel that level of confidence all the time. With a shaking hand, she reached for her coffee cup just as the waitress approached.
“Still waiting for your date?” she asked.
Lenore looked up at the pretty blonde. “It’s not a date,” she said.
The waitress’s eyebrows went up, and when Lenore set her coffee cup on the table, the woman refilled it. “All right,” she said. “You let me know when you’re ready to order.”
“Thank you,” Lenore said, wishing she could recall the snappy words about her meeting with Brandon not being a date.
She could admit that she’d thought about it being a date a time or two. Fine—maybe ten. But every time, she’d sternly reminded herself that this was a business meeting. They simply happened to be eating lunch at the same time.
“Yep, that’s her,” Brandon said, and Lenore’s attention swooped to him.
Unfortunately, so did the waitress’s. Her head swiveled toward Brandon, then immediately snapped back to Lenore.
“You’re going out with Brandon Rhinehart?” she hissed, the words slithering out underneath the waitress’s breath.
Hadn’t Lenore already said itwasn’ta date?
“He isgorgeous,” the waitress said, leaning in closer. “Charming. But, girl, you need to?—”
“Hey,” Brandon said, interrupting her.
The waitress fell back a step, and Lenore noticed the mega-watt smile on her face.
Brandon looked at her, his demeanor fading rapidly. “Oh, hey, Jane.”
He slid into the booth, electricity crackling in the air now. Lenore wasn’t sure if it was between her and him, or between Jane and him, or if it all simply originated from Brandon Rhinehart himself. The man was magnetic, and Jane had spoken true.
