“I don’t have a brother.” The wind blew, carrying one end of her scarf across her face. She peeled it off, frowning.
“A friend from high school?”
“No.”
He cocked his head. “A boyfriend?”
She bit down on her lip.
Brant leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Ahh. She doesn’t deny it.” He scratched his jaw. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order.”
“We’ve gone out with a few times, but he’s not a boyfriend. And it really isn’t something you need to worry about.” The word “boyfriend” sounded so juvenile when she repeated it.
“Fair enough.” He looked across the street, feeling a little embarrassed by the turn the conversation had taken. He hadn’t meant to sound sojealous.
Brant got up, stretched his hands over his head, then shoved his hands in his pockets. Layla’s eyebrows came together, but the hardness of her expression faltered. He looked down the block for a moment again. Her scrutiny made him a little nervous. It was like she was lookingthroughhim, dissecting his thoughts. That or checking him out. He held back a grin, liking the idea of that.
“My personal life aside, what are you doing here?” she finally asked.
“I came to look at a building.”
“What building?”
He glanced down at the paper he pulled from his pocket. “433 Copper Mill Road. That one?” Brant lifted his chin toward the building kitty corner to Layla’s shop.
“The old Conner Ice Company? What on earth for?”
“I’m getting kicked out of my business space. It’s condemned.”
“Well, this one isn’t far behind in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Is that a joke?”
She looked at it again. “No,” she said, pretty convincingly. “If you don’t mind pigeons for coworkers, it’s perfect. Who’s showing it to you?”
Brant looked again at his paper. “Ernie.”
“Oh.” She frowned again. “What time were you supposed to meet?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Layla finally unfroze and walked toward her shop door. “You’ll probably be waiting twenty more. Ernie is always late. If he shows at all.”
He checked the time. Jeff expected him back by five to load the truck for tomorrow. That wasn’t possible if Ernie didn’t show in the next minute or so.
“I can give him a call if you’d like. Ernie lives across the street. He’s probably looking out the window at you now.” She unlocked the shop door. “Come in.”
Brant glanced at the storefront across the street, a little paranoid at the notion of someone spying on him yet not meeting at the appointed time. “That’s not necessary. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
A doubtful looked crossed her face. “You don’t know Ernie.”
Layla unzipped her coat as she walked across the shop toward the counter. Brant rubbed his boots on the doormat that read “Good Friends and Chocolate are Always Welcome,” and was immediately hit by the scent of clove and fir trees. It was fresh, intoxicating. Shutting the door, he followed Layla.
“So where did he take you?”
The phone was at her ear as she looked back at him. “Huh?”
“The date. Where’d you go?”
