Page 18 of Nothing to Fear

Others chatted among themselves while the food was being served.

“So I should be honored?” she asked.

“I don’t know what we’re having. Maybe. You allergic to anything?”

“No.”

“Vegetarian? Vegan? A lifestyle diet?”

“No.”

“I’ll keep you right.”

You know, it was curious.

She tried to look deeper. “There’s something about you.”

“That you can’t resist? Don’t fight it, Cherry.”

“No, it’s… I don’t know, I can’t figure it out.”

“Then you should stick close, wait ‘til it comes to you.”

And some part of her wanted to reach out. To touch, like contact might solve the riddle.

“How many women are you seeing right now?” she asked.

“Only you.”

“We’re not seeing each other.”

“Yet.”

Just the idea that he’d be so eager, so interested… What was she missing? Something… She couldn’t figure it out.

“You and your brothers can have anything you want.”

“I’d appreciate it if you kept that offer exclusive,” he said. “Some of my brothers are young and others aren’t that nice.”

“And your sisters?”

“Don’t have any of those.”

Only boys. Interesting.

“How many of you are there?” she asked, leaning back to allow a server to put soup in front of her.

Darroch poured wine for them both. “Only one of me.”

“Breckenridge boys,” she said. “How many brothers are there?”

“Sixteen.”

Her hand stopped midway to the spoon.

After a beat, restraint bolted, and her surprise flew to him. “Sixteen?”

A laugh from further up the table betrayed her lack of subtlety.

---