Page 60 of Falling for Brody

She should have known that it didn't have to mean anything.

But the question really was, why had she been upset about it?

Jealous of her?

She looked down at the cover of the warming dish in her hands, her lungs struggling for air.

What was going on?

"Mom?"

She felt someone tug on her arm and she turned her head to look down.

"Mom? You okay?"

She nodded and put a smile on her face. "Yes. Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Chip."

Missus Hardy stepped closer and touched her cheek with her hand. "Oh, dear. You're warm."

Rhea felt someone take the warming dish from her hands and as she looked up, hoping to take it back, she saw Rachel step back out of the way and Brody reach out for her.

He took her hand and led her inside.

Rhea turned her head to see Missus Hardy take Chip's hand in hers and pat him on the back of his hand.

"Come in." She turned and saw Brody walking her into the house. "Are you okay?"

She looked around the house and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. I don't know..." She shook her head and focused her gaze on his face. "I don't know why, but I got a little lightheaded there for a minute."

As he led her further into the house, Brody walked her down the hall instead of out onto the patio.

"Brody?" She reached her free hand back down the hallway. "Why?"

He wrapped his hand around hers and gave it a squeeze. "I'm taking you to the bathroom. We can wet a towel, and you can use it to cool off."

"Cool off?"

Her voice sounded a little odd to herself.

"I'll be fine in a moment, Brody, really."

Brody opened a door and turned the light on.

"Don't worry about it." He tipped his head toward the open door. "My mom leaves the light on during family dinners anyway. Just in case someone needs to use the bathroom during dinner."

She nodded, feeling better about it, but still.

"Here, let me help."

He put his arm around her back and led her into the bathroom, leaving his arm there as he plucked a towel from the towel rack on the wall.

"Brody, those are decorative."

He put the towel in her hand and opened the cupboard along the side of the mirror. The whole cupboard was filled from top to bottom in towels with lacy edges and pretty trim.

"My mom has even more in the hall closet. It's okay."

He turned on the water and took the towel back from her. As soon as he tested the water with the back of his hand, he put the towel under the water.

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