Page 76 of Falling for Brody

If there was someone around, everything was professional.

In private, where no one could see them?

He'd touch her.

The back of his hand across her cheek.

A kiss against the back of her neck.

And off hours?

He was coming around the house, spending time with Chip. With her.

The only hitch in it was Bea's watchful eye.

She didn't say anything or demand answers, but Rhea had the feeling that she already knew what was going on.

She just chose to remain quiet about it.

That went on for weeks and weeks before things changed again.

* * *

Finishingup a call at the Gennesy house, Brody headed the rig into town thinking to head to The Sweet Tooth for a snack, but as they headed past the Post Office Silas Warren flagged them down, waving his baseball cap over his head.

Thinking something was up, Brody pulled in along the curb and they both got out.

"Morning, Silas."

Silas put his cap back on and gave them a nod. "I was hoping you two would be driving by and save me the trouble of tracking you down.

Rhea frowned at him, giving Silas the once over. "What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

Silas pulled up his spine a little straighter with a bit of bluster. "Of course I'm feeling okay! I'm as healthy as a horse."

He lifted his chin at Brody as if to prove a point.

Arthur Lever sat back in his chair, the straps of his overalls loosening with his movement. "I've seen some pretty sad lookin' horses in my time, Silas."

Silas turned his head toward his friend, giving him a hard look. "Nobody asked you."

Otto took a sip of his coffee and beamed at Rhea. "Does that mean he's asking me?"

Rhea reached out and put her hand on Otto's shoulder. "I'm not all that sure at the moment."

"Hey, I'm the one who waved you two over here."

Brody saw the way Rhea reacted to Silas' grumbling.

She wasn't shaken at all. She smiled and looked at the older man with a sweet look. "What can we help with?"

Silas shook his head. "More like I'm helping you, young lady."

Rhea's cheeks flushed with color.

Anytime someone called her young she looked like she couldn't quite believe it. This age thing was a chore. He didn't care. Rhea was still waiting for the matter to 'settle in' to his brain as if he wasn't able to understand that she had a few years on him.

Years that he couldn't care less about, but she obviously did, since she kept bringing it up.

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