Page 22 of Beat of Love
Brandy snorted at her unintended but accurate pun, shut off the water, and stepped out of the glass enclosure.
*
It was quiet during the twenty-minute drive from the ranch to town. Brandy-Lyn risked a glance in the rearview mirror. Both girls sat in the back, their arms folded, bodies turned away fromeach other, staring out of their respective windows. Neither were speaking to her. Amelia had lost her driving privileges for a week, and Olivia’s cellphone was in Brandy’s bedside drawer for the same period. Preston rode shotgun, playing it safe by not uttering a word. Neither of the girls bothered with a goodbye, slamming their doors as they scrambled out at school. Preston gave her a “Later,” and left to join his group of friends.
“Love y’all,” she called out after the trio. Only her boy acknowledged.
Brandy exhaled a beleaguered sigh. Parenting washard.
And deserving of a pick-me-up.
She glanced at the dash. Already late. Then chided herself. Why worry if she were ten minutes late? She was the boss. Mouth already watering, she pulled away and headed to Main Street.
As usual, she battled for parking close to the popular bakery, heightening her disgruntled disposition, and when she finally walked in, she was in amood. Fortunately for the rest of humanity, Jeanie was in the process of sliding a tray of chocolate éclairs into the display cabinet. There were three people in line before her. So long as they didn’t buy up the creamy treats, she might survive the day yet.
“Who are you plotting to kill?” a deep voice asked from beside her.
“Aaah!”
Heads turned at her scream.
“My bad,” the man said, his grin unrepentant.
Hands to chest, she scolded, “Stanislaw Novak, you scared ten years off my life.” She narrowed her eyes. “Lucky for the people in line before me, you’ve just jumped to the top of my hit list.”
“Now, now, Brandy, my boss won’t be happy if you eliminate me.”
“I’ll take on the entire KS team if it means getting my fix of éclairs today.” Stas was a member of King Security, a bona fide hostage rescue operator. And a very attractive man. He’d asked her out a couple times, but she had turned him down.
He grinned and called out to the person responsible for the extra padding on her ass. “Jeanie! A dozen éclairs for Brandy.”
Jeanie flashed a smile and called back, “How about adding a packet of chocolate macarons?”
“Macarons?” Brandy asked, salivating.
“Baked last night.”
“Yes!”
Stas chuckled. “I guess you like macarons.”
“Chocolatemacarons.” Brandy stepped forward in the line, Stas beside her. She gave the man closer scrutiny. He was tall, strong, extremely attractive. Available. Nice. But he didn’t make her pulse race. And his eyes were light brown, not vivid blue.Gah. Life was so unfair.
“Uh, uh.There’s the frown again.”
An idea popped into her head and before she talked herself out of it, she blurted, “Stas, what are you doing Friday night?”
His eyes widened. “Nothing.” A smile formed. “What do you have in mind?”
6
Best friends
Lawson’s Landing, mid-September
Rafferty loosened the twine that held the fragrant roses together. It fluttered to the rocks edging the tributary, one end lapping the water. Water soaked the hemp, dragging it into the fast-flowing stream. He watched until the tie disappeared farther along before casting his eyes to the cloudless sky. The pale blue reminded him of Charlie’s eyes. “Guess you’re not happy with me right now.”
He gave a bittersweet laugh, his vision blurring.
