Page 34 of Make Her Mine
Gulping, I asked, “Why’d you do all that, Brandon?”
He took another bite of his burger and shrugged his broad shoulders. I had to look away as a flush heated my body up. I knew why he’d acted that way, and he knew why as well.
Sitting there, realizing he could’ve violated me while I was passed out, yet, he didn’t. He appreciated me. That had to be it. Brandon just respected me. It wasn’t that helikedme. Not like that.
Not having made any friends had me processing things differently. Brandon was five years older. He was all man, and no way in hell he’d be interested in a fool like myself. He was being nice to me because he liked me as a friend. Stop thinking it is anything other than that, or I’ll become a bigger schmuck than I’ve demonstrated already.
Suddenly, the redhead was unexpectedly standing beside our table. “Hi, Brandon. I didn’t get a chance to say hello last night. Clayton filled me in on what you guys are doing in Carthage.”
“And why are you here, Tiffany?” Brandon asked.
“My parents bought this fine establishment.” Her green eyes came to mine. “Hi, I’m Tiffany McKee.”
I didn’t know what to say at first, then I opened my mouth and declared, “I’m Ella Finley, their maid.”
“She’s more than that.” Brandon reached across the table and put his hand over mine. “She’s our good friend, too.”
“Is that right?” she asked crossing her arms over her ample chest. “It’s nice to meet you, Ella. We’ll probably see each other now and then since Clayton’s in town now.”
Brandon slid his hand off mine as he asked, “You two will try things out again?”
“Oh, no. No, no, no,” she protested a bit too much. “I have a kid now. You know, responsibilities and such. I can’t bring Clayton into my chaos. But we’re good friends.”
“Bring your kid out to the estate,” Brandon offered. “What child doesn’t like horses, dogs, and tons of room to run?”
“My kid.” Tiffany looked over her shoulder as another customer walked in. “I have to get to work. Mom and Dad took off already. It was nice to see you, Brandon, and to meet you, Ella.”
We both watched her as she hurried away. “Why doesn’t she want to bring her kid out to the property?”
Brandon looked at me with a knowing expression. “Probably cause the kid’s hyperactive. Her little brother, Bo, was like that. It might be the case here as well.”
To be sure she didn’t overhear me, I whispered, “Looks like Clayton dodged a bullet then, huh?”
Brandon’s laugh was so deep and sexy, it made my insides ache in a way only he could. “He may have. They were so in love back then. He probably won’t give up on her since he knows she’s here. He’s willful that way.”
“Like Dyllan?” I asked. “He’s gone to that bar every night. But last night, seeing him with that bartender told me why.”
His eyes narrowed, his lip twitched. “You’ve been noticing when Dyllan goes out?”
Dyllan left about the same time I was in my drawing room. The car lights beamed on the ceiling up there. But Brandon shouldn’t know the lame way I spend my free time. “I’ve noticed him leaving, yes.”
“Why’s that?” His eyes flickered. That’s interesting!
“I’m just near a window when he goes is all.” Deep in his eyes it looked as if he was exhibiting a bit of jealousy. “I don’t like him like that, Brandon.”
He jerked his head to one side. “I never claimed you did.”
“Okay.” Things had gone in a weird direction, so we should halt it. “Do you think ice cream would be okay to eat?”
“Yeah, I do.” He got up and took our empty food baskets then went to the counter.
I got up and tossed my empty cup in the trash, then went to stand next to him. “I like strawberry ice cream.”
“Noted.” He sighed, then looked down at me. “Would you like to take a walk while we eat our cones?”
A stroll? Now?
“Okay.” Maybe he just wanted to walk off the junk food? The man kept himself in tip-top shape. Long walks after scarfing down fast food had to be something he’s always done.
