Her cheeks lit up to match her dress. “You’re infuriating. You know that, right?”
He knew, but his smile stayed in place despite the flashback of the last time someone had pointed out his failings with those exact words. He hadn’t needed his brother’s insights to know that his family didn’t think much of him.
“Just like you know you’re beautiful when you blush, right?” His compliment seemed to throw her off-kilter. Hard to imagine that she wasn’t used to being complimented, but that she wasn’t was apparent. He’d correct that for however long he was in Pine Hill.
She paused, frowned, then sucked in a deep breath. “Don’t flatter me with your smarm.”
“Lackluster smarm,” he reminded, eyeing how her knuckles white-gripped the steering wheel.
“Yes, that.” She stared straight ahead at the road cutting its way through the rolling hills dotted with cattle, horses, and the occasional farmhouse. “Lackluster. Totally and completely. Lackluster. That’s you.”
The corner of his mouth hiked up. “Keep telling yourself that, Blondie, but we both know I’m growing on you.”
“Like a fungus.”
He chuckled, loving her quick wit. “Fungi serve their purpose. Let’s talk about mine. Prepare me for what to expect when we get to Harvey Farm. What exactly is a couple’s shower?”
The car rolled to a stop at a four-way, and she twisted toward him. “First, I have a question.”
“Fire away.”
Her blue eyes pinned him. “Why did you ask me to pick you up from Hamilton House when Bodie and Sarah will be attending the shower?”
He’d known she’d eventually ask. She was too sharp not to.
“They meant to swing by to pick me up after church before driving to Harvey Farms to assist with decorations. They got hung up at church with something Sarah’s father asked her to help him with.” He shrugged. “When they were already running behind, swinging by for me was going to put them in more of a time crunch, so I offered to have you pick me up.”
She considered him for a few moments. “What if I’d said no?”
“You didn’t.” He gestured to her rearview mirror, pointing out the pickup truck that was barreling their way. “We should get to moving.”
Putting on her signal, she turned the car left. Once they were moving along the paved two-lane road, she asked, “How did you get to Hamilton House?”
“Bodie picked me up at the airport. He assured me that it didn’t make sense to rent a car while I was staying with him and Sarah.”Since Zach wasn’t supposed to be driving.
“Oh,” she mused. “That does make sense.”
His answers were all true, but guilt riddled him that he kept the biggest truth from Isabelle. He had to go thirty days without aspellbefore his neurologist would clear him to drive. Then it would be basic vehicles only and no planes, helicopters, or heavy equipment until he’d gone a full six months.
“Now it’s your turn.” He redirected their conversation to his earlier question. “Brief me. Who is going to be at this shower, and what do I need to know?”
Her nose curled at hisbrief me. “It’s a wedding shower for Cole and Sophie being given by the Butterflies to where everyone is invited, men and women. As far as what to expect? With those ladies, your guess is as good as mine. They know no limits. If you’d been here last Christmas for Rosie and Lou’s wedding, you’d understand what I mean.” She sighed. “I love them, but that doesn’t mean I’m not upset over their matchmaking after we got back from our business meeting.”
“Romantic Christmas picnic,” he corrected. “Remember that you’re supposed to be welcoming their matchmaking as you’re incapable of resisting me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just so long as you remember to keep your hands to yourself.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He held up his hands.
“And your lips. Don’t think that I’m letting you off the hook for that icky stunt you pulled in the quilt shop yesterday.”
“I never dreamed that you would.” Awful and now icky? He’d never had his kisses called that before. At least, not to his face. Not that his peck on her cheek had been much of a kiss, but no guy wanted his affections classified asawfulandicky.
“What was that, anyway?” She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel.
“A lethal silencer.” As simple as the peck had been, he’d replayed it in his mind dozens of times. He’d acted on instinct and usually trusted his instinct implicitly. With Isabelle, he was in unknown territory.
Her gaze cut toward him.
