And one hundred percent guilt that some of his brothers and sisters had died that day.
“That’s tough. Glad you made it.” Cole’s gaze dropped to the bag Zach held. “You planning to get a pet?”
Zach shook his head. “It’s for Bobbin.”
Cole laughed. “That cat has a way of growing on you. I’m not sure they’ve officially discussed who gets him after the wedding. Although I wouldn’t mind having a good mouser for the barn and she sure loves that cat, I suspect Sophie will leave him with Isabelle.”
“If Sophie wanted the cat, Isabelle would tie a bow around his neck and insist she take him.”
Cole nodded. “She would, but Sophie is no pushover. When she makes up her mind on something, she’s as stubborn as they get.” Cole grinned as if a particular memory of that stubbornness was hitting. “Most tenacious woman I’ve ever met.”
“Obviously runs in the family.”
“Yup. Thanks for helping me carry in the tree last night. The ladies and I could have gotten it in, but since Sophie wanted the tallest one that would still fit in the house, it sure was nice having you there.” Cole glanced at his watch. “I’m taking her to Lou’s for dinner and then to the farm to decorate our tree. She insisted we get one for both places. You and Isabelle want to join us? No tree carrying required as Ben helped me lug ours into the house yesterday morning.”
Was this what normal people did in small towns? Talk and go visit with each other? Dinners with his family had always had an agenda and been more about future business deals and social status than comradery.
“We got distracted with looking at the photo albums last night and then with the tree decorating. We never got to my lesson. I’m meeting her at the shop at six. I thought I’d order pizza.”
Not that he was positive Isabelle knew about his pending arrival or would agree to dinner during his lesson.
“Better watch or Sophie will have you joining her quilting group. She hasn’t gotten me to sewing, but I help with her events. You must have really impressed Isabelle for her to have shared family photos.”
“She was going to show me a photo of her father, but we never made it to the older albums.” He glanced toward Cole, wondering if he knew anything of Cliff Davis’s whereabouts. “Does Sophie mention him?”
“Occasionally. More lately than in the past.” He shrugged. “With the wedding, it’s normal for her to bring him up more frequently.”
“What does she say?”
“That she wishes she could tell him how much she misses him and wants him to come home.” Cole glanced toward him, his pale-blue eyes piercing in a way that made Zach wonder if the man knew there was more to his questions than idle curiosity. Or maybe the look was because of his next comment. “That’s not how Isabelle feels. I thought she and Sophie were going to fall out because of my military background when we first got together.”
“She’s very protective of Sophie.”
“So am I.” Cole’s gaze held a warning. “Of Sophie and Isabelle. I’d never allow anyone to hurt them.”
“I understand,” Zach assured, not sure if Cole referred specifically to him or to Cliff Davis. “I feel the same.”
Cole’s expression remained serious a moment. Then he gestured to the Paw Parties, Inc. bag. “It’s going to take a lot more than whatever is in that bag to win over Isabelle.”
“Got any advice on what might?”
Cole shook his head. “What worked for me isn’t going to do a thing for you.”
“Which was?” Zach asked, curious.
Cole grinned. “Fall head over heels in love with her sister.”
“Yeah, I’ll leave that one to you. Falling in love isn’t for me.”
“No?” Cole eyed him a moment, then laughed. “Good luck with that. The Davis women have a way of getting to you.”
That they did.
*
“Hey, Blondie, readyto teach me all you know?”
From where she stood at the counter with Sophie, Isabelle turned to face the man she had such mixed emotions on seeing. Standing next to her future brother-in-law, Zach wore well-worn jeans and a plain white T-shirt rather than his usual army one. Did the man not own a coat? Not that it was that chilly outside with the lows only dropping to the mid-fifties, but still, couldn’t he cover those biceps? When their gazes met, he grinned. Oh, heavens, how his crooked smile and that dimple in his left cheek sent her stomach into quivers.
