“Well, there’s a few places that would work on short notice. You can go the traditional route of a club.”
“Sure, but no strippers or anything. Branson would hate that.”
“Okay, so drinking and dancing is one option. Or something more casual, like a pool hall or sports bar. Some guys like to do paintball or camping?—”
“Actually, a pool hall would be perfect.”
“Really? I figured you’d go for something more outdoorsy.”
He chuckled. “That would be fun, too. We’ve done our share of that. But we used to go to this pool hall back home a lot. He met Caitlyn there. I think it would be the perfect place.” He hesitated. “Unless you think that’s too mundane?”
“It was my suggestion. There’s a place in Riverton, a little rough around the edges, or we could go all the way to Omaha for something a bit more polished.”
“Darlin, we can handle rough,” he said with a wink that made my pulse jump.
I hadn’t really hadroughBryson, but I wouldn’t mind finding out what that was like. I willed my libido to take a back seat. I needed to keep this work dinner all work. We were already blurring the lines too much.
“Okay, I’ll make some calls. See if we can reserve some tables. If you’re up for a party limo, you could drink on the way there and back.”
“That sounds fun.”
“Oh!” I grinned. “There’s also a sex store next door if you want to have a little fun at Branson’s expense.”
Bryson laughed. “Oh, you’re a genius.”
“I have my moments.”
“More than just moments,” he said, holding my gaze. “I really appreciate you. You’ve made this wedding so much easier for Caitlyn and Branson.”
“So have you,” I said. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed all the times you stepped in for your brother.”
“Oh, well, that was mostly to get close to you,” he said with a sheepish smile.
“Maybe some of the time. But you don’t fool me. You’d do anything for him.”
“I guess I would,” he said simply. “Caitlyn too. When I love, I love hard. It’s just who I am.”
“They’re lucky to have you,” I said softly.
“You know, a lot of people would count themselves lucky to have you too, Sy. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
This was edging into dangerous territory.
“So, I’ll get back to you after I’ve made some calls, then,” I said to redirect us back to safe waters. “As for Percy, we better give him something else to do or he’ll never let it go.”
“Like what?” Bryson asked.
“Good question.”
Lacy returned with our food, and we brainstormed while we ate. For the rest of the meal, I kept us relentlessly focused on the topic of wedding planning. When the check came, Bryson sat back with a sigh.
“I’m too stuffed to move.”
“Does that mean I shouldn’t come over?”
“Oh, you’re coming over,” he said, a spark of challenge in his eyes. “We’ve both earned it after all that talk about Percy.”
I laughed. “We really have.”
