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Ignoring him, as usual, she ate a fry then said, “So, she’s returned from wherever she went that put Reed in such a funk.”
“You don’t know that’s the reason for his moodiness. I don’t even know that. Maybe it’s not her. I only met her once at a benefit the highway patrol was sponsoring.”
She laughed. “You’re sure. I saw the double take you did.”
Brett shrugged and picked up the second half of his club sandwich, refusing to confirm her accurate assumption while wondering if Lily would stay or leave again. Reed had only mentioned she was getting away for a while following the wake he had attended, his brother’s disgruntled tone telling him a lot. During John and Lily’s separation, Reed had mentioned the couple’s struggles and his partner’s refusal to give up on his wife. He’d gone through a similar trial in ending his marriage, but, unlike Lily, he had filed for divorce as soon as Gina revealed the depth of her greed. It hadn’t taken her long to show her true colors once they moved to Wyoming from Texas and she’d seen the extent of his inheritance firsthand.
Allie smirked at him. “Yes, you do, and so does Slade. I’ve listened to you two speculate about Reed’s feelings for her often enough.”
Their youngest brother, Slade, didn’t mind pushing Brett and Reed to pursue a relationship as long as they left him alone and out of the equation. His hypocrisy wasn’t lost on any of them.
“Speculating isn’t fact. Are you ready?” He stood and unhooked his Stetson from the back of the chair.
“Yep. Hey,” Allie said, taking his hand, “when is our next appointment at Creative Events?”
Brett groaned. “Allie, stop right there.” He lifted a hand to Lily seated at a table behind theirs before leading Allie toward the checkout. “Just because Lily worked as Trina’s assistant before leaving doesn’t mean she’s working there now, or even here to stay. Besides, we don’t have another appointment until the first of May when we have to finalize our plans. Our wedding is still two months away. Your doing, not mine.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think that one through.”
Her disgruntled tone amused Brett. She was the one who had insisted on waiting almost a year to get to know each other better when he’d proposed a scant month after they had met. He agreed with her decision as they were better suited to make this last now that they were aware of each other’s positives and negatives and accepted them without hesitation. The lingering fear from her kidnapping had rattled his thinking last year, the attempt on her life revealing how much he cared for her despite their short acquaintance and the problems his ex had been giving him to get out of their marriage.
Stopping at the register, he reminded her, “Trina, andmaybeLily, are likely busy this week preparing for the masquerade charity ball benefitting the new homeless shelter.”
Ina Henderson stepped in front of the register from behind the counter, smiling. “We’ll be there. Howard’s complaining about going as Robin Hood, but I couldn’t resist the Maid Marion dress, so he’s stuck. Here’s your pie.”
“Thank goodness for your pies, Ina. Saves me from baking. I haven’t decided on my costume yet, but Brett’s being as onery as Howard. Go ahead, tell her,” Allie insisted, giving him a poke with her elbow.
Anyone who lived or camped within a fifty-mile radius of Ina and Howard Henderson’s block-long mercantile, laundry, and restaurant had shopped or eaten here, and Ina heard all. Having hung out at the ice cream counter in the mercantile as a kid, he’d never seen a reason to keep anything from Ina. “I’m going as Don Juan.” There went his plan for complete anonymity.
“Which is cool, except I refuse to go as a lovesick follower. I want a sexy costume, like Wonder Woman.”
Ina chuckled at Allie, taking Brett’s payment. “You’ll be the odd couple. Thanks. See you there.”
“See ya, Ina.” Brett took Allie’s hand and tugged her out the doors, saying, “You did that on purpose because you don’t like my costume.”
“I sure did.”
