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“She doesn’t understand what you’re up against.”
She nodded and, again, he felt the compulsion to touch her, to draw her close. Instead, he said, “Why don’t we eat? You’ve done a lot of work here and dinner looks incredible.”
“Okay.” She gestured at the bread. “Can you grab that?”
Brant ate so much that Talulah couldn’t help teasing him about it. “Jeez. If you ever come over again, I’ll have to make you your own pan of lasagna,” she said as he finished off a second giant helping.
He flashed her a heart-stopping smile. “I might not get another invitation, so I’m making the most of this one.”
“You think I should invite you back?” she asked in surprise. She hadn’t been able to eat much herself. She was too busy fighting her attraction to him.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m trying to keep us out of trouble!”
“It’s too late for that.” Putting down his fork, he pushed the empty plate away. “Hopefully, the Gerharts will judge me on my lifelong relationship with them and not on a few weeks’ involvement with you.”
A few weeks?Not just one night? Charlie wasn’t the only consideration. What about her family? She was determined not to get another call from Debbie tomorrow concerning her behavior. “I’m trying to do something admirable for my parents and sister.”
“What does that have to do with me?” he asked.
“More than you probably realize,” she grumbled, finishing her wine.
“Do you want to explain that?”
She didn’t. It was too convoluted. “No.” They were both unattached, both adults and should be able to decide for themselves. And yet... Coyote Canyon didn’t really work that way.
He seemed disappointed she was no longer open to a physical relationship, but he didn’t say anything. She could tell from the way he looked at her and flirted with her and touched her whenever possible that he was interested in a repeat of their night together. She craved the taste and feel of him, too, which was why she was reluctant to hold his gaze for more than a second, and she stepped away whenever he got close. She was afraid she’d give in.
“What are your parents up to these days?” she asked, launching into a new subject. She didn’t know the Elways well, but she’d seen them around the high school and other places when she lived here and could still remember how much Brant resembled his father.
“They’re living in town while they’re taking care of my grandmother, who’s eighty-nine. My brothers and I are buying the ranch from them.”
“How often do you see your folks?”
“Fairly often. My dad drives out to look things over now and then. And my mom cooks for us three or four nights a week.”
“Are you kidding?” she said with a laugh.
He didn’t seem even slightly embarrassed that his mother continued to take care of him and his brothers. “It gives her something to do,” he said with an unconcerned shrug. “And she knows we’d just go out to eat if she didn’t. By the time we’re done working, no one’s eager to spend an hour or more in the kitchen—although we might grill a steak now and then.”
“I bet she’s a good cook.”
“She is,” he said without hesitation. “And so are you.”
“I’m a professional. Ishouldbe good.”
He relaxed into his seat as he finished his wine. “Tell me about your dessert diner.”
“I dreamed about opening my own place—a restaurant or something—for years. So I’m excited that it’s working out for me.”
“Was this Paul’s dream, too?”
“Once we met and became friends, and I started talking about it, he got on board. I doubt he would’ve done it without me.”
“Why not?”
“It’s much easier to tackle such a big endeavor with a partner. You can pool your money and share the work as well as the risk.”
