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“Sorry. It’s been a busy day. The watering system in the far paddock broke, so I’ve been knee-deep in mud, and my brothers have been fighting to save several steers with bloat. We almost lost one.”
“That sucks. You were able to save it, though?”
“Looks that way,” he said. “Don’tyouhave to work today?”
Charlie seemed taken aback by the question, probably because Brant hadn’t entirely concealed his irritation. “I have a couple of house showings, but they aren’t until later.”
As far as Brant was concerned, Charlie didn’t have enough to keep him busy. Maybe he’d worry less about Talulah if he did. “So what’s up?”
“I’d like to apologize for acting like a jealous ass the other day.”
Brant didn’t want an apology. That was part of the reason he hadn’t called Charlie after he got back from Talulah’s, as he’d planned. He’d heard from Kurt, knew his brother had covered for him, so Charlie’s contrition only made him feel guiltier for sneaking around. “It was nothing. Let it go.”
“Really? I mean, dude! I hit you when you already had a concussion. I can’t believe I did that. But you didn’t tell me you’d hit your head. How was I to know?”
He hadn’t given Brant time to say much of anything. He shouldn’t have hit him regardless. It wasn’t as if Brant had slept with Charlie’s girlfriend or wife. But Brant knew that reminding him he had no claim on Talulah would only make matters worse. “My skull’s as hard as granite. I’m fine.”
“How’d it happen?”
He sucked in a lungful of air he silently blew out. “I went down in the basement to see where she wanted the portable cooler and whacked my head on the ceiling as I came back up the stairs.” That was close enough to the truth.
“Why’d you have to go to the basement?”
“That’s where Talulah was working.” Almost naked. It was a sight he’d never forget. But the less said, the better.
“So...did she come on to you or what?”
He dropped his head back to stare up at the wide blue sky. “Charlie, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because there’s no reason to!”
“She has a boyfriend in Seattle. You know that, right? How’s he going to feel about her hooking up with you?”
Brant could easily have answered that question. He and Talulah had talked about Paul. But he wasn’t going anywhere close to that land mine. “I have no idea, and it’s none of my business.”
“I bet he won’t be happy about it.”
“I don’t get the impression they’re exclusive.”
“Did she say that?”
“Charlie, please!” Brant said.
“I’m just saying...she never posts pictures of any other guys.”
“Sheila Humphrey has had a thing for you since I can remember. Why don’t you give her a shot?”
“Sheila’s nice. But I’m not attracted to her.”
Charlie needed something or someone to help him move on. “There are other women in town,” Brant said.
“Easy for you to say. You don’t understand what I’m going through because you’ve never been in love.”
Brant pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you with Talulah. I know it’s been rough. But I have to get back to fixing this waterline. It’s hot as hell out here.”
“Okay. Should we play some pool tonight?”
