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Katrina satbeside Brianne and across from Simon at the restaurant that the former had suggested. Already, she could tell Simon wasn’t as happy as he’d been when he’d picked her up. It was minor, but she could sense that he was dealing with some frustration.
She wasn’t sure why, however, because he’d ended up with the truck he’d wanted.
A truck, by the way, that Brianne thought was far too rusted to possibly run well.
Simon stared hard at his menu, not looking up at either of them. Brianne was talking at hyper speed, her voice an octave above where it normally was. Unfortunately, Katrina couldn’t focus on what her friend was saying when Simon seemed to be in a foul mood. This wasn’t normal. Something must have happened.
“Simon,” she leaned over the table and whispered, “what’s going on?”
Brianne’s boisterous chatter subsided and her eyes turned toward Simon, who glanced up briefly and shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“You look upset.”
“Well, I’m not.” He flashed her a smile, but it wasn’t one she was used to. It didn’t reach his eyes, for one. And there was a tension at the corners like he was being controlled by a puppeteer.
“I can tell?—”
He set his eyes on Brianne. “So, who’s next on your list of suitors?”
Brianne laughed. “Really? That’s what you want to talk about? I thought you hated when I brought up anything to do with those guys.”
“Well, it’s better than hearing you talk about the out-of-towners who have been visiting your mother’s jewelry shop.”
Still, Simon’s smile didn’t seem quite right. Katrina couldn’t put a finger on just what was off about it, though, and she knew better than to ask.
Brianne glanced toward Katrina. “I know you said you weren’t interested in going out with Jackson Duncan again… but?—”
Katrina held up both hands, her mood completely destroyed. “No. I’m not interested. I told you. I’m not going to see him again.”
Brianne pouted. “Butwhy? He said you were really interesting and even though he’s doesn’t live close to town, he’s willing to drive all the way here to see you again.”
Katrina shook her head.
“What if I told you that he can’t stop thinking about you?”
She peeked at her friend but didn’t agree to anything right away.
“See? I knew you would perk up. And on top of that, he lives just outside of Billings. If things worked out between you two, then you could be married to a cowboyandhave your dream job there. Doesn’t that sound amazing?”
“For the love of all that is holy, Brianne. Will you stop pushing her to do something she doesn’t want to do?”
Both Katrina and Brianne turned surprised eyes on Simon. She’d never heard his voice so heavy and sharp at the same time. His attitude was finally shining through in an undeniable way.
“What?” Brianne laughed, but it was strained. “Are you upset that Katrina is dating again?”
His eyes rounded, then flitted to Katrina and back to Brianne. “Of course not.”
“Then why are you suddenly so vocal about who she sees?”
Once again, there was some hesitation. If Katrina was even a degree more confident in what she was reading, she might have assumed that Simon’s displeasure came from a slight jealousy.
But that was ridiculous. He wasn’t jealous of the guys she was dating—going on dates with. He was just protective. After all that talk she’d given him on the way to the city about not wanting her mother to pressure her into seeing certain guys, he was probably just coming to her rescue when he noticed that Brianne was attempting to steamroll her.
“Simon, don’t worry about it,” Katrina hedged. “Brianne is just trying to help.” She glanced over to her friend, who still didn’t seem all that happy with Simon’s sharp tone.
“Yeah,” Brianne muttered. “If Katrina didn’t want to go, she would have said something.”
