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Slade paused with his fork lifted. “As long as I’m not required to spend the entire day socializing, I’ll help.”
Considering Slade’s preference of keeping to himself, that was a concession they couldn’t turn down, and Reed said as much. “If he’s open to the idea, I’m in. I would suggest limiting the scope of the open invitation to the Eagle’s Nest township and surrounding ranches to keep it manageable.”
Brett nodded. “Okay, Mom, we’ll give it a try this year. With just two weeks to plan, we’ll have to get started.”
“I’ll put a notice in theEagle’s Nest Gazettethat will go out this Wednesday,” William offered. “The grandkids will love it.”
Picking up the empty plates, Brett added, “Let’s keep it simple: everyone brings a covered dish, we’ll provide beverages, and I’ll ask for volunteers from the hands to assist with games and rides. We already have a good stash of fireworks.”
He carried the dishes into the kitchen where Andrea joined him at the sink as he gazed out the window at her backyard gardens. Her and William’s house sat on three acres in Eagle’s Nest. Neither the house nor the town had changed all that much in the years since Brett and his brothers had grown up and their parents’ split.
“Your vegetable patch looks great, Mom.”
“It will yield some nice produce shortly. I have a favor to ask, Brett.”
He looked down, hearing the concern in her voice. “Sure. Shoot.”
“My friend’s daughter...”
“Mom.” He groaned, hoping she wouldn’t ask him to take this woman out.
“No, no, nothing like you’re thinking. As much as I want grandchildren, I can wait for you to make that decision. She’s in need of legal help after her boyfriend beat her up, putting her in the hospital. It’s just the two of them, and they don’t have much money...”
Brett held up a hand. “I’ll go see her tomorrow. No charge.”
He returned her hug as she whispered in relief, “Thank you. You’re the best.”
“I’ll bet you say that to all your sons,” he teased.
She grinned, patting his cheek. “Of course.”
With luck, taking on another pro bono case would keep Brett from wanting to throttle Gina and from thinking about a pretty blonde with a pink stripe in her hair.
****
Allie spent the remainderof Sunday wishing she was still sitting outside with Brett, enjoying his green eyes focused on her and his deep voice causing prickles to race across her skin. She questioned what it was about the sexy businessman/hot cowboy that fascinated her so, and when she couldn’t come up with an answer by bedtime, she turned in, vowing to forget all about him.
Her week didn’t start well when she opened her door to leave for work the next morning and was greeted by a bouquet of dead flowers crawling with bugs. Startled by the unexpected, unwelcome surprise, she jumped back with a gasp as Celia arrived from her upstairs apartment.
“Gross. Whatisthat?” Celia wrinkled her nose, looking from the pile of bug-infested dead flowers to Allie who stood in the doorway.
“Someone’s idea of a joke, which I don’t find funny. Hold on while I get a broom.” Allie dashed to the hall closet and grabbed a broom, glad to have her friend’s company as she swept the pile across the parking lot to the big dumpsters and left it for the custodians to scoop into a bin. “There,” she said, walking past Celia to return the broom to the closet. “Out of sight, out of mind.” Now, if she could just stop wondering who had put them there, and why. She was still wrestling with those burning questions about the message painted on her windshield the other night.
“I agree, that wasn’t very funny,” Celia said, leading the way over to her car.
“No, but I’m not going to report it.” Allie settled in the passenger seat and put on her seat belt. “I’m sure it was bored kids, probably Tim and Tony. Those two are always into mischief.” The twelve-year-old twins lived with their single mother in the building next to her and Celia’s, but they got around the four-building complex, especially during the summer when their mother was at work all day.
“Let’s hope so. They’re harmless. If not them, we might have to consider someone wants to spook you. You don’t think it was Ricky?” Celia cast Allie a questioning glance.
Celia and Allie’s other friends were aware of Ricky’s past pursuit to get back together with her, but she shook her head. “I honestly don’t. He knows that would turn me off of him even more, and he hasn’t bugged me in a while. Just the opposite – he’s been nice, nothing but neighborly. I don’t want to jeopardize our truce with false accusations.”
“Yeah, I get that, especially after his constant harassment when you two split. Do you think it was your threat to get a restraining order that might force him to move that did it?” Celia pulled into her designated parking space at the courthouse, glancing at Allie as she reached for her door handle.
“Maybe,” she replied with a shrug, sliding out. “I’m grateful for whatever brought about the change now that he’s the congenial neighbor again. See you at lunch?”
“I should be free around noon. You can tell me how you got your car back so fast.” Celia sent her a knowing grin.
She would have to notice,Allie thought, walking into her office. So much for not thinking about Brett today. With luck, work would occupy her mind enough to stick to her guns and not obsess over a man she barely knew and who wanted nothing to do with her.
