“She’s going to drop the restraining order.”
Eliza’s mother’s head moved back in surprise. “Did she tell you that?”
“Yes. We talked. That’s why I went to the doctor’s office. To talk to her. Nothing more.”
He did seem a little brighter today. He’d talked rather than yelled. “Are you getting back together?”
That brought his mood low and he turned back to the hot tub. “Sorry to hear about that fire, Brandon.”
That must mean he and Aegina weren’t getting back together. But something must have happened to ease his mind today. They’d talked. Made progress. Eliza wanted to see her brother happy. Maybe then he’d stop resenting her so much.
Whatever he and his wife had resolved today, it hadn’t changed how he felt about his sister. He still had some things to work out then.
“Thanks,” Brandon said. “Since we’re in town we’ll start replacing the things I lost.”
He hadn’t told her that when they’d left the ranch.
“It’s terrible what happened.” Eliza’s mother poured four glasses of tea. “Everyone’s talking about it this morning. I had to run down to the market and two people stopped me.”
Ryker didn’t stop working, ignoring them. Or Eliza. If she weren’t here, he might engage in the conversation. She wished there was a way to reach him.
“I had to set old Heloise straight when she asked if a relative of one of the murder victims had done it in retaliation, thinking my Eliza could be the killer. I swear some people have nothing better to do than spread their bad ideas around.”
That’s what happened when there were no facts. Speculation ran loose.
“And then when I got home, I saw on the news that an escaped convict was reported on your property,” Eliza’s mother continued.
“Already?” How had that news reached the media so soon?
“There’s a lot of attention on Vengeance right now. Triple homicide, kidnapping, an escaped convict.” She eyed Brandon warily. “Your father.”
“He’s no father of mine. That’s biology.”
“More than that’s going around town,” Ryker said. “Aegina told me she heard Eliza’s been getting threatening letters.”
Eliza saw the way her brother looked at her and felt the kindling of reconnection stirring. He cared whether she was all right or not.
“Isn’t that why Brandon is with you?” her mother asked.
Hearing the leading tone, Eliza braced herself for an embarrassing moment.
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to your daughter, Mrs. Harvey.”
“Some things never change.”
“Mother...” Eliza cautioned.
Her mother swatted her hand. “Oh, Eliza, you really should stop running from love.”
She glanced at Brandon, who smothered a grin at her mother’s word choice.
“Ever since her father died, she’s been all curled up inside her shell, afraid to peek her head out. Ryker accuses her of leaving him behind when it had nothing to do with him.”
“Mother...” Now it was Ryker who cautioned her.
“It’s really so simple, you two. Staring you both right in the face. It baffles me how long you’ve carried this on. You.” She pointed to Ryker. “Your entire situation is your own damn fault. And you.” She rounded on Eliza. “You married the wrong man. The right one is standing next to you. I don’t ever want to see you do something that stupid again, do you understand me?”
“Mother!” Had she actually just said she should have married Brandon? Expertly cloaking it with a reprimand.
“Well, it’s true. It’s time you both heard what’s wrong with you. You and Ryker. You haven’t listened to the more gentle approach.”
She was too stunned to speak. Ryker had abandoned the hot tub to stare at his mother.
“I just hope it’s not too late for both of you.”
Ryker with his wife and Eliza with Brandon. She seemed to be forgetting a few details.
“Mother, Brandon is David’s brother.”
“He’s also dead.”
“And Brandon broke up with me, remember?”
“That was a long time ago. You were young. I’ve seen you two together. At Ryker’s birthday party the room heated up just watching the two of you look at each other. I saw it again today, so don’t argue with me.”
“Mother!”
“We should get going,” Brandon said.
“Good idea.”
Her mother chuckled, eyes that were so similar to hers dancing. “I was going to invite you for lunch.”
Eliza’s stomach was growling, but she’d rather starve than endure more of her mother’s bluntness. “We’ll grab something.”
“We have a lot of errands to run,” Brandon added, ushering her toward the door.
Her mother smiled at them all the way there. She’d accomplished what she’d set out to, whatever that was. She made a terrible matchmaker.
* * *
Brandon was hungry, and he had already heard Eliza’s stomach. Without consulting her, he drove to the least popular place in town and parked. The awkward silence was tortuous. If he didn’t absolutely need to pick up some supplies, he’d have driven back to the ranch, where he could have put at least some distance between them for a while.
Eliza said nothing as she walked with him to the out-of-date restaurant on the edge of town. Too late it dawned on him that it was the burger joint where he’d started dating Eliza.
She glanced at him, curious as to why he’d taken her here.
“I forgot,” he said simply.
“I didn’t,” she replied just as simply.
“It’s just to eat.”
“I’m starving.”
They were seated, and Brandon read the menu, unable to stop looking over the top at Eliza. She caught him just before the waiter appeared for their drink order.
“I would have thought you’d prefer lunch at my brother’s house than here.”
“With your mother? I don’t think so.”
She smiled, a relaxed, genuinely amused smile that was full of affection. Evidently, she’d recovered faster than him from that grilling.
“So hunger and my mother draw you out into public settings? I’ll have to remember that.”
He lifted his eyebrows. Was she teasing him? Why did he have to enjoy it so much?
“I go out in public.”
She kept her gaze on her menu. “Before or after I came to town?”
“Both.” He put his menu down and leaned back on the creaky old chair.
“Only out of necessity. Have you ever done it for fun?”
“I went to your brother’s birthday party.”
“For fun?”
“Not necessity.” Well, not completely. He’d gone to make sure Eliza was all right, but he’d had a good time.
Her blue-green eyes lifted, and their playful light arrowed right into him. This was why he couldn’t keep his hands off her. She looked at him and logic was pulverized.
“I’m not that boring,” he said.
“Eliza Harvey, is that you?”
Brandon felt like leaving. A woman he didn’t recognize appeared at their table.
“Veronica?”
Then he remembered the woman. She was Eliza’s high school friend, now married to a carpenter. He didn’t keep up on the town’s social dynamics too much, but even he knew the woman was a talker. It would be out that he had lunch with Eliza.
While the two chatted about old times, Brandon glanced around. The restaurant was full, and he recognized many faces. He raised his hand to a few.
Figures, the oldest, crappiest restaurant in town would still draw a crowd.
“I was so sorry to hear about your brother,” Veronica said to him. And then to Eliza, “Will you be going back to Hollywood after your husband’s funeral?”
His body hadn’t been released from the coroner yet.
“Yes...I think so...” She faltered. How could sh
e not be sure about that anymore? She looked across the table at Brandon.
“I am so sorry. At least you have his brother. I remember when the two of you dated. Everybody thought you’d end up together.” She shook her head. “My, how things change.” Then she looked closer at them both and something clicked. “Well...I should get back to my table. The girls and I are out for a lunch break.”
Brandon saw the table of three women Veronica indicated. They whispered to each other, smiling with a few chirps of laughter.
The waiter returned and got their order while Veronica rejoined her friends and the whispering continued.
“Do you think they remember this is where we came in high school?” Eliza asked.
“Probably.” Anything was possible in this town.
“And you thought it was bad with my mother.”
He half laughed at that. “What did she mean about the shell comment? After your dad died.”
The light dulled in her eyes. “Nothing.”
Yeah, something. “You aren’t a turtle-in-a-shell kind of woman to me.”
“I’m not.”
Except when it came to her father’s death? “I remember when he died.” Eliza had mourned so deeply. After she grieved, she’d started her Friday parties. Now that he thought of it, that’s when he’d begun to think she was too wild.
“I didn’t think my mother was going to survive it.”
Brandon had only seen what it had done to Eliza.
“She loved my dad so much. It nearly killed her when he was gone.”
That’s why Ryker had taken care of her. “She seems fine now.”
“She isn’t as fine as you think. She isn’t as happy as she was when he was alive. She gets through her days. She told me she would never remarry. My dad was her only love.”
He would have said she was lucky, that most people didn’t find that kind of love, but losing it wasn’t lucky.
Absently, she unfolded her napkin and put it on her lap. “I never want to feel that way.”
Coming from her, that took him aback. The Eliza he knew charged full force into life. Was he actually hearing that she feared the kind of love her mother had for her father? It made sense. It explained so much. Why he backed off when they were young. Why she left Vengeance and became a famous event planner.
Why she married David.
He should have seen it back then. He chuckled, deep and low; his amusement showed and he didn’t care. He adored her right now. “Eliza Harvey has a soft spot.”
“What?”
He’d jarred her from heavy thought.
“You’re afraid of love.”
“I am not. I just don’t want to ever be that dependent on a man.”
Dependent? That’s the label she had for it? “You think love is a dependency?” Like an addiction? He chuckled some more.
“What’s so funny?”
She was getting insulted, and he couldn’t help himself. “The idea of you being afraid of developing an addiction to a man.”
Her mouth dropped open.
He’d walked right into that one. “I mean...” What the hell did he mean? Once they’d started having sex in high school, Eliza had encouraged him for more. Like an addiction. He’d been the same way. Had to have her. Every time they were together. And then her dad had died.
“You were addicted to me.” He spoke the revelation aloud.
“It was called love.” She threw her napkin onto the table.
He held his hand up before she bolted. “Dependency was your word.”
That flustered her. Good.
Reaching across the table, he took her hand. “Eliza, I had no idea your father’s death affected you so much. I didn’t have a good relationship with mine, and my mother died when I was a young boy. I’m sorry.”
She clearly wasn’t ready to face that gigantic hole in her heart. He was very familiar with holes.
Her whole body relaxed, and her eyes warmed with appreciation. “Oh, Brandon. I’m sorry, too.”
Sorry for his losses. Losses that were very different from hers.
The pull between them heated into an unbreakable bond. She seemed to have rooted herself into him. Or maybe the roots had always been there and only needed water to bring them to life again.
Resistance eased the draw of unwelcome attraction, deep attraction that perhaps had managed to grow into more than that. A word he dare not name. Not with his brother’s body yet to be buried. He was ashamed. Slipping his hand free, he sat back and looked past her to the window, where he spotted Jillian.
An unexpected shock hit him. She just stood there, watching him, standing in a calf-length, black-and-white floral pattered dress, long, dark hair freshly brushed. She appeared normal except for her dejected and sad face and the way she watched him with Eliza. She’d witnessed a deep and personal exchange.
“What is she doing here?” Eliza asked.
That’s what he’d like to know. Had she followed them? Brandon hadn’t paid attention on the way here.
When both he and Eliza saw her, she started moving. But instead of moving on, she entered the restaurant.
“She’s coming in here.” Eliza sounded breathless. Incredulous. Maybe even a little alarmed.
He was, too.
“Is she armed?”
“I hope not.”
She whipped a glance his way.
“Hello, Brandon,” Jillian said, blue eyes duller than he remembered. “I was walking in town and saw you in here.” She glanced at Eliza.
Brandon didn’t respond, wondering if she was on drugs. What the hell was she doing? Was he overreacting? Or was she stalking him?
“I heard about the fire,” she said. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
Her attempt at casual conversation felt skewed with his apprehension.
“How did you hear about it?” Eliza asked.
“Did the horses make it out okay?” She ignored Eliza.
“Yes. Thanks for asking.” He wondered if he was being too nice to her. Maybe if he was more of a jerk she’d leave him alone.
“I was going to call you. Do you have any plans for dinner tonight? With everything going on, you must be so frazzled.”
He had a bad feeling about this. “Eliza and I have to pick up some supplies and then I’ll have a lot of work to do. I don’t think I’ll have time tonight.” Or any other night.
“Oh, darn it. All right. I’ll catch you later then.”
“Great.” She waved in a cute way that was disturbing.
“Something is really wrong with that woman,” Eliza said.
Chapter 12
The headlights from Brandon’s truck chased a swath of darkness away as he drove along the narrow, winding dirt road. Eliza kept going over the afternoon in her mind. Gathering supplies had taken longer than she’d anticipated. He’d made a big order at the feed store and farm and ranch supply store, spending time talking with the general managers. He’d also had to meet with his insurance agent, who was a friend. She’d been pleasantly surprised at how social he’d been. He was well-liked in town.
Why that amazed her was what had her so quiet and lost in thought. As solitary as he was, how had he become so popular? And if he was social, had it really been her partying that had driven him away? Was still driving him away? Granted, socializing with ranch supply store managers wasn’t the same as a night out on the town, but she’d narrowed her definition of him far more than she should have. He wasn’t such a hermit after all.
All afternoon and into early evening, she had struggled with the warmth that had found a nest inside her heart, the glow of new discovery. The respect he had from everyone he encountered was obvious. It wreaked havoc on her fight against an already persistent attraction. Every movement he made stoked the reaction, every word he said, and the way he said them.
The farm and ranch supply store manager had taken a particular interest in her. He’d introduced himself, smiling and studying her closely in a Magnum, P.I. sort o
f way. He looked like the star, too.
“My daughter went to school with you. You’re the one who went off to become a famous entertainer.”
“Event planner. I’m not so sure about the famous part.” She wasn’t a movie star.
He turned to Brandon. “We were sorry to hear about your brother.”
“Thank you.”
Back to Eliza, “How long will you be staying with Brandon? Have you decided to move back home?”
“Oh...no.” It came awkwardly off her tongue. Like it was a lie. Strange...
“Well, my daughter’s right.” He looked back and forth between them. “You do seem to belong here. She said you and Brandon were the only couple she thought should have stayed together. Most young loves don’t last, but yours stuck with her for some reason. She’s a very insightful girl.” He fixed his attention on Brandon. “Eliza suits you.”
Why was he being so personal about this? He must know that she had been married to David.
“Thanks for all your help,” Brandon said shortly.
“We’ve been friends a long time, Brandon,” the man persisted, stopping Brandon from turning away. “I can’t help agreeing with my daughter.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you.” Eliza took his hand and smiled her appreciation. If she decided to stay in Vengeance, he’d be one person she’d keep for a friend.
“Likewise, Eliza. You come back now.”
She couldn’t promise that, so she’d followed Brandon out of the store without further comment.
Brandon drove over the hill where the strange car had been parked. It wasn’t there now. Darkness swallowed the trees until they reached the driveway. Ahead, the area where the stable had been was black. Headlights shone on what was left of the corral fence. But the big ranch house was well lit. The porch light brightened the entrance, and windows glowed on the lower level.
Had they left all those lights on this morning? They’d left late, well after sunrise. She glanced over at Brandon as he drew the truck to a halt. He stared at the house, puzzled.
“Did you leave some lights on?”
“No.”
A shot of apprehension put her on high alert as they left the truck. What now? Had someone broken in? Brandon’s father?
She took out her cell phone, ready to call for help if necessary.
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