by Autumn Marks
“So I’ve been told,” he said with a grin.
The two of them made small talk while they finished eating and when the bill came, Brandon paid despite Emily’s protests to pay for her own. Brandon carried the flowers back out to the car and when the two were in, he turned to her. “Do you have anywhere else you need to be while we’re up here?”
“I don’t. I should really get these plants in the ground.”
“Do you want help with that?”
“I can manage, thanks. Besides, you have a fence to put up.”
“I don’t know,” Brandon said, scratching his chin. “I’m having second thoughts about the fence.”
Emily whipped her head around. “What?”
“I think the lack of fence has worked out well for me so far. I had dinner with you a few days ago, lunch today, and I even get to go to a wedding soon.” He grinned. “Now that I think about it, fences are kind of overrated.”
She shook her head. “Have I told you that you’re crazy?”
“Once or twice.”
“Keep it up. It’s bound to come out a few more times.”
Brandon chuckled to himself and started the car. When they arrived back in Brookview, she pulled the flowers out of the back seat and set them down on her front porch.
“Can I see what kind of fence you’re going to put up?” She was really just trying to spend more time with Brandon. She had enjoyed his company and didn’t want the day to end.
“Sure. It’s sitting in my garage, but first I need to let Ollie out. He’s been inside a long time.”
“Okay, while you do that, I’ll go get changed so I can plant my flowers.” Her pink cotton shorts and patterned top weren’t suitable for gardening.
“I’ll get changed too. I’m not exactly dressed for building a fence.”
Once Emily was in the confines of her house, she put on some short athletic shorts and a lilac tank top. Since she was planting purple flowers, she felt she should coordinate her clothing too. She checked her phone for any missed calls and there was one from her dad and several texts from Stephanie. She called her dad back first.
“Hi, honey! How are you?” said her father in his usual cheerful voice.
“I’m fine, Dad. How are you?”
“Doing great. We’re on our way to Death Valley. I really wish you could be here.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure you and Wendy don’t really want my company.” Her stepmom, Wendy, had been a part of her life for the last eight years. Wendy was a nice enough stepmom, but she would never be Emily’s mom. There was no replacement for that. Her father, George, was enamored with her though and Emily was happy as long as he was.
“How are things in Brookview? Any changes?” her dad asked.
It was a running joke between them. Nothing ever changed in Brookview, but he’d always ask anyway. This time, instead of her usual canned response, she actually had something to report. “I’ve got a new neighbor.”
“Really? Tell me about this new neighbor.”
What should she say? She couldn’t exactly tell her dad that her new neighbor was sexy as hell and about to be her fake boyfriend. For all he knew, she was still dating Jason. “I met him a few days ago. He’s nice,” Emily said. It was succinct and true.
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
Emily’s relationship with her dad was much different than most father-daughter relationships. She could tell him anything. But for some reason, she wanted to keep Brandon to herself for a while. “There’s nothing more to say. I don’t know much about him.”
Her dad was silent for a moment. “How are things with Jason?”
There was a faint scream in the background. “Was that Wendy? Should you go check on her?” She was ready to end this call and escape her father’s interrogation. There was no need to discuss that relationship at this moment and worry him. She’d tell him soon enough.
“Yeah, that was her all right. She’s run out of hot water again,” he said with a chuckle. “One of these days she’ll learn to wash quickly.”
“Are you sure you don’t need to check?”
“All right. I get the hint, Emmie. I’ll quit asking questions.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate you calling to check up on me.”
“Hey, Emmie?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful. I worry about you living there by yourself. I hate not being around in case you need something.”
Emily shrugged off her father’s overprotectiveness. She’d gotten used to it over the years. “I’m fine, Dad. I appreciate your concern even though I may not always act like it.”
Emily was taking a long time. In the time it had taken him to change his clothes and let Ollie outside to use the bathroom, she still hadn’t returned. Should he go and check on her?
Stop being ridiculous. Emily had been fine on her own long before he showed up. She clearly didn’t need his help. He’d keep his distance because he didn’t want to come across as a worrier. He’d been dumped once because of that.
One of his previous girlfriends had dumped him because he “cared too much.” If he knew his girlfriend was going to be out partying, he was the type that would call in the evening to make sure she had a ride home. If she didn’t, he’d be ready to drive her home no matter the time. He knew all too well about the cost of drunk driving. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. That girlfriend had told him he was overprotective and she wanted some space from him. And by space, she meant breaking up.
He would give Emily her space. She would come out when she was ready. And maybe she wouldn’t come out at all. Regardless, there was still a fence to build and if he hoped to accomplish it this weekend, he should get started.
Brandon opened the garage and grabbed the fence post driver and first post.
“What’s that thing?” said a voice from behind him—a voice he was getting used to hearing.
With his back still toward Emily, he couldn’t help the smile that crept across his face. She had come out after all. “It’s to help pound the fence posts into the ground. Trent is letting me borrow his since that’s not something I’m likely to have in my toolbox. He dropped it off yesterday,” Brandon said, showing it to her.
Emily walked over and checked out the stack of white vinyl picket fencing. She spent a few minutes studying the stack and looking at the different components. “It’s a cute fence. But I’m not sure I understand how it’s supposed to come together.”
“Cute? I don’t think that’s what I was going for,” he said with a smirk.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I think it’ll look nice with the rest of the houses on the street.”
“Want to know the best part about this fence?”
Emily quirked an eyebrow.
“I don’t have to dig any holes. I take these posts,” he said, holding out the post in his hand, “and drive them into the ground with this thing right here.” He held up the fence post driver.
“Are you sure you’re going to be able to do it by yourself?”
“I should be able to. They made it look pretty easy in the videos I watched last night,” he said even though he wouldn’t mind her help. It would give him a reason to be close to Emily.
What the hell was wrong with him?
This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to be falling for his neighbor. Neighbor—that alone was reason enough for him to stay away. And she’d just been dumped. Sure, she’d put on a brave face in the car when talking about her ex, but there was no way she could be over him that quickly.
“If you need any help, let me know.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that,” he said.
Emily stood there a moment and the two were silent, neither one of them wanting to depart first. “Well, I should probably tend to my flowers and you’ve got a fence to build.”
Brandon nodded. “Hopefully this batch of flowers will last all season.”
“They will as long as yo
u get that fence up, so I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for taking me out and buying my lunch. I had a good time.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” he said. And he wasn’t simply exchanging pleasantries. He meant it.
Chapter 10
Brandon stood back to admire his hard work. With his late start the day before, it had taken him up until late this morning to complete the fence—and he’d managed to do it without so much as a scrape.
He walked around and tested its strength. Solid as a rock. It would surely last through whatever Ollie had to throw at it—which wasn’t much. Chasing his tennis ball was about the extent of his activity.
Emily should be the first to see it. As soon as the thought had entered his brain, he knew he should shut it down. He needed to tread lightly because what if she was only using him as her wedding date?
She was using him, but he didn’t view it that way. After Emily’s experience with her ex, he didn’t think she’d be the type to use someone like that. She was too nice, too perfect. There had to be a flaw somewhere, not that he was going to go looking for one.
After their day together, he’d gone to bed thinking about what it was that drew him to her. He barely knew her, and yet felt a connection with her he couldn’t explain. It was something he’d never experienced before, even with some of his girlfriends that were more serious ones.
But he didn’t want to get too attached. Once the wedding night was done, she might want to be done with him too.
Brandon called for Ollie from the back door. Ollie came lumbering over to him, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Ollie walked around and gave him a look as though he was saying Who cares?
“This is your fence. You won’t be able to leave the yard anymore and now you’ll be able to spend some time out here by yourself,” he explained, as though Ollie could even understand him.
“Talking to your dog again?” a voice said from behind him.
“Guilty as charged,” Brandon said. He turned to see Emily’s smiling face. She was dressed much like the day before in a pair of shorts and top. Instead of flowers like yesterday’s shirt, this top had little dragonflies on it. These were things he shouldn’t be noticing, but he was noticing everything about her now. “Going somewhere?”
“I’m meeting my friend for breakfast. It’s the friend who’s getting married. She wants to go over some last-minute things with me since my work week is pretty full. Can I bring you back something?” Emily asked.
“No, thanks. I already had breakfast.”
“How’s Ollie liking the new fence?”
Brandon took in the sight of his dog. Ollie had plopped himself down in a shady spot along the side of the yard. His eyes were already closed and Brandon wouldn’t be surprised if he was already snoozing. “He couldn’t care less. I woke him up from a nap and he’s not thrilled about it. I guess he’s just going to sleep out here and not wait on me to let him back inside.”
“Well, if he’s not going to appreciate the new fence, then I’ll do it for him. I think it looks really nice,” she said. “And it’s safer for Ollie.”
Brandon let out a hearty laugh. “Please. Do you really expect me to believe you’re concerned for his wellbeing?”
Emily’s eyes widened. “What? He’s growing on me.”
“I’m glad he could get in your good graces. He’s been a really good dog to me.”
Emily looked at her phone. “Shoot. I’m late. Stephanie’s already at The Neighborhood. She just texted me, so I’d better get going.”
“At least it’ll only take you a few minutes to get there.”
“You see?” she said over her shoulder while walking away from him. “Living in a small town does have its advantages.”
Brandon chuckled. “Have fun at breakfast.”
She could’ve stood there for hours talking to him.
Scratch that.
She could’ve gawked at him for hours. When she had walked outside this morning to leave for the restaurant, she wished she would’ve checked out the window so she could’ve prepared herself for what she would see.
Brandon stood outside—without a shirt on.
His toned, muscular body glistened with sweat. His abs, too numerous to count, out for all to see. That defining V shape that disappeared into his athletic shorts was on display too.
When she’d stopped by to chat with him, she wasn’t sure where to look. Every inch of his tanned skin was beautiful and of course, it was the one time she wasn’t wearing sunglasses. How was she supposed to stare without them?
Before she backed out of her driveway, she grabbed the sunglasses out of the center console. There. Now she could stare at him without him noticing.
But it wasn’t enough. She longed to touch him, to see what those muscles would feel like. She’d never known anyone with muscles as defined as his. And Jason, even being trim, was nowhere close to Brandon.
She had to quit comparing Brandon with Jason. Brandon wasn’t Jason—end of story.
But there was no way Brandon could even be remotely interested in her. In all her years, no one that looked like him had ever shown any interest, not that Brookview was teeming with hot guys. Even in college, all she had attracted were guys who looked like the clean-cut boy next door—never someone like Brandon.
Brandon was…
Hot.
Sexy.
Lucious.
McDreamy?
McSteamy?
A combination of both?
She wasn’t one for putting people on pedestals, but if the shoe fit…
When Emily got to The Neighborhood, she found Stephanie sitting at a booth with a cup of coffee in front of her. There was another mug of coffee directly across the table.
Stephanie looked up and smiled when she approached the table. “I went ahead and ordered you a cup of coffee. I assumed you wouldn’t be that far behind me.”
She slid into the booth and set her purse on the seat next to her. “Thanks for that. I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
“I know your work schedule is full this week, but please tell me you’re still able to make it to the rehearsal dinner,” Stephanie said, wasting no time with small talk. Apparently, this breakfast together was being treated like a business meeting and nothing more.
“You’re worrying too much. I may have a busy work week, but I would never miss your rehearsal dinner. I’m in your wedding party for a reason. We’re friends, okay? That means I wouldn’t miss something that’s so important to you.” Emily loved her friend, but she was growing tired of Stephanie’s endless worrying. The number of texts she’d received about wedding details was too many. She was ready for this to end so she and Stephanie could go back to how their relationship used to be.
Stephanie’s face faltered. “I’m sorry. I’m overthinking everything now. I can’t wait for this to be over.”
That made two of them. “Less than a week now. Do you think you can hold out until then?”
“I’ll try.”
While Emily took a sip of her coffee, Mickey appeared at the end of their table. “Good morning, Emily. Mrs. Gordon was in here already this morning. I hear your new neighbor has a fence put up. That true?”
“That’s true. He finished it this morning.”
“I’m glad to hear it. At least your flowers will be safe now,” Mickey said with a wink.
“How did you—”
Mickey smirked. “You need to watch out for Mrs. Gordon. She’s awful when it comes to gossip.”
Was there an underlying meaning there? Was Mickey also telling her she should be more discreet? She wasn’t sure and wasn’t going to ask in front of Stephanie. From now on, she’d be more careful. “Point taken,” Emily said.
“What can I get you two for breakfast?”
After they ordered their food, Stephanie leaned in closer. “What’s this about flowers?”
“It’s nothing. Mrs. Gordon needs to mind her own business,” Emily said with an eyeroll.
Step
hanie nodded. “You have yet to tell me about your wedding date. What’s he like?”
“He’s nice, really hot, and funny. He also has a bit of a wild side that I find amusing,” she said, trying to be as vague as possible.
“You’re not going to tell me what he looks like?”
“I did. He’s hot.”
Stephanie wasn’t impressed with Emily’s humor as evidenced by the eyeroll she gave her. “I mean describe his features.” On the day that Stephanie had stayed over after the incident with Jason, she had never seen Brandon. Emily preferred to keep it that way for as long as possible.
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
Stephanie glared at her. “Are you making him up? Do you even have someone coming with you?”
“I can’t believe you would accuse me of that. I’m a little old for make believe, don’t you think?”
“Does he live close by?” Stephanie picked up her coffee mug to take a sip.
“Fairly close.” If Stephanie only knew how close…
“Then I want to meet him. I’ve got time after breakfast,” Stephanie said, eyeing Emily as she set her mug back down.
Emily shook her head. “No, you can meet him at the wedding.”
A few tense seconds passed between the two of them. “Okay, fine,” Stephanie said with a huff. “But I still feel like you’re not telling me everything.”
“Stop looking for problems where there aren’t any,” Emily said. She was trying to end this line of questioning before Stephanie could weasel more details out of her. The quickest way to do that was to turn this all around on her friend. “Not everything needs to be an issue. Audrey and I have got things under control. All you need to worry about is showing up to the church on time and everything else will fall into place.”
Stephanie’s face softened. “You’re right. I’m being such a terrible friend.”
“It’s stress,” Emily said with a shrug. “It happens to everyone at some point.”
