by Sabrina York
Porsche lifted the puppy, who was chewing on her hair. “Train Dougal, of course.”
“Seriously? You asked Porsche to help you train your dog?”
“Why do you say it like that?” Porsche said with a pout. “I’m perfectly capable.”
“She got him to sit,” Brandon said. “After only a few minutes.”
“And he went potty outside,” Porsche said with a hint of smugness.
Claire huffed a sigh. “Porsche is hardly patient enough to train a puppy.”
“I am very patient.”
“Ford says you are a flibbertigibbet.”
“Really?” Just for fun, Brandon picked up his pen and added this to his list.
Porsche squawked. “Don’t write that down!”
Claire frowned. “Why is he writing that down?” She snatched the paper and read it off. “Porsche McCoy. Stubborn.” She nodded. “That’s true. Cuts off her nose to spite her face.” She pointedly studied Porsche’s nose. “Yes. If one looks closely, it does seem to be a bit snubby.”
“It is not snubby. It’s up-turned.”
“Snubby. They called her Porky in middle school,” she said in an aside.
“Did they?” Brandon couldn’t help laughing at Porsche’s outrage, but had to add, “I think your nose is cute.”
“Thank you.”
“Apparently I should have gone to Claire first. She provides much better intel.”
“Yes,” Claire huffed. “You should always come to me first. But . . . why do you need intel?”
Brandon looked at Porsche. This was her crazy idea. It was her place to tell Claire, if she dared.
Apparently she did.
“Sit down,” she commanded, yanking on Claire’s hand. Claire plopped onto the banquette. “I was thinking about what you said.”
“What did I say?”
“About Cody only wanting what he can’t have.”
“Oh. Right.” She nodded to Brandon. “He’s like that.”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Anyway, I decided I need a boyfriend to make him jealous and snag his attention. And voila. Brandon has agreed to be my boyfriend.”
Claire’s jaw dropped as she processed this, and then she said, “Oh my God, Porsche. That is brilliant.”
“Isn’t it?”
Not really, but it made it clear why these girls were best friends. They were two peas in a pod.
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Who would I tell? Besides, if Cody knew, it wouldn’t work.”
“Right? And Lisa can’t keep a secret from Cade—”
“Oh, don’t I know it!”
“And Charlie is good friends with both of them. You know he’d let it slip.”
Claire nodded. “I do love Charlie, but he’s got this bromance going on with my brothers—”
“So no one can know.”
“Pinky swear.”
“Pinky swear.”
And they actually did it. They actually pinkie swore.
Brandon was fascinated. In all his years, despite all the urban legends he’d heard about such a thing, he’d never once seen it in the wild.
“Oh my God, this is awesome,” Claire warbled. “We’re going to be sisters.”
“Right?”
Suddenly Claire whipped around and fixed her attention on him. “What can I do to help?” she asked with a solemnity that inferred they were plotting a campaign to find the Ark of the Covenant.
Help? Keep out of his way, mostly.
“Just be subtle,” Porsche responded.
“Subtle?” Claire asked, as though she didn’t know the meaning of the word.
“You know. Occasional comments about what a cute couple Brandon and I make.”
“You do make a cute couple.”
“Thank you. And maybe mention what a great wife I would make?”
Brandon’s gut lurched at that suggestion.
“Maybe how sexy I am.” She flicked her hair.
Claire frowned. “I can’t tell my brother that my best friend is sexy.”
“Why not?”
“It’s weird.”
“Don’t you think I’m sexy?” She frowned and then turned to Brandon. “Do you think I’m sexy?”
Hell, yes. “You are extremely attractive.”
She turned back to Claire. “See?”
Honestly, they were adorable. Like chipmunks, bantering back and forth. It was a damn good thing he found them entertaining because any other man would be pulling his hair out about now. But he was on a mission. He’d do whatever it took to spend time with Porsche, even this.
“Maybe Brandon should tell Cody you’re attractive.”
His heart stuttered. Frankly, if Cody couldn’t see that for himself, he was beyond all hope.
He pointedly cleared his throat. “One thing you could do, Claire, is help Porsche and I find opportunities to play our parts.” It was tough to say some of those words because they stuck in his throat, but it was a part he was playing . . . just not the one Porsche thought she’d engaged him for.
“Oh yes. That’s a good idea.” Her eyes brightened and she nudged Claire with an elbow. “You can help us with that.”
“How on earth would I help with that?”
“You know. Make sure I’m invited to the party this weekend for one thing.”
Claire frowned. “It’s a private party. A bunch of socialites coming in from Dallas.”
“Then tell Cody you need help serving canapes or something.”
“We hire people for that.”
“I can help Lisa in the kitchen.”
Claire’s nostrils flared. “Weren’t you the one who exploded a dozen potatoes in the microwave?”
“That was an accident.”
“And the bacon fire?”
“We were able to save most of it.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’ll never let you in the kitchen. Not even if you are pretending to help.”
Porsche stuck out her bottom lip in a trademark pout. “I’m very good at pretending to help.”
“Not the kitchen. Think of something else.”
“Well, I’m not pretending to help you with the accounting. I’m very bad at pretending to do math.”
“I wouldn’t let you near my books anyway.”
“I think we’re all missing the big picture here.”
Both women froze and then gaped at him in surprise, as though they’d completely forgotten he was there.
“Yes?” Porsche asked.
“Since we’re supposed to be engaged in a romantic exploration—”
“Oh.” Claire grinned. “Is that what it is?”
“Wouldn’t it stand to reason that I would ask you to help me with my set?”
They both tipped their heads to the side like twin terriers. Confused terriers, but terriers all the same. “What?”
“I do need a dresser.”
“A . . . dresser?” Porsche looked poleaxed.
“Someone to help me change between sets. Someone to bring me water.” He bit back a grin. “Someone to wipe me down.”
Porsche swallowed. Hard. Her gaze flicked over his shoulders and chest. “Um. Wipe you down?”
“Are you a sweater?” Claire asked. She turned to Porsche and whispered, “Ohmygod. He’s a sweater.”
“More of a cardigan, but yeah. I do sweat.” He blinked innocently. “Do you think that would work?”
“Oh, it’s perfect,” Claire said. “Just think of it. You can be backstage with Brandon, and do you know who else is backstage?” She didn’t give anyone time to respond, which was a shame, because Brandon had several pithy suggestions on the tip of his tongue. “Cody. That’s who. Cody is backstage. He can’t help but see you with Brandon.
” She frowned at him. “Make sure you look besotted.”
“Besotted?”
“It’s crucial. Cody has to realize that if he doesn’t do something drastic, he might lose Porsche.”
If Brandon had his way, he would.
She turned to her friend. “And you have to focus.”
Porsche sniffed. “I always focus.”
“You do not. You are a flibbertigibbet.”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
“It means you’ll forget you’re supposed to be infatuated with Brandon, and start drooling over Cody again. That would ruin everything. It’s critical that you focus on him.” She jabbed her thumb in Brandon’s direction. “Can you do that?”
“Of course I can do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” A determined expression settled on her features and she stared at him in a deliberate fashion.
“It would help if you didn’t look as though you want to kill me,” he suggested.
“What?”
“Flutter your lashes,” Claire suggested. “And smile. Try to look moony.”
“Moony?”
“Big eyes. Entranced expression. Good. Now part your lips.”
Oh please God, no. He could barely take her staring at him with such intensity as it was. But then she did. She parted her lips and her tongue peeped out, and a bolt of electricity shot through his body. Christ, he wanted to kiss her.
“Good. That’s good.” Claire utterly shattered the mood and, for all that it had been a pretend mood to begin with, Brandon still felt its loss. “But the two of you will need to practice.”
His head came up so fast and hard he bit his tongue. “Practice?”
“Of course. Every chance you get.” Claire waggled her finger at Porsche until Dougal nipped it. She frowned at the dog and pulled back. “If you want to be convincing, you need to practice.”
Brandon nodded and sent Porsche a somber look, though it cost him to hide his grin. “I think Claire is right. We should practice. Diligently. Every chance we get.”
It hadn’t occurred to him until now, but Claire would probably be his best asset in this campaign.
Unless she found out what he was really trying to do.
Then she’d eviscerate him.
Chapter Seven
Though Claire had insisted he and Porsche should diligently practice being in love, he couldn’t help noticing that she dragged her friend off at the first opportunity. Something about brainstorming the possibilities.
At a loose end, Brandon decided to take Dougal for a walk. He would have loved to set the beast free, but this was a working ranch and there was no telling what kind of mortal danger the puppy could find, so he kept him on the leash.
As they passed the shop, he glanced inside and saw Cade and Cody working on an old truck with the hood up. His steps slowed.
“Hey there,” he called.
Cade looked up and waved him in. He stooped to greet Dougal too, and the puppy allowed himself to be scratched, until a tire lying on the shop floor captured his infinitesimal attention and he shot off to attack it.
“How’s it going?” Cade asked.
“Good. Great.” He nodded to Cody. “Whatcha up to?”
“Just some maintenance,” Cody said, wiping his hands on a rag. “She’s been running a little rough.”
Brandon nodded as the brothers continued to chat about the fuel pressure and the catalytic converter and how much it would cost to replace it, but his mind was on other things. Not that he was studying Cody, trying to figure out what Porsche saw in him. If he was being honest—which was difficult—Cody was the kind of man women drooled over. He had a bright, outgoing personality, a sharp sense of humor, and he was handsome, if one liked that golden god look.
It was pretty clear why she was obsessed. But what he didn’t know, and needed to, was how Cody felt about her. So when there was a break in the catalytic converter conversation—or something that seemed like one—he said, “So Porsche came over today.”
Both brothers pinned him with a curious look, but Cody nodded. “I saw her. What was that all about?” Was there jealousy in his tone? It didn’t sound like jealousy.
“She’s helping me with the beast.” He gestured to Dougal, who was growling at his reflection in a hubcap braced against the wall. “Training him.”
Cody grunted. “I didn’t think Porsche was patient enough to train a dog.”
Brandon tried to ignore the ripple of annoyance at his nape. “She got him to sit pretty quick.”
Cade chuckled. “Pretty quick doesn’t require patience,” he pointed out.
“So . . .” Brandon sucked in a breath. “You guys have known her all her life. What do you think of her?”
Their gazes snapped to him at once.
“What do you mean?” Cody asked. And hell, there was a hint of protectiveness in his voice.
“You know.” He shrugged. “She’s . . . beautiful.”
“Ho, brother,” Cade said with a chuckle. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
That pricked his interest. “What do you mean?” Was there something about her he didn’t know? Was she less genuine than she seemed? Did she have secrets she had not revealed?
But Cade’s response was simple. “Have you met Ford?”
“Her brother?”
“Yeah.”
“At the poker game. He seemed like a nice guy.”
“Oh, he is,” Cody said with a smirk. “Until you show interest in his sister. Then Attila the Hun comes out.”
He eyed Cody. “And have you . . . met Attila the Hun?”
Cody narrowed his eyes. “Are you asking me if I’m interested in Porsche?”
Enough dancing around the subject. “I am.”
“Why?”
“Because it seems the decent thing to do, before I make a move.”
The brothers exchanged a glance, and Cade said slowly, “You’d better be serious.”
“As a heart attack.”
“Because if you’re just looking for a little flirtation, you need to look elsewhere.” Damn, Cody could growl. Brandon wasn’t sure if he was warning him off because he wanted her for himself, or because he cared for her. It seemed like a good idea to clarify.
“She has a thing for you, Cody.” He couldn’t say the L-word. Couldn’t believe that was what it really was.
“She’s always had a thing for Cody,” Cade said.
“So she says. What I want to know is, are her feelings returned?” He pinned Cody with a sharp stare that seemed to make him uncomfortable. When he didn’t respond, Brandon said, “It’s a simple question.”
Cody frowned. “Of course I have feelings for her. She’s . . . like a sister to me.”
“Excellent.”
The frown turned into a glower. “That doesn’t mean it can’t be something more. You know. At some time in the future.”
Now that pissed Brandon off. “I think she deserves more than that from a man, don’t you?”
“More than what?” Was it possible that Cody was sincerely confused? That he didn’t understand how his apathy could destroy a woman with Porsche’s tender heart?
“She deserves a man who is head over heels in love with her,” he snapped. “Not someone who strings her along.”
“I’ve never strung her along.”
“Wait.” Cade stepped in and held out a hand. “Are you saying you’re head over heels with her? You just met her.”
“I know that. What I’m saying is that I’m willing to go there, if that’s where this takes us.” He turned to Cody. “Are you? Right now?”
His response was something that looked like a pout. Like a boy being asked to share one of his cookies.
Cade raked his fingers thro
ugh his hair and huffed. “Honestly Cody, Brandon’s right. You either have those kinds of feelings for Porsche, or you don’t.”
Cody scowled. “And why do you need to know? Right now?”
“Hey. I’m just trying to be polite. If you tell me you’re in love with her, I’ll turn around right now and walk away.” A complete lie, but whatever.
“No offense, buddy, but you’re just passing through.”
“Am I?” He bent down and picked up Dougal because he was chewing on an extension cord.
“What are you saying? That if you and Porsche get together, you might stay here?” Cade asked.
“I might. I like it here. And I like her.” This last bit was directed at Cody. “A lot. All I’m asking is if you have a prior . . . claim.”
Cody’s eyes narrowed. He grumbled a bit beneath his breath and glared at Brandon and Cade—and Dougal—before he muttered, “No.”
“No?”
“No, okay? No.”
“So I have your blessing?”
Cody’s growl reverberated through the room; Dougal’s ears came up. “Don’t push it.”
“And it sure as shit ain’t Cody’s blessing you need to worry about,” Cade said with a laugh. “It’s Ford’s. And yeah, good luck with that.”
• • •
Ford schmord, Brandon thought as he headed out of the shop with something akin to a victorious grin on his face. He didn’t know what he would have done if Cody had declared his undying love for Porsche. Thank God he hadn’t. As far as Brandon was concerned, the way was clear.
And low and behold, there she was, coming down the steps of the ranch house and heading for her car. He lifted a hand to her, and she changed directions.
“Are you heading home?” he asked.
She nodded and scratched Dougal beneath his chin. The puppy wriggled, so Brandon let him down. “Yeah. I’ll be back tomorrow, though.” She winked. “You know. To train Dougal.”
“Of course,” he said with a grin. “What else?”
“Right?”
Dougal scampered around them, chasing dust whorls, but Brandon’s attention was on Porsche’s face. He was loath to let her go. “So, did you and Claire come up with any brilliant ideas?” He wasn’t truly interested, but this was as good a ploy as any to keep her here. For a while longer at least.
