Adam stopped his son as he reached for the white square box on the table. That is your sisters. And I know your mother raised you with better manners. You dont shout across a restaurant unless its urgent.
Looking genuinely bemused, Geoff asked, Was I shouting? Sorry.
Now say hello to Brennas brother, Josh, and his friend Natalie.
Hey. Geoff nodded politely to Josh, then turned to Natalie. Whereupon he reddened and looked away.
Brenna managed not to smile. When Natalie had been in high school, shed been one of the head cheerleaders, admired by many tongue-tied teenage boys; a decade later, she was still a head-turner. We were just telling your father that Josh is a river guide. You have any interest in white-water rafting?
That would be awe some! Geoff sat next to Josh, temporarily forgetting Natalies good looks and even food. Dad, can we try that while were here? I know you said well go fishing and tubing, but can we try rafting, too?
Dumb, Bren. Seeing Geoffs animated expression, she realized that she shouldnt have said something before finding out if it was okay with Adam. It was akin to asking someone elses dog, Wanna go for a walk? and getting it all excited without knowing whether the owner had time for that.
I dont know. Adam sounded dubious but refrained from shooting her any accusatory glances. How old do you have to be to do that, Josh?
For rafting, the minimum age is seven. It goes up from there, depending on the intensity of the trip you sign up for.
Adam nodded. Morgans way too young.
Speaking of which. Brenna noticed the girls threading their way through the dining room.
I was still playing, Morgan announced forlornly, but Eliza said I couldnt stay back there by myself.
Shes absolutely right, Adam said.
She said she wanted to come find out who the he-
So is there still room at the table for us? Eliza asked, blushing furiously.
Adam gave her a hard look, then sighed. Grab a couple of chairs from that empty table over there. You can sit on the end, and Morgan can squeeze in here with me.
It was a perfectly reasonable suggestion since Morgan took up no room, and Eliza, having already eaten, didnt need much space. But she looked so ticked off that Adam might as well have asked her to sleep on the floor so someone else could have her bed. From what Brenna had seen so far, it would be easy to believe Eliza was just ticked off at the world in general. But Brenna thought there was more to it than that.
Although the girl acted as if she loathed her father, was she jealous of his attention elsewhere? Eliza already had to share him with two siblings, and now, on the very first day of their vacation, three new people were added to the mix.
Brenna thought of the string of boyfriends with whom shed had to compete for her mothers scattered attention-until the woman had left her outright. Josh, I dont suppose youre ready to leave?
As she finished the question, he gaped at her. He wasnt even halfway finished with his meal. You in a hurry?
I Between her attraction to Adam and her discomfort at being the outsider witnessing another familys drama, she couldnt be more eager to go. But since she couldnt say any of that, she concluded, I still have one stop tonight in my neighborhood, and I should try and go by the Dillingers if I can get a ride over there. Plus, I have a lot of clerical stuff to catch up on tonight. Ive been so busy with the actual pet visits for the last few days that Im behind on updating my calendar, printing invoices and logging checks to deposit. Which was crucial since it looked as though shed have to rent a car while hers was being fixed. Lord alone knew how much that was going to set her back.
We can take the rest of our dinner to go, Natalie offered.
No, thats all right. Brenna backpedaled, feeling silly and ungrateful. You guys are doing me the favor. The least I can do is let you finish your meal.
Nobody rush on our account, Adam said. The kids and I should actually head out to the lodge. If I wait until it gets dark, I may end up lost. Natalie, Josh, it was nice meeting both of you.
Ill definitely see you around, Josh said. If you want, I can recommend activities for your whole family.
Thanks. Adams gaze fell on Brenna. And maybe Ill see you around this summer, too?
Dont count on it, Josh said, shooting her a teasing smile. Her workdays sometimes start as early as five and can go past ten oclock. She has no life.
Brenna sucked in a breath, a bit embarrassed that Adam had heard her described that way. She briefly considered smacking her stepbrother upside the head, but violence was a bad example for the children.
Besides, it probably wasnt fair to get mad at someone just for speaking the truth.
QUINN, DO YOU THINK I have no life?
The brunette driving the car stifled a yawn. Its not even seven in the morning and my coffee hasnt kicked in yet. Im not thinking anything.
Brenna stared at the days schedule and said nothing. As it was, she couldnt believe she was letting Joshs comment from the night before bother her. Shed known going into the summer that she would have next to no free time, and it hadnt disturbed her then. So why was it eating at her now?
Because you felt pathetic in front of Adam Varner?
That was a ludicrous reaction. After all, aside from their paths potentially crossing at the Diner or Mistletoes only sizable grocery store, she wasnt planning to see him again. How he viewed her lifestyle was immaterial.
Brenna? Everything okay? Quinn asked, sounding more alert.
Yeah, just ignore me. Everythings fine-except my car. The local automobile dealership also rented vehicles, but when shed called yesterday evening, theyd said she would have to wait until noon to pick one up. That would be useful for her afternoon visits, not so much for the various dogs whod been home alone since last night and really needed to be let out this morning. I appreciate your helping me out today.
No problem, Quinn said. Honestly, its good for me. With school out for the summer, Ive turned into a bum and sleep in way too late most days. Besides
Yes? Brenna prompted.
Quinn laughed. I feel like an idiot saying this out loud, but Im happy for the excuse not to be at home this morning. I hired Gabriel Sloan to do some roof repair for me. Im lucky that last set of storms didnt leave me with a living room full of water. Dylans pretty handy and does as much work around my half of the duplex as his own, but he and Chloe are away at Hilton Head. Dylan Echols was coach of the Mistletoe High baseball team; until tryouts in late July, he, like Quinn, had the summer free.
Gabe Sloan, huh? Since the man didnt own a pet, Brenna didnt know him very well. But most everyone in Mistletoe knew of him.
Yeah. He does great work and you cant find a fairer price, but I get a little unnerved around him. Not because of the scandal-thats ancient history and probably got exaggerated in gossip, anyway. Its just that hes so intense. Lilah says shes never noticed. Lilah Waide was Quinns best friend.
Brenna laughed. Thats because Lilahs too wrapped up in that hunky husband of hers to notice anything about other men.
Arianne said that, too. Except she didnt refer to her brother as hunky. But she does think Gabriel is sexy.
Really?
Arianne, Lilahs sister-in-law, had grown up with two older brothers; she was chatty, opinionated and socially fearless. The idea of Ari having a conversation with the brooding loner Gabe Sloan was both vastly entertaining and completely unimaginable.
Oh! Brenna snapped her fingers. I forgot to ask. How are Rachel and the baby doing?
Quinn smiled. Wonderfully. Arianne called me from the hospital last night to say that Bailey Kathryn Waide is beautiful and that the entire family is already wrapped around her teeny tiny finger. David should be taking home both his ladies this afternoon.
You should have seen him yesterday when he stopped to see if I needed a ride. Brenna smiled at the memory. Shed gone to school with the eldest Waide sibling; hed been the valedictorian of her graduating class. I always thought he was unflappable, but he looked terrified.
Quinn rolled to a stop at a red light. I want to hear more about the guy who did give you a ride. Single dad, huh? Was he good-looking?
Oh, yeah. I suppose. Hes only in town for a few weeks, though.
A lot could happen in that time, Quinn said playfully. I dont want to sound desperate, but Ive lived here my whole life. Ive already met most of the local prospects. You ever worry about that?
Umm Brenna spent more time worrying about whether shed met most of the pet-owners in Mistletoe.
There are a lot of great guys here in Mistletoe, Quinn continued. Even a few that are still single. But if I were going to click with someone, feel that spark, shouldnt it have happened by now?
Brenna tried to think back to her last real relationship, her only serious one since returning to Mistletoe. But it had never gotten as serious as Kevin would have liked. Had there been a definitive spark between her and Kevin Higgs?
The vet was handsome, definitely, and had been a considerate lover. Theyd had common interests and enjoyed each others company, but in retrospect, she wasnt sure her feelings for him had been strong enough to generate real chemistry.
The thing about sparks, Quinn, is that they can lead to fire.
Exactly! Igniting passion, that all-consuming heat when youre around just the right guy.
Maybe Quinn would be comfortable with that kind of volatility, but Brenna would be frantically looking around for an extinguisher. Well, good luck with the chemistry thing. For me, right now all I want is to grow my business and expand my client base. Shed hoped to start building a nest egg, eventually hire part-time help, but her transportation needs were an even more pressing priority.
Hmm. Quinn shot her a sidelong glance. Soif youre all satisfied and fulfilled with just your work, why the question about whether or not you have a life?
This is why I like dogs and cats, Brenna grumbled. They dont point out any conversational inconsistencies!
Quinn laughed. In other words, I should shut up and drive?
Please.
DA-AD! GEOFFS VOICE echoed through the two-bedroom suite, an indignant demand for justice.