“You, as well. Paddy’s been telling me about the job you do here on the ranch and also the collaborative way you put out Sweet Hollow Ranch’s music. I’m totally impressed.”
Paddy made a sound, and they looked up at him. He had puppy-dog face, and it was very cute.
“You can tell he was the spoiled one. He can’t deal if everyone isn’t fawning over him all the time.”
“Shut it, buttface.”
“Notice he didn’t dispute my statement.”
“She’s my date. Go away.”
“Thank you for bringing us dinner, Ezra.” Natalie patted his arm.
He sent Paddy a face, and she burst out laughing.
“I’d love to have dinner with you guys, thanks for asking.” Ezra turned to her and led her into the kitchen. “Gives me a chance to catch up with Natalie. I don’t suppose you have that Mustang anymore?”
“Oh, my God, you remember that? I kept it for years, wanting to get it restored, but I never had the time or inclination and I ended up selling it.”
Paddy turned and pulled her into a hug. “I forgot about that sexy fastback you used to have.”
“So you both love cars, clearly. Given the one you drove the other day, I should have guessed.”
“Paddy’s past love and working his way into obsession. But, as far as obsessions go, classic cars isn’t a bad one.” Ezra pulled out a chair at the table. “Sit.”
She did, trying not to laugh more as Paddy frowned at his big brother.
“Hey, we understand that you need to go home. Thanks for understanding I’m on a date and all.”
“I headed Mom off so I think the phrase you’re looking for is, thanks, Ezra, for saving me from an evening of baby pictures and stories about the time I yarked on that Santa at the Bon Marche.”
“I don’t know which is worse,” Paddy muttered.
“Please. Don’t lie. Sharon Hurley nosy about her baby’s date is way worse than me eating all your crab rangoon and leaving after I know I’ve given you an eye tic for a few hours.”
Paddy thrust plates into his brother’s arms. “At least set the table.” Paddy turned to Natalie with a far friendlier look than he gave his brother. “What can I get you to drink? I’ve got waters, juices, orange soda, beer, wine. I can do mixed drinks, too. I have champagne for later, but not until Ezra leaves.”
“I’d love some orange soda.” The two men moved around the kitchen—and each other—with ease, saying far more about their bond to each other than their bickering had. It was clear the two spent a lot of time like this, just hanging out.
“So—” Ezra grinned her way for a moment and continued eating “—you’re a librarian. Why Hood River?”
“Well, there were a few places that had openings. I visited several cities in a few states. I visited here in May, so it was so pretty and warm and everyone was friendly. I liked the library here. Liked the programs. But to be totally honest with you? I was driving around, you know, just checking the area out, and I drove past a big blue Victorian with a for-sale sign out front.”
She’d slowed, looking up at it and had wanted it with a greed she rarely allowed herself to feel. The curves of all the bay windows, the lattice work; the house was like a childhood dream come true.
“It was the house that sold me on Hood River. Don’t tell my boss that, though.”
Ezra laughed, but it was Paddy who spoke next. “So? The house?”
“I went back to my hotel and contacted the listing agent. I made an offer the next day after I did a walkthrough. Moved in sixty days later. It’s a really big house, though, so I lived in half while I did a lot of remodeling on the rest. And then my best friend came to visit, and she fell in love with it, too, and she now lives in the other half.”
She wanted to ask him why he’d chosen to run the ranch, but she didn’t know him well enough, and she didn’t want to push any buttons about his past addiction. Addiction talk often made her antsy, anyway.
“I think I know the house you mean. It’s not blue anymore, though. It’s green and white. That’s the one. Overlooking the river, right?”
She nodded. “Yep. It was that color originally, and when I saw the swatches, I knew I wanted it that way again.”
Ezra stayed long enough for her to know he wanted to check her out and be sure she was okay. It spoke volumes about the closeness of this family. But it sure was nice when he finally sent a grin to Paddy as he stood, patting his belly.
“That was awesome, kids. I’m off home.”
She rose, and he kissed her cheek before they followed him down the hall to the door.
“Make good choices.” Ezra winked, and Paddy rolled his eyes, opening the front door.
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for bringing the food. See you later.”
“I THOUGHT HE’D never leave.” Paddy leaned back against the door, flipping the lock. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It was totally fine. I like Ezra and so do you. He checked me out because he wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to hurt you or your family in some way.”
He paused before he grabbed her hand and began to pull her down the hall. For all the smooth, supercontrolled way she acted, there were times she was utterly unvarnished. It kept him on his toes. “Nah. He knows you’re fine.”
“I was some chick you fucked for a few weeks years ago who suddenly resurfaced in your life. For all he knew, I was a stalker out to try to con you.”
She was pretty perceptive. He hadn’t even realized that until she’d said it. Of course Ezra, being the oldest and yes, being the guy who caused no small amount of drama and harm to their family, would take it on as his responsibility to protect them all.
“Does that offend you or bother you?”
She tossed herself onto the big couch in the center of the media room. “What? That your big brother did what big brothers are supposed to do? I’m guessing I must have done okay, or he’d still be here.”
“If your family did that, I don’t know that I’d be that easygoing about it.”
“Well, that’s not going to be a worry for you, so you can put that out of your head. But let’s face it, you have a lot to lose. More than the average random woman who shows up in one of your lives. Not all of us are going to have big fat bank accounts and trust funds.”
“You’re going to tell me that story.” He moved to the projector.
“Maybe.
