hard businessman shut down and the country boy reemerged. The charmer she’d been half in love with. “I’m here for a short time. If I can’t be here one hundred percent for Amber, I’ll stay out at the farm. Just don’t lose faith in me yet.”
Her pulse raced as he lightly held her hand in his. She hadn’t won the war, but she’d won this battle. Giddiness filled her. The warmth of his touch caused her breathing to become uneven. The steel look had left his blue eyes until they became warm and she felt herself softening. Swaying ever so much closer.
He has a girlfriend! Her mind had to shout to remind her. Reluctantly, she took her hand back, resisting the urge to rub the tingles away. Just another reason to keep her distance. It would help her remember that Brady was here only for Amber.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Fortunately, Amber came rushing out the door at that moment, keeping both of them from making a fool out of her.
As they stood in line at the ice cream shop after dinner, Brady couldn’t understand why Maggie was still angry. Amber had kept up the conversation during dinner, but Maggie had been visibly upset. When Amber had asked Maggie if she was okay, Maggie had claimed to have a headache. But she’d given him a glance that made him believe he was the headache.
He had business to do. It wasn’t as if he could take off two weeks and not do his work, regardless of what his boss thought. And with the limitations of the internet out at the farm, he could only do so much there. But she didn’t seem to understand that.
Besides, Amber had been busy with homework. It wasn’t as though she needed his constant attention. Did Maggie expect him to help Amber with her homework? Because from what he’d seen so far, she didn’t need it.
“I want the mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone with chocolate sprinkles and chocolate sauce.” Amber bubbled over with excitement as she pointed her fingers against the cold glass.
“Keep your hands off the glass, please.” Maggie avoided looking at Brady.
If that’s the way she wanted it, fine with him. He would figure out how to bridge this gap between them eventually. Her eyes had softened after he’d given in and her lips had parted slightly. Temptation in the flesh. And then she’d gone cold and rigid. Obviously, even if she desired him, she didn’t want to. Maybe he was reading her wrong. But he hadn’t read her wrong in New York. She’d been as into him as he’d been into her. He mentally shook his head as he pulled out a twenty and handed it to the cashier before Maggie had a chance to dig in her purse.
That got a glare out of her, but he just smiled.
Right now he had to focus on getting to know Amber in the time he had left. As much as he desired Maggie, she needed someone who would be there for her. He wasn’t ready for a full-time family.
An elderly man in ripped khakis and a plaid shirt sidled up next to Brady. “You know it’s rude to not say hello to your elders.”
Brady looked over and recognized Paul Morgan, a friend of his dad’s. “When I see an elder, I’ll be sure to say hi.”
Paul took Brady’s offered hand in a hearty handshake. Paul chuckled and gestured toward Amber and Maggie getting the ice cream they’d chosen.
“Good family you got there.”
Brady hesitated. He almost said they’re not mine, but that wasn’t exactly true. Amber was his daughter, but Maggie wasn’t his wife or his in any way. And at the rate they were going, they wouldn’t even be friends by the end of the week.
Brady nodded, not knowing what else to do.
“You been over to see Sam?” Paul asked.
Brady looked at his feet before returning Paul’s gaze. How much did he know about the blowup between the brothers? “I’m staying out at the old farm.”
“Good that you two let bygones go. Sam’s done a great job tending the farm. His livestock is the best in the county. And the way he took over raising you and Luke, that shows real courage. Shame your parents aren’t around to see how well you boys grew up.”
Even as the familiar burn of jealousy engulfed him from all the praise for Sam, Brady couldn’t help but think of how disappointed his parents would be that he and his brothers weren’t close like when they were young. His mother had always mended the fences between him and Sam when they fought, but she wasn’t here now. Brady wasn’t sure their relationship could be mended after what Sam did to Maggie.
“Looks like I should get back to…” Brady gestured to Maggie and Amber, not knowing what to call them. “It was good seeing you.”
“You should stop for a visit while you’re in town,” Paul said.
Brady shook Paul’s hand before heading over to the table Maggie and Amber had found.
Paul had a neighboring farm to the Wards’. Brady hadn’t even asked how Paul’s wife was doing. Or his farm or crops. Mom would have scolded him for not showing common courtesy.
“Don’t you want ice cream?” Amber’s nose was coated with a skim layer of green ice cream. She looked at him with those adoring eyes and he melted inside. He did have one thing Sam didn’t.
He patted his stomach as he sat. “I’m stuffed from that dinner your mom prepared. She must be the best cook in the tri-county area.”
He glanced over at Maggie, but she didn’t seem amused by his declaration.
He missed her smiles. And their absence made him try even harder to get one. Apparently, it was going to take more than complimenting her cooking.
“How was school today?” Brady asked.
“Alex puked all over the hallway. It was disgusting.” Amber drew out the last word and made the requisite face to go along with it.
“That’s what you remember from school?” Brady shook his head and tried to keep a straight face. He’d been expecting something about the math homework she’d had or the spelling test she’d mentioned earlier. Not some kid puking in the hall.
She took a bite of her cone. “It was the most exciting thing that happened all day. It almost splattered all over Jessica and Maddy. Everyone jumped out of the way while the janitor went and got kitty litter.”
Brady smiled. “I suppose that would be exciting.”
Amber continued to eat her green ice cream as if they’d been discussing art rather than vomit. From what Brady remembered of grade school, it probably would have been the highlight of his day, too.
He turned to Maggie to see how she was reacting. “How was your day today?”
Maybe she would answer a direct question.
“Fine.” Maggie kept her gaze out the window past him.
“Anyone puke?” Brady winked at Amber, who giggled.
“Nope.”
Nothing. He sighed internally. As he scanned the ice cream shop, people had a familiar look about them. But he’d been away for so long, he couldn’t tell who they were.
He’d
