means ‘fight,”’ Jessica confided to seven-year-old Zach, who was listening with wide eyes. “Sure, Mom. We know when someone wants to get rid of us.”
Once the kids were through the door, Matt chuckled. “When Laura told me what you two are up to, I told her it would never work. Was I right?” He looked lovingly at his wife, who sighed.
Katy felt duty-bound to defend her friend’s faith in her. “Look, if Dylan and I want to make it work, it’ll work.”
The gentleman in question raised his brows. “ Do we want to make it work?”
She let out her breath on a gust of displeasure. “If you’re going to take that attitude…no.”
“Katy!” Laura exclaimed. “I thought your mother and grandmother—”
“I’d do it for them if I could, but I don’t really see any way.” Katy shook her head in disgust.
Laura turned to Dylan. “And what about Brandee Haycox?”
Matt bolted upright in his chair. “Brandee’s after you now? Dylan, why didn’t you tell me?” He began to laugh.
“I didn’t tell you because I knew this would be your reaction.” The corners of Dylan’s attractive mouth curved down. “And because I knew you wouldn’t have any tips on how to dislodge her.”
“Oops.” Matt glanced at his wife. He’d been Brandee’s target once himself, before he and Laura got together.
Laura frowned. “I just don’t get it,” she complained. “You’re two of my favorite people and—”
“Since when?” Katy shot a challenging glance at Dylan. “I never thought you liked that guy.”
Laura laughed. “I didn’t—and I didn’t like this guy, either.” She touched her husband’s arm tenderly. “Which all goes to show you that things aren’t always what they seem.”
Katy rolled her eyes. “Skim milk masquerades as cream,” she agreed, “but I’ve never heard of cream masquerading as skim milk.”
Dylan frowned. “Am I being insulted, here? Katy, there’s no law saying we have to go out there and make fools of ourselves trying to convince folks we’re a couple. If we told them we’d buried the tomahawk, they’d think we buried it in each other’s back.”
“Absolutely.” She nodded for emphasis. “This will never work, so it’s good we found out right away. No hard feelings.” She offered her hand.
“Naw.”
He took her hand in a grip she felt all the way to her shoulder, but she wouldn’t allow herself to flinch.
He added, “At least no more hard feelings than usual. Kind of a shame, actually.”
She knew she shouldn’t ask, but she did anyway. “What’s kind of a shame?”
“That a good-lookin’ woman like you can’t find some guy willing to tame you into something approaching a woman. Because—”
“Out of here!” Laura surged to her feet. “If you two want to go at it hammer and tongs, don’t do it in my kitchen!” She pointed toward the door with a quivering finger.
“Sorry.” Dylan jumped up. “We wouldn’t want to upset the pregnant lady. Thanks for a great meal, Laura. And thanks for trying.”
“Ditto.” Katy rose, too. “I’m sorry about all that. Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“Maybe, but they can die—if either of you really wanted that to happen.”
“I suppose. As he said, dinner was great and your intentions were even better.” Katy hesitated. “Sure I can’t help you with the dishes?”
“You run along.” Laura, equilibrium restored, smiled. “And think about how much easier life would be for all of us if you and Dylan could just get along.”
“I’ll do that,” Katy promised, adding a silent when hell freezes over.
She kept that state of mind all the way home to her little house on the edge of town. Complete with white picket fence, it was her pride and joy.
The phone was ringing when she unlocked the door. It was her mother, Liz, who lived in Denver with the rest of the Andrewses, including Katy’s “little” brothers: Mack, twenty-six, and Josh, twenty-seven; and her grandmother, Edna. Katy’s father had died nearly five years ago.
“What’s up, Ma?” she asked, tossing her shoulder bag on the sofa. “Everybody all right?”
“Everybody’s wonderful,” Liz said in her usual upbeat manner. “I’ve got some good news, Katy.”
“I can use some of that.”
“We’re having a family reunion October fourth. Everybody’s coming—Uncle Tom and the kids from Omaha, Aunt Gertrude and her family from Tulsa, all of ’em.”
“Sounds great,” Katy said cautiously. Not that she didn’t love her family, and the big reunions were always fun, but she sensed a hidden minefield here someplace. “I’ll bet Grandma’s excited.”
“Oh, she is! But…there’s this little problem….”
“Uh-oh.”
Liz’s tone changed, became cajoling. “Katy, you know how concerned your grandmother is that you’re not married, or even seeing anyone special. And with her health the way it is…well, I know you’ll understand.”
Katy’s heart stood still. “Understand what?”
“Why I’ve taken the liberty of getting you a date for the reunion, dear. He’s a very nice boy, a friend of your brothers’, and he’s really looking forward to meeting you. He’s a lawyer with one of the best firms in town and he—”
“Stop!” Katy’s mind raced. A friend of her brothers’? She’d rather die an old maid.
“But Katy, dear, your grandmother…”
“Grandma doesn’t have a thing to worry about,” Katy lied through her teeth, “because…” Say it! “Because…because I’ll have my own date, thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I have been seeing someone and—and it’s getting serious.”
So there!
The negotiating dinner at Laura’s had been even worse than Dylan expected and he hadn’t expected much. Disgusted, he decided to stop at the Painted Pony Saloon on his way home and have a beer with his buddies, some of whom were sure to be there.
Sure enough, he found a couple of friends holding up one end of the bar and joined them. He got his beer and kept his mouth shut except when he was drinking it.
Until one of the guys leaned over and whispered, “Guess who just walked in, good buddy?”
Dylan
