could think of a lot of reasons to skip this meal. But he’d never live it down if he did. “Okay, all right. I’ll come and eat. But don’t expect me to be pleasant.”
“I’d never expect that,” Rick replied as he headed back down the steps. “But I do expect you to use your manners and treat Shanna with respect.”
“I do respect her,” Simon shot back. “I’ve always been a respecter of women.”
Rick turned and grinned then. “So you like her just a little bit then?”
Simon would learn one day that he couldn’t fool his little brother. “She’s a pretty woman. What’s not to like?”
“And she’s single and available, even if you are about ten years too old for her.”
“I’m not that much older than you,” Simon said while they walked across the grass. “And besides, I’m not interested. Nice woman, yes. Me, interested, no.”
“Whatever you say, brother.”
Obviously Rick didn’t believe him. Simon wouldn’t dare tell his brother that he got these funny little feelings each time Shanna was around. Feelings he didn’t want to discuss or even think about. But they were there, like fireflies lighting up the night, inside his head.
Just nerves. He wasn’t accustomed to being around a lot of people at once. And he hadn’t thought about another woman since Marcy. He didn’t like thinking that way.
“Have you met all the kids?” Rick asked, taking the steps to the cabin two at a time.
“No. I’ve tried to avoid all the kids.”
“You’re some welcome wagon, that’s for sure.”
“I only ask to be left alone.”
“You need to get out more, get involved in life.” Rick waved his hands. “Look around you, Simon. The dogwoods and magnolias are blooming. The azaleas are budding. The woods are alive with mountain laurel and rhododendrons. It’s spring, time for renewal and rebirth.”
Simon glanced around the woods. He hated to admit he hadn’t even noticed. “I have allergies.”
“You do not.”
“Do so. I’m allergic to nosy brothers and noisy kids.”
Rick stopped at the screen door to the cabin. “No, you’re just afraid to live, Simon. And if you don’t drop that attitude, one day you’ll look up and see that you’ve missed out on a lot of things.”
Simon sniffed, lifting his nose toward the kitchen. “Well, I ain’t missing out on that spaghetti. So move out of my way.”
“You came.”
Shanna smiled over at Simon as she handed him a sturdy foam plate of spaghetti and crusty French bread. “We have pound cake and ice cream for dessert.”
“My mom’s cake?”
“I do believe so. She’s such a good cook.”
“Yeah.” He took the plate then sat down at one of the long picnic tables he’d helped Rick and some of the boys carry down between the cabins to a level spot closer to the river. “She is a good cook. She taught my wife how to cook.”
Shanna looked up at that statement, her eyes filling with compassion. “I’m so sorry about what happened.”
Simon wanted to bite his tongue. He never talked to anyone about Marcy. How had that slipped out? “Thanks.” He went about shoveling in food, chewing so he wouldn’t have to speak.
“You don’t like talking about it, do you?”
“No.” And he didn’t like that she could see that.
“Then we won’t.”
Shanna sipped her iced tea and stared out into the woods. “It’s so peaceful out here.”
“Yeah.” Or at least it had been until this week.
“Don’t you get lonely, though?”
“No.”
She sat her cup down. “You’re not making this easy.”
“I’m just being me.”
“Like I said, you’re not making this easy.”
“What do you expect from me?” he said, looking up and into her eyes.
She didn’t back down, even if she did appear hurt. “I heard you telling Rick about how I almost set the woods on fire. If I didn’t have complete confidence in my ability to win people over, I’d certainly have a complex regarding you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m just an ornery old bootmaker.”
“You’re not that old, but you are ornery.”
He actually chuckled at that, only because he and Rick had just discussed that very thing.
“Wow, he laughs.”
Simon’s smile stilled on his face. “And she smiles. You’re pretty when you smile.”
She lowered her head then slanted her eyes up at him. “And you don’t look half bad when you laugh.”
“I’m not used to people being around.”
“I know. Your mom told me you didn’t even want Rick to buy the other cabin because you didn’t want tourists hanging out back here.”
“True. I do have to work for a living.”
“But has anyone really ever bothered you?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Me?” She shook her head. “I’ve tried to avoid you. And I’ve cautioned the kids to do the same. Even though they’re fascinated with what you do. Especially little Katie. She thinks you’re some sort of Paul Bunyan, a giant of a man.”
“Are they that curious about me?” He reckoned he could give the little varmints a tour, just to shut them up. Or say “Boo” to them so they’d leave him alone.
“Yeah. You’re like the troll under the bridge to them, part fascinating and part frightening.”
“I’m a troll?”
“I said you’re like a troll. But you don’t look like one, no.”
“I do like to hide and jump out at pretty women.”
She laughed at that. “Your brother didn’t tell me you actually have a sense of humor.”
He savored another bite of spaghetti, the rich sauce tasting spicy and sweet as it went down. “And what did my brother
