thoughts and feelings about Brody under control and her mind back on work, she headed for the outer office.
“Jillie?” Brody stopped her.
“I know, two cups of coffee. I’ll be right back with them.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.”
She paused with one hand on the door, eager for escape.
Slanting a glance at his brother, Brody gave a slight what-the-hell shrug then pulled a white lunch sack from behind his desk. He brought it to her. “Here.”
Confused, she stared at the sack. “What do you want me to do with this?”
“It’s for you.” He lowered his voice to a husky whisper and cut his eyes toward Griffin who sat in the copper-colored suede chair opposite Brody’s desk.
“Me? But what—”
“It’s a bagel,” he answered before she could finish her question. “Eat it. I can’t have you fainting anymore.” He turned on his heel, dismissing her, and walked back to his desk.
His words were brusque, but the sentiment surprised her. It was a simple gesture. Logical, even. But somehow the sweetness of it touched her.
“I’ll be back with that coffee,” she muttered.
She closed the door behind her and sank into the chair at her desk. Slowly she opened the paper sack he’d given her. A warm, yeasty scent rose to greet her. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly’s wing beneath her breastbone.
He’d remembered. Oh, God, he’d remembered that she loved blueberries. When was the last time a man had given her something? When had a man looked out for her welfare? Or even tried to please her? Hot tears scalded the backs of her eyes.
She sniffed. Hormones, she thought. That’s all it is. She wouldn’t give in to the weak emotions. She certainly wouldn’t allow Brody back into her heart.
“Oh, shoot,” she mumbled to herself. “I forgot to get the coffee.” She pushed herself up from her chair.
Maybe the blueberry bagel was a peace offering. Fine. She could accept it for that. But nothing more. She knew Brody was the love-one, love-’em-all kind of man. Too much like James. And definitely not the kind for her.
“Some assistant you have there,” Griffin commented, templing his fingers in front of his mouth to hide a smirk. “What’s she assisting you with?” His broadening grin aggravated Brody.
“Merging these two companies. That’s all.”
“Uh-huh. I can see you’ve got a merger—” he winked “—of some kind on your mind.”
Brody frowned and opened a file folder in front of him. “How’s everything at the Double Crown?”
“A cyclone of activity.”
Glancing up from the accounting profile, Brody leaned back in his chair. “The wedding have things stirred up?”
“Our big brother sure got lassoed by that sheila. Reed’s making everybody bend over backward to make this wedding a blasted fairy tale. Guess I can’t blame him. Mallory’s some woman.”
Brody chuckled at his older brother having finally been bitten by love. “She’d have to be to handle Reed.”
A discreet knock on the door signaled Jillian’s return. She carried in a tray with two cups of steaming, fragrant coffee along with packets of sugar and cream. After depositing the tray on the table beside Griffin, she retreated without a word. Or a look in Brody’s direction. He couldn’t help but watch her petite hips rock from side to side in a subtle alluring fashion.
He wondered if the blueberry bagel had reminded her of their carefree college days, of lazy naps beneath a eucalyptus tree on campus where they’d kissed and shared their dreams. When he’d decided to stop on his way to the office and pick up a couple of bagels this morning, he’d remembered her penchant for blueberries and the time he’d bought her an ice-cream cone.
His insides had roiled like a broiler as he’d watched her lick the creamy concoction with the tip of her pink tongue. She’d smiled at him seductively, her mouth tilting on one side, a pale blue mustache above her upper lip. Unable to resist, he’d stolen a quick kiss, tasted the sweet tartness on her lips, and the memory still lingered in his mind, whipping his appetite and desires into a frenzy once again.
“Looking for one yourself maybe?” Griff asked after Jillian had again closed the door behind her.
“What?” Brody jerked his attention back to the present.
“Looking to make it a double wedding?”
“Hell, no.” He slapped his tie against his abdomen and crossed his arms over his chest. “What can I do for you?”
“I thought it was the other way around. Didn’t you have something you wanted me to do for you while we were all here in Texas? Or has your new assistant made you forget about that woman from college you wanted me to find?”
Brody’s shoulders tightened. He cleared his throat. “It’s not important anymore. I have too much work to do. No time to think about sheilas.”
Only Jillian.
Griff took a long, contemplative gulp of his black coffee, his brown eyes watching Brody over the rim. “How is the merger going?”
“All right,” he answered, ignoring the double entendre behind Griff’s words. “I’m thinking of doing some research in a couple of weeks. There’s a piece of real estate that’s recently come on the market. It borders the north side of the ranch. Could be a good investment. Unless you think I should stick closer to the family and the Double Crown.”
Griff frowned, obviously understanding Brody’s silent question. “I’ve got my eye on things.”
Brody felt the tension in the back of his neck compress on his spine. “Any word on Clint Lockhart’s whereabouts?”
“No.”
Shoving back his chair, full of restless energy, Brody rounded his desk and settled one hip on the edge. “I don’t like the idea of this criminal on the loose.”
“Neither do I. He seems to have disappeared.”
“What does the sheriff think?” Brody asked.
“That he’s still around. Don’t worry. I’m on top of things.”
Brody leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee. “I’m not worried about you, sport.”
Griffin nodded. “I know what you’re thinking—Matilda.”
Shaking his head, Brody pictured his rambunctious, too trusting, younger sister. “She’s trouble looking for a spot to happen.”
“I’ve been thinking we need to schedule some activities, keep her busy, so she can’t run into the wrong kind of people.”
“You
