That’s how she met her two wildcatters.”
“Look, we screwed up,” Kev said. “No question about it. And while you don’t know it, Julia, and probably don’t believe it, we’ve kicked our own asses over our stupidity. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forfeited our responsibility where you’re concerned, baby sister.”
“You can’t forfeit what was never actually yours to begin with,” Drew said.
“For one thing,” Dev said, “ if Julia needs anyone watching over her or taking her part, that’s going to be us from now on.”
“And for another thing,” Drew said, “Julia’s a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of herself. She got herself out of the mess you landed her into, didn’t she?”
Richard didn’t appear to be willing to back off. “I figured the stories of pending fiancés were just some sort of a red herring,” Richard said. “Because apparently the ’rents don’t know about them, either. Are you telling me you’re actually engaged to these two?”
Julia grinned. “Before I answer that question, tell me, brother mine, what did Mom say to you when you asked her ?”
Trey said, “She told him that he should mind his own business.”
“Mom’s always so wise,” Julia said.
The Benedict brothers ignored Julia’s suggestion that the table was too full for them to sit. They simply brought chairs over from another table and squeezed themselves in around Adam and Tracy.
“I have to get back to work,” Tracy said. She leaned over and kissed Peter. “Please stay. Your gun may be required to enforce the peace.”
When she stood, so did Drew and Dev. Their reward for the courtesy was a smile of appreciation, and an invitation. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll have a cookout,” she said. “I’ll give Julia a call once I talk to Jordan.”
“That would be great,” Drew said.
“We’ll look forward to it,” Dev said.
Ginny Rose came out of the kitchen carrying a large tray loaded down with plates of food. She set one in front of him, and all Drew could do was inhale. The large roll was heaped high with roast beef, and the aroma of the gravy and the onions made his stomach growl.
“God, that smells good. Thank you.” He smiled at her, and immediately became aware of Adam’s intense stare.
“You’re welcome.” She set plates before Julia and Dev.
Drew caught her blush when she looked at Adam. Not usually that aware of nuances, he certainly realized there were vibes of some sort traveling between the shy waitress and Lusty’s sheriff. He met that man’s gaze, hoping Adam realized he had no interest in Ginny Rose at all.
“Why don’t y’all bring that other table over, instead of trying to crowd out those wanting to eat their lunch?”
Ginny’s question, directed at the Benedict brothers, raised Adam’s eyebrow.
“Yes’m,” Kevin and Trey said, and immediately got up to do as she asked. By moving the smaller table over, they had to change the way their chairs were situated. The result did indeed give everyone more room, and moved the Benedicts further away from their sister.
“Anyone else ordering lunch, or are y’all just here to cause trouble?”
Adam’s eyes seemed alight with merriment as the three Benedicts quickly ordered lunch. Since they didn’t even have a single menu between them, they each asked for a hamburger and fries. Neither Adam nor Peter ordered anything, and Ginny, with a smart nod of her head, returned to the kitchen.
“I still haven’t received a straight answer as to whether or not Julia is engaged to the two of you.” Richard had obviously tired of trying to get an answer from his sister. “How do I know you’re even really interested in her, and not her money? How do any of us know we can trust you? You haven’t had the decency to introduce yourselves to us or our parents.”
Julia tensed beside him. Later, when they were alone tonight, he’d tell her how he believed Richard wasn’t purposefully goading her. He
“Look, we screwed up,” Kev said. “No question about it. And while you don’t know it, Julia, and probably don’t believe it, we’ve kicked our own asses over our stupidity. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forfeited our responsibility where you’re concerned, baby sister.”
“You can’t forfeit what was never actually yours to begin with,” Drew said.
“For one thing,” Dev said, “ if Julia needs anyone watching over her or taking her part, that’s going to be us from now on.”
“And for another thing,” Drew said, “Julia’s a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of herself. She got herself out of the mess you landed her into, didn’t she?”
Richard didn’t appear to be willing to back off. “I figured the stories of pending fiancés were just some sort of a red herring,” Richard said. “Because apparently the ’rents don’t know about them, either. Are you telling me you’re actually engaged to these two?”
Julia grinned. “Before I answer that question, tell me, brother mine, what did Mom say to you when you asked her ?”
Trey said, “She told him that he should mind his own business.”
“Mom’s always so wise,” Julia said.
The Benedict brothers ignored Julia’s suggestion that the table was too full for them to sit. They simply brought chairs over from another table and squeezed themselves in around Adam and Tracy.
“I have to get back to work,” Tracy said. She leaned over and kissed Peter. “Please stay. Your gun may be required to enforce the peace.”
When she stood, so did Drew and Dev. Their reward for the courtesy was a smile of appreciation, and an invitation. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll have a cookout,” she said. “I’ll give Julia a call once I talk to Jordan.”
“That would be great,” Drew said.
“We’ll look forward to it,” Dev said.
Ginny Rose came out of the kitchen carrying a large tray loaded down with plates of food. She set one in front of him, and all Drew could do was inhale. The large roll was heaped high with roast beef, and the aroma of the gravy and the onions made his stomach growl.
“God, that smells good. Thank you.” He smiled at her, and immediately became aware of Adam’s intense stare.
“You’re welcome.” She set plates before Julia and Dev.
Drew caught her blush when she looked at Adam. Not usually that aware of nuances, he certainly realized there were vibes of some sort traveling between the shy waitress and Lusty’s sheriff. He met that man’s gaze, hoping Adam realized he had no interest in Ginny Rose at all.
“Why don’t y’all bring that other table over, instead of trying to crowd out those wanting to eat their lunch?”
Ginny’s question, directed at the Benedict brothers, raised Adam’s eyebrow.
“Yes’m,” Kevin and Trey said, and immediately got up to do as she asked. By moving the smaller table over, they had to change the way their chairs were situated. The result did indeed give everyone more room, and moved the Benedicts further away from their sister.
“Anyone else ordering lunch, or are y’all just here to cause trouble?”
Adam’s eyes seemed alight with merriment as the three Benedicts quickly ordered lunch. Since they didn’t even have a single menu between them, they each asked for a hamburger and fries. Neither Adam nor Peter ordered anything, and Ginny, with a smart nod of her head, returned to the kitchen.
“I still haven’t received a straight answer as to whether or not Julia is engaged to the two of you.” Richard had obviously tired of trying to get an answer from his sister. “How do I know you’re even really interested in her, and not her money? How do any of us know we can trust you? You haven’t had the decency to introduce yourselves to us or our parents.”
Julia tensed beside him. Later, when they were alone tonight, he’d tell her how he believed Richard wasn’t purposefully goading her. He
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