“A lot of people would disagree with you.”
“Does that include you?”
“Maybe,” Mary-Beth muttered.
Brett looked through the window. It wasn’t a great night to be going anywhere. “It’s snowing.”
“All the more reason to leave now. You could wear your new jeans.”
Brett knew he was on the losing end of their conversation. At least if he stayed with Mary-Beth he could make sure she was all right. “I’ll meet you at Charlie’s Bar and Grill in an hour.”
“I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
The relief in his sister’s voice worried him. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t worry. You’ll find out when you get there.”
“Hold on a minute. What—”
“Gotta go. See you soon.”
And before Brett took another breath, Mary-Beth ended the call. So much for enjoying a quiet night on the ranch. Thanks to his sister, he was heading into town for a surprise he didn’t need.
***
Hannah walked around the edge of the dance floor, balancing a tray of fries and drinks in her hands. Charlie’s Bar and Grill was usually busy, but this was crazy. She smiled at some people she knew and kept moving.
“Nice costume.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Jack Burton was dressed head-to-foot in pale brown velvet. They’d dated a couple of years ago. Even though it hadn’t turned into anything serious, she’d enjoyed his company. He was an okay kind of person, but not the right kind of person for her.
“Hi, Jack.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“No thanks. Our table isn’t far away.”
Someone brushed past Hannah. She pulled back, but not before the drinks wobbled in their glasses.
“Where are you sitting?”
She nodded at the far side of the room. “Over there.” The jukebox started playing another song and Hannah moved. If she thought making a run for their table between songs would be easy, she was wrong.
“Stick with me,” Jack yelled as he maneuvered around her. “I’ll stop anyone from bumping into you.”
Jack’s offer of help would have been sweet if he hadn’t turned on a big red light on the front of his cap. With his arms waving in the air, he directed people away from them like a giant reindeer on steroids.
A woman wearing a huge Santa hat walked in front of him. He stepped back, almost colliding with Hannah.
She pulled the tray closer, spun to her right, and stumbled as the heel of her shoe slipped on the wooden floor.
Just when she thought she was going to fall, someone held onto her waist, pulling her away from Jack and saving her tray of food.
“Are you all right?”
Her heart was still pounding when she turned to her rescuer. “Thanks for…” She looked into his gray eyes and everything in the room disappeared. His slow smile muddled her brain and left her speechless.
“Ma’am?”
