CHAPTER THREE
Brett watched Hannah move from table to table. She smiled at each resident, refilled their coffee cups and made sure they were having a good time.
For the first few months after Ida moved to the retirement village, all Pat talked about was his wife’s amazing nurse. A part of Brett had wanted to meet her, but instead of going into town with Pat, he’d visited Ida on the weekends when Hannah wasn’t there. There was always too much work to do on the ranch, too many reasons why meeting her would be a bad idea. From what Pat had said, Hannah had a big heart and a gentle soul. And above everything else, those were the two things that scared Brett the most.
When Hannah left the retirement village to work with her sister, he’d breathed a sigh of relief. The chance of them ever meeting was almost zero—until last night.
He’d often wondered what she looked like, but his imagination didn’t do her justice. She was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever met. Last night, her blond hair had curled around her shoulders. Today, she wore a tight, no-nonsense bun. But anyone looking into her bright blue eyes would see a whole lot of mischief lurking behind her smile.
“She’s quite something, isn’t she,” Pat whispered from beside him.
Another woman came out of the kitchen. She looked so similar to Hannah that they had to be sisters. “Who’s that?” he asked Pat.
“Claire, Hannah’s sister.”
“Ssh.” A woman beside them sent Brett an unimpressed glare. “I’m listening to the singing.”
“Sorry,” Pat muttered. He sent Brett an apologetic grin. “I should have introduced you to Hannah years ago.”
The woman cleared her throat and Pat shrugged.
After the third Christmas carol finished, five choir members circulated through the audience with jelly donuts covered in chocolate sprinkles. The bribery had started.
“You should ask her out,” Pat whispered to Brett.
“Who?”
“Hannah. You’ve got a lot in common.”
“I doubt that,” he murmured.
“You’d be surprised. Apart from knowing Ida and me, you both grew up in families that were less than ideal. You care about people.” Pat nodded to himself. “Being kind is the most important quality anyone can have.”
Until he’d met Pat and Ida, kindness had been in short supply in Brett’s life. “I thought you said a cast-iron stomach and strong arms were all you needed.”
Pat snorted. “That was before Mrs. Bennett saved us from my cooking. You should be thankful she took pity on us and decided to stay.”
Brett placed his hand over his heart. “I am forever grateful.”
“So, are you going to ask Hannah on a date?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Apart from only just meeting her, you never give me time off work.”
Pat held onto Ida’s hand. “One day you’re going to regret making all those excuses.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If I believed that you wouldn’t be here. But don’t worry. I’m sure we can arrange something.”
Brett didn’t like the look in Pat’s eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking won’t work.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. This old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve.”
The next choir shuffled into place and burst into a colorful rendition ofGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
