“I don’t know you.”
“Ethan Gelderman the 5th.” He stuck out a hand, and Branna shook it.
“Do I have to drive you there too?”
“The lines are too low here in town to land my chopper on the main street.”
“Where do you land it?”
“At McBride’s house.”
She wasn’t sure if he was serious or not, but suspected he could be, as she had heard the thud of a helicopter a few days ago. Heading for the driver’s door, she said. “All right, get in, as long as you can handle a woman driving.”
“Honey, I can handle anything you want to do to me.”
“Do women honestly fall for that kind of thing?” Branna backed her van out of the parking lot, and then headed toward The Hoot. “I mean, seriously?”
“What can I say? It’s a gift.”
Branna remembered Belle saying something about a Texan who was Jake’s friend.
“You’re the Texan Tomcat!”
He rolled his eyes. “Annabelle Smith just hates that I haven’t hit on her yet, so she made up that name.”
Even sitting in the front seat of her van, which could easily pass as a family vehicle, he looked sexy. Funny how she didn’t find him as attractive as Jake, though, which was just plain annoying.
“Why haven’t you hit on her? She’s hot. I’d hit on her if I was into women,” Branna demanded.
“My eyes just crossed at that vision.”
Branna refused to laugh as she pulled up outside The Hoot, but it was hard. The guy was certainly a lethal combination; however, she felt nothing, which was a shame because he’d be the perfect man to have an affair with.
“Hey, loser, I want food now!” Ethan demanded as they walked in.
“Go fuck yourself.”
Branna laughed at the snarled words. Looking around she saw the place was empty, and tried to locate the owner.
“Morning, Buster,” she called.
“Sorry, Branna, I thought it was the Texan card swindler the 5thwho’d walked in.”
“Did you know Buster was a sore loser, Branna? Real sore, takes it right to heart.”
The snarling continued so Branna headed in that direction and she found Buster hunched over his laptop, seated at a table around the back of the café.
“Business a bit slow today?”
“Just had a rush.” Buster didn’t look at her as he answered.
“Any chance of some service? I want to try the mystery muffin,” Branna said. “And I’m willing to clean your baking trays for the recipe.”
“Not happening, and help yourself to whatever you want.” Buster frowned at the screen.
“What are you doing?” Branna moved to look over his shoulder.
“Trying to get my website up and running. I want to sell stuff online, do some catering, but it’s harder than it looks, and costs too much to get it done by someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”
