He put his hands on his very fit waist, which led to a spectacular ass and long legs in jeans to black boots. His jacket was a winter-green that showed off his wide torso. His skin was an Italian olive hue, his hair dark, and his features angle straight. “Tessa? Want to tell me why you stood me up?”
My sister blinked. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“We’re supposed to be heading over the hill to the Silverville Elks Lodge to plan that stupid holiday party,” he groused, straightening and then wincing. “Don’t tell me. You didn’t know that?”
“Nope,” Tessa said, her green eyes sparkling. “Your grandma set you up, buddy. I’d think you’d know to look for a trap.”
He wiped snow off his thick hair. “I wasn’t thinking.” Then he glanced at his watch. “They’ve been trying to get us to help plan for two months now, and we haven’t made it to one meeting. I wish they’d stop playing games.”
Tessa lost the amusement. “Me, too.”
Nick shook his head. “I’m in trial next week and should get back to work. Sorry to have bothered you.” He paused, studying her face.
A pretty blush wandered through her pale skin. “No problem.” She turned back to her burger.
Nick watched her for a minute, threw up his hands, and stomped out of the restaurant.
“What was that about?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Nothing. Our grandmas keep trying to push us together, and we don’t fit, as you know.”
That was baloney. “Has he asked you out?”
Her shrug this time was a little more reluctant. “Kind of. He’s asked me for drinks, but I’m sure it’s just to appease his Grams. I’m not a pity date.”
It was so weird. My sister was smart, kind, hard-working, and seriously beautiful in a young Maureen O’Hara way. Yet she thought, for some really stupid reason, that not going to college put her out of Nick’s league, just because he’d attended law school. Sometimes I wanted to smack her on the nose, but since I’d seen her take down an undercover ATF officer in a bar fight a few months previous to defend me, I wasn’t sure I’d win a scuffle. “Maybe he likes you.”
She finished her soda. “Nick Basanelli likes his job, his ambition, and his future. I don’t fit with any of those items.”
I shook my head. “I don’t have the energy right now to kick you, and you really need to get a grip. He’d be lucky if you accepted a date for drinks.”
“Huh.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I have five more minutes. Give me the scoop on Aiden and how it feels to have him back in town.”
I’d texted her that morning that he was home, but I hadn’t mentioned the roses, heart, or phone call. Why worry my family when I didn’t have any information to report? They had enough on their minds with the holidays. “I think it’s good that he’s back, but he’s being a little bossy.”
She sat back and stretched her neck. “You like him bossy.”
“Yeah, but I shouldn’t,” I admitted. “I’m letting down all of womankind by not teaching him a lesson.”
Her chuckle was soft. “We both know that you’d end up learning the lesson.” Then she leaned toward me. “You like him, he likes you, so stop worrying about womankind. We can take care of ourselves, and you deserve to be you and to be happy. Let him protect you and allow yourself to enjoy that feeling of safety.”
Such great advice, and it was too bad she couldn’t listen to herselfforherself. My eye roll appropriately conveyed my irritation with her. Then I finished my soda. “Can I borrow your car for the afternoon? I had a friend drop me off here.”
She tilted her head. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just ignoring you and doing my part for womankind.” I wasn’t sure if avoiding Aiden and investigating on my own did much good for anybody else, but a girl did have her pride. Plus, I had a job to do and was more than prepared with a LadySmith in my purse.
Tessa grabbed the empty baskets and dodged around the counter, leaning down and then tossing me her keys.
I caught them one-handed, scooted from the booth, and started to rummage for my wallet.
She held up a hand. “Lunch is on me.” Then she smoothed down her holiday style apron. “What should I tell Aiden when he shows up and you’re not here?”
Yeah, my sister knew me. “Tell him to bite me.”
“If I know Aiden, he just might,” she called back.
My legs might’ve wobbled a bit on the way to the door, but I held my head up high.
