“Okay.” She let the word hang there. “What do you suggest?”
“There’s a restaurant not far from here. They have steak.”
Brynnon looked down at herself. Her jeans were dirty and ripped, her flannel faded, and the t-shirt beneath it was stained. She didn’t need a mirror to know her hair was also a total wreck.
“Um, I’m not really dressed for that sort of thing.”
“It isn’t fancy. You’re fine.”
Her schedule was so hectic, she usually just grabbed something quick while driving to the hardware store and back. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a decent meal and had to admit the idea was more than a little appealing.
“Okay,” she told him. “If you say so.”
“I do. Let’s go.” Grant started toward the front door. “While we eat, you can give me that information I asked you about.”
“Fine. But I’m driving.”
“We both are.” He looked over his shoulder. “You’re following me.”
Already sick of his bossy ass, Brynnon fought the urge to stick out her tongue. How she ever thought he was potential dating material was beyond her.
This is what you get for putting a guy you’ve talked to for all of thirty seconds on a sexual pedestal.
Knowing the tiny voice was right, she did as she was told and followed him to the restaurant. Less than forty-five minutes later, she was enjoying the best meal she’d had in a very long time.
Brynnon took another bite of her grilled club sandwich, the crispy bacon and freshly sliced tomato putting the heavenly concoction over the top.
“Okay, you were right.” She covered her full mouth with her hand. “This is so much better than fast-food.”
Grant swallowed a bite of his enormous T-bone. “Told you.”
While he was focused on his food, Brynnon took a moment to study the formidable man.
His brown hair was almost military-short in the back and on the sides with slightly longer layers on top. A dusting of dark scruff covered his square jaw and strong chin and his perfect lips had two settings: flat or pursed.
Brynnon glanced down at the edge of what she assumed was a full-sleeve tattoo peeking out from beneath his rolled cuff. Her heart thumped a little harder, and muscles she hadn’t used in far too long clenched, wishing she could see more of his ink.
I want to see all of it.
Pretending she hadn’t just thought that, she returned her focus to his face. More specifically, to the set of gray-blue eyes that seemed to penetrate her soul.
There was something in them she hadn’t noticed the first time they met. She couldn’t exactly name it, but whatever it was made her heart sad.
As they continued eating, Brynnon shared with him what she could about the people she hired to help with her business, promising to write down their names and contact information when she got home.
“What about your social life?”
Brynnon halted her sandwich mid-bite. “What about it?”
“Who’s in your circle?”
She smirked. “My circle?”
His eyes gave a slight roll. “Friends. Boyfriends. Who do you hang out with?”
“Oh.” She sat her sandwich back down. “Well, seeing as how I’m always working, I don’t really have acircle. No boyfriend, and really the only close friend I have is Angie. She’s kind of my unofficial assistant. Helps me manage the business email and stage the houses. And, when she’s able, she helps me host the open houses. She won’t be there tomorrow, though. Her husband has the weekend off, so they’re taking their two boys on a weekend getaway.”
“I’ll need Angie’s information, too, then.”
