Date Next Door

Figuring he was pretty much looking for any excuse to keep from returning home, and going back into tour-guide mode to keep from talking about why, she nodded and sat back in her seat to watch the pastoral scenery passing on the other side of the glass.

Ethan’s home was hardly luxurious, but Nic could certainly see why he would want to live there. A cedar-sided cabin with big windows and a small yard, his house sat close enough to the riverbank that he could easily throw a rock from his back door into the water. He had a no-frills boat dock with a tin-roofed shelter for his fishing boat and a cedar-shake-topped gazebo over a concrete picnic table and a stone barbecue. It looked more like a weekend fishing cabin than a full-time residence, but she supposed Ethan liked the rustic solitude.

“It’s nice.”

Joel nodded. “Yeah. I’ve spent occasional weekends here with him. We fish, watch TV, eat grilled meat.”

“Have long brotherly talks?”

Chuckling, Joel shook his head. “Ethan’s not one for talking much.”

“He’s never been married?”

“Nope. Says no one can put up with him long enough. The truth is, of course, that he won’t compromise enough to make it work with anyone.”

Wrinkling her nose, Nic murmured, “I guess it’s no surprise that I can identify with that.”

“No surprise at all,” Joel replied with a laugh. “Ethan’s truck is in the driveway. Want to stop and say hi while we’re here?”

“He doesn’t mind drop-in visits?”

“Nah. Ethan doesn’t really care about social niceties. If he wants to see us, he’ll ask us in. If not, he’ll tell us he’s busy and send us on our way.”

The affectionate tolerance in Joel’s tone kept the comments from being critical. He didn’t seem to find anything particularly odd in Ethan’s behavior; perhaps because he was simply so accustomed to it.

He parked behind Ethan’s older-model brown pickup and opened his door. Nic didn’t wait for him to come around to open hers. She stepped out into the crisp—but not cold—October air and inhaled the scent of fresh country air. Even the atmosphere was peaceful here, with little traffic on the road and no neighbors in direct line of sight.

“It reminds me of my uncle’s fishing cabin on the Buffalo River,” she said as she and Joel moved toward the front porch that held two redwood rockers and a chain-suspended redwood swing. “I used to love going there with my family for Labor Day.”

“My grandfather used to have a place similar to this in Michigan. We would go there when we went to visit when we were kids. Granddad died when I was ten and we haven’t been back since, but Ethan always said he

was going to live in a fishing cabin someday. As soon as he had the money, he built this place.”

Filing that tidbit away with the few other items she knew about Joel’s older brother, Nic watched as Joel tapped lightly on his brother’s front door. It opened almost immediately, making her wonder if Ethan had heard them drive up.

Ethan smiled when he saw his brother standing at his door. Nic thought about how much more approachable he looked when he smiled. No matter how often people commented about his occasional grumpiness, he seemed to be a pretty decent guy underneath. Still, his smile changed again when he turned to her, and she wondered what it was about her that bothered him.

“Nic,” he said perfectly politely. “It’s good to see you again. Are you enjoying your visit to Danston?”

“Very much. Joel’s been giving me a tour of the area.”

Ethan chuckled. “That must not have taken long. Come on in. I’ll make a pot of coffee.”

Apparently he was feeling social today. Nic followed Joel into the house, discreetly studying the decor on her way in. She wasn’t particularly surprised to see that Ethan’s tastes ran to minimalist comfort. Deep couches and chairs, functional tables, a big rock fireplace, built-in shelving, few knickknacks or wall decorations.

It was a man’s place, a bachelor’s home, and Ethan was probably quite comfortable living here. She couldn’t help wondering, though, if he had ever wished for someone to share it with.

The kitchen was especially inviting, with its big windows, industrial-looking appliances and a hanging rack that held well-used-looking copper-bottomed pans. “You like to cook?” she asked Ethan in some surprise.

He shrugged. “I like to eat. I don’t like frozen dinners or fast food and I live too far out of town for deliveries or takeout. I had to learn to cook.”

“Very practical.”

“He’s a great cook, actually,” Joel volunteered. “Especially if you happen to be a carnivore.”

“Have y’all had lunch?” Ethan asked. “We could put some burgers on the grill.”

Because Joel seemed to like the idea, Nic agreed that it sounded like fun. And it turned out that she was right. Preparing and eating lunch with the Brannon brothers was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.