Walk the Line (Man of the Month 12)

"What is it?" she pressed.

He sighed, then reached for the butter. "We need to cream these together."

"You know that's not what I meant. What about doing it for Brent?"

"You really want to have this conversation?" His voice was level, but she could hear the frustration underneath.

No, she really didn't.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I do."

He exhaled. "Fine. What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing." She spat the word out, unprepared for him to actually dive straight to the heart of the matter.

His brows rose and she took an involuntary step back.

"Honest," she said, crossing her heart. "There's nothing going on."

"Good," Tyree said. "Keep it that way."

She frowned. As far as she could tell, she had no choice in that regard. She'd been babysitting Faith now for one entire week, and although the tension between her and Brent kept getting thicker and thicker, he hadn't made a single move. And, of course, neither had she.

Maybe it was just her imagination.

It couldn't be her imagination.

Could it?

"Elena?"

She turned to see him regarding her, his expression unreadable. He said nothing, and neither did she. A standoff, apparently. And she was the one who lost, because ultimately she just couldn't take it anymore. "What's wrong with him? I mean, I thought he was your friend."

"And I thought there was nothing between you."

"You got that right. He has zero interest in having anything to do with me."

He hesitated before beating in the sugar and milk. "You, however, are hovering somewhere above zero?"

She didn't answer. Just looked at him defiantly until his shoulders moved, as if he was shifting a weighty burden.

"Brent's a good friend and one of the best men I know. Smart and loyal and kind."

"Then what?"

"Ah, mon bijou. He's almost ten years older than you."

"So? You and Mom were young."

"Don't pretend to be naive, Elena. I haven't known you long, but I know you well. And I know that you have aspirations. Dreams. And those dreams don't involve staying in Austin."

"I--" She wanted to protest, but he was right. Ultimately, she wanted to work for a consulting company that would send her around the country, visiting small towns with historic roots so that she could help plan their growth.

"I'm not going to tell you who to see, but I will say that Brent's not just a man. He's a father. And he knows it would be all too easy to hurt that little girl."

"Daddy, I--"

"You should add that sugar now," he said, and she knew the conversation was over.