Brant's Return

“Headache?” Eli asked.

I dropped my fingers from my temples. I hadn’t even realized they’d gone there of their own accord, attempting to ease away the headache my thoughts were bringing on. And here I was telling myself I was letting go for the night. “Just the beginnings of one.” I raised my glass of caffeinated soda. “This is already helping.”

“Good, how about a game of pool?”

I shook my head. “Oh, no, I’ve never played.”

“Say what? Well, it’s time you learned. Come on, it’s your birthday. Start the brand new year off learning something new.”

“I guess I can’t argue with that. Okay.” I stood and Eli handed me a pool cue, showing me how to hold it and explaining the simple rules of the game.

“Lean over the table,” he instructed from behind me. “Line up your shot. Good. Now—”

I held the pool cue pointed at the striped ball, waiting for the rest of Eli’s instructions, his words having suddenly cut off. Confused, I raised my head, my eyes meeting those of Brant’s staring at me from across the table. I started. What the . . . heck? His expression was enigmatic, his stan

ce casual, and yet his fists were clenched at his sides. Despite myself, my traitorous heart lurched with happiness. Damn. I stood, Eli’s warmth behind me falling away, my gaze still locked on Brant’s. His eyes moved from me to over my shoulder where I assumed Eli was still standing.

Flustered, I glanced behind me. Eli’s lips were thinned and there was disappointment in his gaze. Brant moved around the pool table, closing the space between us. I wasn’t sure what to do so I just watched him approach, not saying anything and not making a move to greet him.

Did he have to look so incredibly gorgeous? It really wasn’t fair, because all I wanted to feel at his reappearance was annoyed.

“This is the last place I expected to find you.” He looked behind me, raising his chin. “Eli.”

“Hey Brant. I didn’t know you’d be back.” Eli sounded less than excited by the discovery.

“Well. I am.” There was something sort of challenging in his expression and when I looked at Eli, he had a similar look on his face. Now I was annoyed.

I handed the pool cue to Eli. “That headache that was coming on has gotten worse. Mind dropping me at home, Eli? I appreciate you getting me out of the house for a little while tonight.”

“You sure, Is?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“I’ll drive you home,” Brant offered.

I grabbed my purse off the table next to us. “You just got here. Don’t leave on my account.”

“I came here looking for you.”

I waved at the other guys.

“Night, Isabelle. Happy birthday.”

I turned, heading toward the door, hoping Eli would follow me. I should have driven myself. The crowd had grown and I pushed my way through, narrowly missing being spilled on as a guy turned, his beer sloshing out of his glass as he came up short.

“It’s your birthday?”

I whipped my head to the side as I pushed through the front door, looking at Brant who’d appeared next to me. “Where’s Eli?”

“I told him I’d drive you home.”

I stopped, narrowing my eyes at him. Why did I get the feeling he’d intimidated Eli in some way? I glanced at the door, tempted to head back inside, to at least make sure Eli was all right. He’d been nice to take me out tonight and he didn’t deserve to be browbeaten by the owner’s son.

I put my hands on my hips. “What if I don’t want you to drive me home?”

“You’re mad at me.” He ran his hand through his hair, and I tried not to remember how thick it was, how soft, and the way it filtered through my fingers as I touched it.

“I’m not mad, Brant. I just expected a little more from you. And I’m tired. Where’s your car?”