“Sure. I’ve always got time for supper with a pretty woman.”
He felt Harper’s curious gaze.
“You are aware I’ll be there too,” Hank said dryly.
“A man can hope against that.” When Hank made a snarling noise, Bran laughed. “What time?”
“Six-ish?”
“I’ll be there. Tell her thanks.” He hung up and looked at Harper.
She set her empty coffee cup on the table and met his gaze. “So, where do we stand on this? Are you gonna give me a shot?”
Bran gave her a head-to-toe inspection, frowning at her attire. “Be here tomorrow. Six a.m. And for God’s sake, leave the pearls, beauty sash, silk shirt, f**k-me stiletto boots, and tiaras at home. Come dressed ready to get down and dirty with me.”
Six hours later Bran shifted from boot to boot as he waited on the Lawsons’ front porch. He knocked again.
The door swung open and Hank grinned at him. “Ah. Sorry we didn’t hear you knock. But you are early.”
The top two buttons on Hank’s shirt were undone and his shirttail was untucked. Guilt kicked Bran in the ass at seeing his friend’s state of undress. Since Hank and Lainie lived with Hank’s brother, Abe, alone time was rare for them. Hank had been busting ass building a house a quarter mile away from this, the Lawson homeplace. Weather, work, and finances kept the sprawling ranch house from getting finished as fast as Hank and Lainie would’ve liked. But they weren’t willing to sacrifice any amenities, and that meant waiting.
Hank said, “Wanna beer?”
“Sure.” Bran followed Hank into the kitchen. The delicious scents of roasted meat and a chocolaty dessert filled his nostrils. His mouth watered—Lainie was a helluva cook. Hank handed over a bottle of Moose Drool.
“You broke out the good beer. We celebrating something?”
“It’s a step up from Bud Light, but it ain’t exactly high end.” Hank twisted the cap off his bottle. “The only thing we’re celebrating is bein’ at the ass end of calving season.”
“How many you got left?”
“Forty. As soon as we’re done, I’m hitting house construction hard. I’ve lined up a couple of guys to help out.”
“Anything I can do to speed stuff up?”
“I’ll let you know.”
Lainie waltzed into the kitchen, and Bran couldn’t help but notice how Hank’s face lit up. She wrapped her arms around him and stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. Hank chuckled and whispered back before planting a kiss square on her smirking mouth. She turned around. “Bran. I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thanks for the invite.”
“No, thank you. I’m afraid Hank’s gotten tired of my company.”
“Never.” Hank kissed the top of her head. “You want a beer?”
“No. I’d rather have a glass of wine.”
Bran wondered if Harper drank wine. She didn’t seem like the beer-drinking type. Actually, she didn’t seem like the type who drank at all.
What does it matter? Ain’t like you’re gonna be swilling beers with her after the workday ends.
“Tell us what’s new in your world,” Hank said.
“Well, I’m not as far along calving as you guys are. I’ve got another solid month before it’ll taper off. Oh, and I hired a new hand today.”
Hank’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? Where’d you find one?” “Actually Celia’s the one who hooked me up.”
Lainie and Hank exchanged a look.
Oh, hell, no. They hadn’t been in on it too? “Did you know who Celia sent to my front door?”
“No. It’s just . . . we haven’t heard from Celia since the new rodeo season started,” Lainie said.
“Why’s that?”
Hank shrugged. “Who knows with that girl? But me’n Lainie suspect it has something to do with Nancy, Abe’s girlfriend. They didn’t exactly hit it off over Christmas. She mention anything about it to you?”
Even if Celia had complained, Bran wouldn’t have broken her confidence. Plus, he didn’t like Abe’s new girlfriend either. “Nope.”
“So who’s your new hired hand?”
Bran took a long swallow of his beer. “Harper Masterson.”
Both Lainie’s and Bran’s mouths fell open in shock. “Harper? You’ve gotta be kiddin’.”
“’Fraid not. Of course, Celia didn’t tell me Harper was the ‘perfect’ hired hand when she called. Nor did she tell Harper that I had no clue Celia had sent her my way.”
“But Harper is so . . .”
Beautiful? Built? Sexy?
Annoyed at the direction of his thoughts, Bran said, “She’s so what?”
“‘Inexperienced’ comes to mind,” Hank said cautiously.
Lainie shook her head. “She’s probably that too, but the truth is Harper keeps to herself after that nasty business with her mother. She’s kind of shy—that’s probably why Celia stepped in. Why was Harper looking for work?”
Bran didn’t feel comfortable blabbing Harper’s problems to his friends. “All I know is Harper showed up on Celia’s recommendation.” He knocked back another swig of beer. “I’ve decided to give her a chance.”
Lainie and Hank exchanged another look.
“Jesus. Would you guys stop doin’ that married couple silent communication crap? It’s f**kin’ annoying. Just come right out and ask me the goddamn question.”