Shane wasn’t about to get into why he was so cranky. Not even with his best friend. So he shrugged his shoulders, releasing a little of the tension, and sipped his scotch.
“I’m feeling stretched a bit thin at the moment,” he said. “I told you that I’m helping Brandee with her ranch. It’s made me lose sight of some of the details at The Bellamy and I’m annoyed at myself.”
“Oh.”
Just that. Nothing more.
“Oh, what?” Shane demanded, not sure he wanted to hear what his friend had to say.
“It’s just this wager of yours...” Gabe looked deep into the tumbler before him as if he could find the answer to life’s mysteries at the bottom.
“Yes?” Shane knew he should just let it drop, but whatever was or wasn’t happening between him and Brandee was like an itch he couldn’t quite reach. And if Gabe had some insight, Shane wanted to hear it.
“It’s just that I know you, Shane. I’ve seen you around a lot of women. You like this one. I mean really like her.”
His first impulse was to deny it, but instead, he said, “Your point?”
“Let’s say you somehow win the bet and she falls madly in love with you. Then what?”
“I guess we keep dating.”
“You guess?” Gabe shook his head. “Do you really think she’s gonna want to have anything to do with the guy who made her fall in love with him so he could take away the ranch she loves?”
“I don’t have to buy the ranch.” In fact, after spending time on it, he didn’t really want the ranch to become home to hundreds of luxury estates. “I could just tell her I changed my mind.”
“Have you?”
“Maybe.”
“Does anyone ever get a straight answer out of you?”
“It depends.”
“And what happens if Brandee wins?”
“That’s not going to happen. I might really like this woman, but that’s as far as it goes. She and I are too much alike. Neither one of us is interested in a relationship. We talked about it and we agree. Sex is great. Romance is...”
He’d been about to say tiresome, but he had to admit that over the course of several dinners and long talks by the fireplace on the patio, he was enjoying himself a great deal.
“Romance is...?” Gabe prodded.
“Too complicated, and you know I like things casual and easy.”
With a nod, Gabe finished the last of his drink. “As long as you realize what you’re doing can have repercussions and you’re okay with whatever happens, my job as your conscience is done.”
“I absolve you of all responsibility for any missteps I make with Brandee.”
Gabe didn’t look relieved as he nodded.
“One last thing before we get off the topic of Brandee,” Shane said, remembering his promise to her the night before. “She asked me if you’d be willing to help tomorrow with her teen group. Apparently Megan Maguire from Safe Haven is bringing by some of her rescue dogs for the kids to work with.”
“Sure. Let me know what time I need to be there.”
* * *
Brandee surveyed the camp meeting hall for any details left undone. It was nearly ten o’clock in the morning and she was expecting a busload of teenagers to arrive at any moment. Megan had brought fifteen dogs, one for each teenager. Currently the rescues were running around in the paddock, burning off energy.
“Thank you for helping me out today,” Brandee said to Gabe.