Chapter 22

Brant felt restless.

Last night’s dinner with Molly had been fun. Their stolen kisses were excellent, but not enough to slake his hunger.

The rest of the evening? Frustrating. Jax hadn’t wanted to sleep, and Molly’d gone home before things got serious, leaving him to a cold and solitary midnight shower. Not quite what he’d hoped for.

While Brant was practically inhaling his morning caffeine, Kemper Dobson called. He’d spoken with Jason and laid out how and when his child-support payments needed to be made. Afterward, Jason’s father called their attorney, who confirmed that everything Dobson had outlined was correct.

At this point, Jason was straddling the fence. While he didn’t want to give up his parental rights, neither did he want to assume the financial responsibilities of a father. He’d agreed Jax was where he needed to be right now and promised there’d be no more surprise visits, no more threats.

While Jason wasn’t even close to what Brant wanted for his sister, he hoped they could work something out. He’d hate to have Jax find out someday that his own father wanted nothing to do with him.

Since he’d spent the whole day spinning his wheels, Brant hung it up early, picked up an ecstatic Jax from day care, and drove home. The temperature mild, Brant moved the playpen outside so he could keep an eye on the kid while he pruned a bush to let in more light.

Accepting that he really did need to find another house, he looked up when a vehicle rounded the corner.

Lem Gilmore swerved into the drive in a new Cadillac Escalade.

Lug Nut had been snoring, sprawled in the grass beside Jax’s playpen. When Lem, dressed in bib overalls and a ragged Atlanta Braves cap over wispy gray hair, got out of the vehicle, the pup fell all over himself in his rush to greet this new person.

Lem crouched, his knees creaking. “Come here, little guy.”

The puppy dropped onto his side and wriggled to work himself closer. Lem scowled at Brant. “This animal’s nothing but skin and bones.”

“You should have seen him yesterday. Molly and I found him alongside the road, tangled in some briars. I’ve put out some feelers, but nobody’s claimed him.” He laid the clippers on the porch and pulled off the leather gloves he’d bought at Beck’s store. “Listen, if I’ve overstepped my bounds and you don’t want a dog in your house…”

Lem raised his hand. “I’ve got no problem with that.” He ruffled the dog’s ears. “I’d love to have one myself.”

“Want me to tie a bow around this one’s neck?”

“Nope. Lyda Mae’d kick him and me both out to the garage. She’s a good woman in every other way, but she’s not a dog person.”

Brant made an assenting sound. “Feel free to come visit him anytime you want.”

“What’s his name?”

“Lug Nut.”

Lem smiled. “I like it.” He stood and walked, more than a little bowlegged, toward the baby. “And look at you, young man.”

Jax started jabbering. His ball cap was twisted to one side, and he wore a snazzy pair of red sunglasses.

Lem took one of the baby’s tiny hands in his own gnarled one. “Lyda Mae’d eat you right up. Yes, she would.” When the baby babbled back at him, Lem put a hand to one ear. “What’s that? You want a cookie? Grow some teeth, boy.” He chucked the baby under the chin. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his overalls, he scuffed a foot through the grass. “Heard you were good with cars.”

“You could say that.” Here it came. The price of this free rental.

“Sam, the new cop in town, bought my truck.”

“He used it to deliver some baby furniture to me.”

Lem dropped onto the porch’s edge and nodded toward the Cadillac. “That’s our go-to-town car. Don’t like to drive it much. Gives everybody the wrong idea.”

Brant smothered his hoot of laughter. From everything he’d heard, Lem Gilmore, who enjoyed playing the down-on-his-luck card, could buy and sell the whole darned town. Sam had paid dearly for his rust-bucket truck with coffee, meals at Dee-Ann’s, and trips to the dump with Lem. Still, Sam really liked the old guy.

And he’d put a roof over his and Jax’s heads.

Time to pay the piper. “What do you need, Lem?”

“Bought myself a new truck.” Lug Nut practically crawled into Lem’s lap and earned himself another good rub. “Sam, now that he’s working and he and Cricket got themselves hitched, doesn’t have much time to haul me and my stuff around.”

“Hmm.” Brant remained noncommittal.

“Anyway, this truck’s a beaut. You ought to see her. She’s a ’66 El Camino.”

Brant whistled, genuinely impressed.

Lem grinned. “My friend Sid bought the thing new. Since he can’t drive anymore, I bought it.”

“Tell me you’re not thinking about using it as a beater.”

“Kind of.”

“There are people who’d give their eyeteeth for that truck.”

“That’s what I hear.” He swiped a hand over his day’s growth of gray beard.

Brant dropped onto the front-porch steps, the puppy tugging at his shoe laces. “I’ll provide the labor gratis. I owe you that for putting Jax and me up, but you’ll need to pay for the parts.”

Lem nodded. “Fair enough.”

“Here’s the thing, though. Right now, I don’t have the tools to pull it off…or the space. The old garage isn’t ready yet.”

“I’m in no hurry.”

“Then you’ve got yourself a deal.” Brant stuck out a hand, and they shook.

He heard another car. Recognizing the Mini’s engine, he smiled. She’d come to him. Again.

A hand on the railing, Lem slowly stood as Molly pulled behind his Cadillac. “Time for this old man to skedaddle. What with that wedding business of Jenni Beth’s and all you young’uns moving into town, sure is a lot of romance in the air.” He winked. “Might be time to steal my sweetheart away for a weekend in Savannah.”

“Enjoy, and I’ll let you know when we can start on your truck.”

Lem walked to Molly’s car, leaned in, and spoke to her. Then he straightened, waved to Brant, and left.

“Hello, beautiful,” Brant called out.

Molly crossed the small yard, stopping to rub Lug Nut’s belly. She plucked Jax from the playpen, kissed him, and sat down on the step beside Brant. “Thought I’d watch the sunset with you tonight.”

* * *

Hard at work the next day, Molly heard a motorcycle. She peeked out the shop window, and there was Brant leaning against his Harley. He crooked a finger, and her pulse kicked into overdrive.

She opened the door.

“If you can take time for a quick picnic lunch, I’ve got one. Stopped at Schatzie’s.” He patted his saddlebag.

“Pastrami on rye?”

“You got it.”

“Lettie—”

“Go on,” Lettie said from behind her. She dropped her voice. “Get out of here. You don’t want to resist that, even if you could.” Louder, voice stern, she said, “Have her back by two thirty. She has an appointment.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Instead of driving out of town, they picnicked in the town square. The Ladies’ Garden Club had been busy, and the park was picture-perfect pretty. So was the day.

They sat side by side on the park bench and shared the deli sandwiches. “I need a couple of days off, Mol. I’m tired.”

She shifted to face him.

“I thought I’d go home to Lake Delores for two or three days.”

“You should.”

“But?”

She laced their fingers. “I’ll miss you.”

“Come with me.”

“What?”

“I know it’s asking a lot, but is there any way you can clear your calendar for a few days? Lettie can take care of the shop, right? I want you to meet my mom and dad.”

She blanched. “Meet your parents? Brant—”

“No, no. Not like that.” He shook his head. “I haven’t forgotten that blasted timeline of yours.”

“It’s not—”

He held up a hand. “That came out wrong. Sorry. You’re important to me, Molly. They’re important to me. I’d like you to meet each other. No strings, no obligations or expectations attached.”

She shouldn’t. She really shouldn’t. “When are you leaving?”

“Tuesday. Since you’re closed on Thursdays, you’d only need coverage for two days. It’s about an eight-hour drive, although with Jax it might take longer. Cole offered to keep Lug Nut for me. They’ve already got animals, so it won’t put them out too much. If we leave by seven, we can be there by midafternoon. That’ll give us Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday with my folks. I’ll pack some of the things I need from my house Thursday morning, then we can head back.”

“I’ll talk to Lettie this afternoon and check my appointments, see what I have coming up.” She raised a hand to her lips. Whose mouth had those words spilled from?

Before she could take them back, Brant said, “Thank you.” Packing up the remains of their lunch, he hustled her back to the bike. “Hop on. We still have some time, and I want to show you something.”

Half a mile from town, he pulled up in front of an empty house.

On the back of the Harley, Molly sighed. “I love the wrap-around porch and those live oaks. Think of the shade they’ll provide on a lazy summer afternoon. Perfect spot for a hammock.”

“There’s a gazebo out back and, the icing on the cake, a two-car garage.”

“You’re showing me this because…?” Molly asked.

“I rented it this morning, with an option to buy.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. It’s in pristine shape, with hardwood floors and a great kitchen. Three bedrooms and two baths upstairs. And downstairs, there’s a living, dining, and family room with a large fireplace and half bath. Plenty of space for Jax’s things and for my parents, when they visit. But not a scrap of furniture.”

“Ouch.”

He shrugged. “While I’m in Lake Delores, I’ll make arrangements with a moving company. I’m renting there, so no problem.”

Molly felt the vise tighten.

Love and the vulnerability it created scared her. Her list had been her protective umbrella—until Brant poked it full of holes and made her see it for what it was: a faulty shield at best.