True Love at Silver Creek Ranch(10)

Adam didn’t look convinced, and Brooke didn’t want to hear the negotiation.

“We can’t stay for dinner, Grandma, but thank you,” Brooke said. “We’re on our way to see my mom.”

“I’m sure she needs to see for herself that you’re okay,” Grandma Thalberg said. “You go on, and we’ll expect you both another time.”

“Of course,” Brooke said, reaching for her coat. “Thanks.”

“Can I speak with you for a moment?” Adam interrupted.

Emily bit her lip and let her big blue eyes go all innocent. It was a handy talent, Brooke thought with fond exasperation.

“I’ll wait here with the ladies,” Emily said. “You two go ahead and talk in the parlor.”

If Adam thought “parlor” an old-fashioned word for the living room, he didn’t say so. Brooke led him through the formal dining room—too close to the kitchen—feeling all prickly with the knowledge that he was looking at her. She didn’t know what the heck her problem was. She stopped in the parlor, where the widows’ crafts decorated everything, from crocheted afghans on the back of the couch to needlepoint pictures of ranch landscapes on the wall. Turning to face Adam, she saw him looking around with bemusement.

“I keep thinking this place is old,” he said, “but then I look beneath the Little-House-on-the-Prairie décor and see all the remodeling.”

“Little House on the Prairie?” she echoed, amused. “That was barely in repeats when we were kids.”

“Grandma insisted I watch with her,” he said without embarrassment.

Brooke had to admire his attitude. She saw his gaze focus on an antique tin candle mold.

“She absorbed more of it than I thought,” he said. “She wanted mementoes of the show, and I told her about eBay, but didn’t think she could manage a computer since she never wrote me an e-mail.”

Brooke gestured behind her to the old dinosaur of a computer, with its big cube monitor. “They have that, so you never know. As for the house, my brother Nate is responsible for the other improvements. He remodeled the place before they moved in, gutted the kitchen, put in all new windows, anything you can think of.”

“Surprised he has the time.”

She shrugged. “He made the time. We all love our grandmas.”

“Now do you see what I meant about mine?”

She sobered. “I do. She does seem . . . off. I asked my grandma, who only answered that everyone gets older.”

“Not an answer,” he practically growled.

Brooke could sense his frustration, but he didn’t pace, didn’t betray it with movement. He was always so still. It was not a normal characteristic of the men she knew, and she found it oddly attractive.

“I’m not going anywhere until she’s doing better,” he continued. “I’ll talk to her doctor, whatever it takes.”

Brooke felt both interest and uneasiness at the thought of his staying. She wasn’t sure she liked the way he made her feel, a jumpiness she hadn’t experienced with the few guys she’d dated over the years. Heck, she was usually as easygoing as her brothers.

Or maybe she was honestly attracted to the man Adam Desantis had become.

“You’re staying here at the boardinghouse?” she asked although she knew the answer.

“Yeah.” A frown deepened the lines of his brow as he gave another glance around, then sighed.

Brooke smiled. “The décor not masculine enough for you?”

His gaze came back to her and didn’t let her go. “Something like that. And what’s this about tarot cards?”

Brooke put up both hands. “That, you’re going to have to discuss with her. Now I’ve really got to go, Adam. See you later.”

She turned back toward the kitchen, wondering if he was checking her out from behind. But she didn’t glance at him again, and by the time she’d donned her boots and coat, and reached her car, she was feeling almost disappointed not to know.

“Now that was interesting,” Emily said with amusement as she buckled her seat belt.

Though Brooke suspected she was referring to Adam, she gave a whistle as she backed out of the driveway. “Poor Mrs. Palmer. I had no idea.”

Emily’s smile faded a bit. “She started using the cane just this week. I tried to make her sit and frost cupcakes, but she says she likes being out with customers. The other two widows are taking it in stride. Hopefully that means it’s nothing too serious.”

“Adam thinks it is. That’s why he dragged me into the parlor.”

“That’s why?” Emily batted her lashes at her. “I don’t know if you’re right about that. Seems to me Adam just wanted to be alone with you.”