find him here?”
Disappointment flitted across Cat’s features as she turned to the box on the counter and began pulling out books. The look twisted at something in his gut, made him wish they were alone.
Either oblivious to the tension between him and Cat or too polite to say anything, the older man flashed a pleasant smile and stuck his hand out in greeting. “You found him.”
Stopping in front of the counter, he accepted the man’s handshake and tried his damndest not to stare at Cat. Or lean across the counter and inhale the now familiar scent of her skin. “Michael Brant. I come on behalf of my father. I’m told you were the one who found him?”
Jonathan nodded. “On the side of the road, just off the highway. Seemed like he was having a heart attack. How’s he doing?”
“Fine, thanks to you. My mother tells me you followed him all the way to the hospital and stayed with him until she arrived.”
A smile touched Jonathan’s mouth. “Never would have forgiven myself if something had happened to him. My late wife used to say nobody should die alone.”
Michael offered a polite smile. “My family’s very grateful to you. My father said four cars passed him, but yours was the only one that stopped. He’d like to thank you in person. I’ve actually come to extend an invitation. My folks throw a barbeque every year for the Fourth, just family and friends, nothing huge, and they’d like you to come.”
Pulled by the power of her presence, he looked over at Cat. She peeked at him from beneath her lashes as she stacked the books on the counter. Something flashed in her jade eyes, but she quickly diverted her gaze before he could register what it had been. It ate at him. She didn’t look pleased to see him. She seemed … torn, tormented. Did the damn picture in the paper have anything to do with it?
Hope fluttered in his stomach as an idea flitted through his mind. He kept a careful watch on her expression. “My mother said to make sure to tell you to bring your family.”
As hoped, Cat looked up.
“Since my wife died, it’s just the two of us.” Jonathan wrapped an arm around Cat, something akin to amusement and challenge flashing in the old man’s eyes. “This is my daughter, Catherine, but I suspect you know that already.”
His face heating, Michael rubbed the back of his neck. Well, that confirmed his suspicion that Jonathan was her father. Coming back to town, he hoped to avoid this exact problem.
With a sigh, he shook his head. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I came back once before and managed to not end up in the paper. Clearly I wasn’t so lucky this time.”
Michael paused, turned his head and stared pointedly at Cat. He was playing with fire and ought to leave well enough alone. Getting involved while he was here wasn’t a good idea. Never mind he had to leave when he said he was. He had an interview with a large biker magazine the first of next month. He’d recently built a few custom bikes for a couple of big name celebrities, and the publication wanted to do an article on him. It meant more promotion for the shop. For the first time in his life, he’d made a name for himself separate from his family.
Getting involved with her beyond last night wasn’t a good idea, yet the words fell from his mouth anyway. “Both of you are more than welcome.”
He prayed she understood his silent invitation, that she’d be at the barbeque, because he had to know. He wanted to find out if knowing what he’d done changed her view of him. In an effort to sympathize and be supportive, the article still told a secret he’d rather forget. It was important Cat know he was the same man from last night. For the first time in a long time, someone else’s opinion of him mattered.
• • •
Standing in the shadows of the gazebo, Cat gripped the wooden banister as she scanned the sea of people lining the park across the street. Celebrations were always a big deal in Crest Point, and the
Disappointment flitted across Cat’s features as she turned to the box on the counter and began pulling out books. The look twisted at something in his gut, made him wish they were alone.
Either oblivious to the tension between him and Cat or too polite to say anything, the older man flashed a pleasant smile and stuck his hand out in greeting. “You found him.”
Stopping in front of the counter, he accepted the man’s handshake and tried his damndest not to stare at Cat. Or lean across the counter and inhale the now familiar scent of her skin. “Michael Brant. I come on behalf of my father. I’m told you were the one who found him?”
Jonathan nodded. “On the side of the road, just off the highway. Seemed like he was having a heart attack. How’s he doing?”
“Fine, thanks to you. My mother tells me you followed him all the way to the hospital and stayed with him until she arrived.”
A smile touched Jonathan’s mouth. “Never would have forgiven myself if something had happened to him. My late wife used to say nobody should die alone.”
Michael offered a polite smile. “My family’s very grateful to you. My father said four cars passed him, but yours was the only one that stopped. He’d like to thank you in person. I’ve actually come to extend an invitation. My folks throw a barbeque every year for the Fourth, just family and friends, nothing huge, and they’d like you to come.”
Pulled by the power of her presence, he looked over at Cat. She peeked at him from beneath her lashes as she stacked the books on the counter. Something flashed in her jade eyes, but she quickly diverted her gaze before he could register what it had been. It ate at him. She didn’t look pleased to see him. She seemed … torn, tormented. Did the damn picture in the paper have anything to do with it?
Hope fluttered in his stomach as an idea flitted through his mind. He kept a careful watch on her expression. “My mother said to make sure to tell you to bring your family.”
As hoped, Cat looked up.
“Since my wife died, it’s just the two of us.” Jonathan wrapped an arm around Cat, something akin to amusement and challenge flashing in the old man’s eyes. “This is my daughter, Catherine, but I suspect you know that already.”
His face heating, Michael rubbed the back of his neck. Well, that confirmed his suspicion that Jonathan was her father. Coming back to town, he hoped to avoid this exact problem.
With a sigh, he shook his head. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I came back once before and managed to not end up in the paper. Clearly I wasn’t so lucky this time.”
Michael paused, turned his head and stared pointedly at Cat. He was playing with fire and ought to leave well enough alone. Getting involved while he was here wasn’t a good idea. Never mind he had to leave when he said he was. He had an interview with a large biker magazine the first of next month. He’d recently built a few custom bikes for a couple of big name celebrities, and the publication wanted to do an article on him. It meant more promotion for the shop. For the first time in his life, he’d made a name for himself separate from his family.
Getting involved with her beyond last night wasn’t a good idea, yet the words fell from his mouth anyway. “Both of you are more than welcome.”
He prayed she understood his silent invitation, that she’d be at the barbeque, because he had to know. He wanted to find out if knowing what he’d done changed her view of him. In an effort to sympathize and be supportive, the article still told a secret he’d rather forget. It was important Cat know he was the same man from last night. For the first time in a long time, someone else’s opinion of him mattered.
• • •
Standing in the shadows of the gazebo, Cat gripped the wooden banister as she scanned the sea of people lining the park across the street. Celebrations were always a big deal in Crest Point, and the
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