greeting.
“What a surprise.” Susan’s voice belied that statement, and Colt tried not to laugh when she scowled at her brother.
“If my arrival surprised you, you’re about to be absolutely astounded.”
Matthew had no sooner said that when the door to the street opened once more, admitting a man who, but for his dark hair and eyes, could have been Matthew’s twin.
Dressed in jeans and a tee, this man also kissed Kelsey, then Susan, and sat in the remaining chair, beside Kelsey.
Colt approved the tactic of the brothers Benedict sandwiching the two women between them.
“I had no idea we were going to be treated to a family luncheon,” Susan said. She glared at both brothers.
Because she’d not done the honors as she had with Kelsey, Colt introduced himself and Ryder.
“Josh and Alex sent them to me,” Susan said.
One look at her face and he knew she was ticked. “Susan.” Colt could appreciate her rancor, and knew it was in part fueled by embarrassment. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Your brothers have every right to insist on meeting us.”
Her response was to give him a smile that made him wish they were all three back at her place.
He switched his gaze from her to Matthew, only to find that man regarding his sister, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“So you know Alex and Josh,” Steven said.
Ginny brought over a tray of drinks—tea for everyone but Kelsey, who’d asked for water. Colt waited until the young woman had set down the glasses.
“We’ve known them for a couple of years, as we tend to bump elbows at the same gatherings in Houston. As of last week, however, we became business partners.”
Matthew tilted his head to one side. “You’re the wildcatters they were talking about taking on as partners in the Evercroft deal?” He half closed his eyes, and Colt knew he was searching his memory. “ Dos Hombres ? The small outfit started up from out of El Paso?”
Because he’d made the words “small outfit” sound like something he didn’t want to step in, Colt said, “Not that small, thank you very much. And yes, that’s us. After we shook on the deal, your brothers asked us if we could do them a favor and drill a new water well for your sister on her ranch. Since it had been a while since we’d had the opportunity to handle the equipment ourselves—our first love—we jumped at the chance.” Only after the words had escaped his lips did Colt realize they could be taken two ways. Fortunately, another matter claimed the Benedicts’ attention.
“Damn it, Susie, are you still living off in the middle of nowhere on that piece of scrub land laughingly called a ranch?” Steven seemed really aggrieved.
Before Susan could say anything, his wife did. “Susan likes that ranch, and she has a perfect right to be there if that’s where she wants to be.”
“I can speak for myself, Kels.” Susan reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.
“I know that. It’s just that your brothers are being particularly pigheaded all of a sudden, and I, for one, don’t like it. I’m not very happy with your attempted heavy-handedness, either one of you.”
“Uh-oh.” Matthew looked over at his brother, one eyebrow raised. “You remember what the dads always say.”
Steven nodded. “Yep. If the woman of the house isn’t happy, no one’s going to be happy.”
Colt thought it had to be a measure of comfort on their part that the brothers would talk so openly about family.
“It’s all right, Mrs. Benedict.” Ryder leaned forward and directed his comments to Kelsey. “Like Colt said, we’ve no problem being scrutinized by Susan’s family.”
Ginny returned with a tray that seemed bigger than she was. Loaded onto it were plates piled high with food that smelled heavenly.
“Looks good.” One of Colt’s personal favorites was chopped steak. This one came smothered with cooked onions and mushrooms and—he inhaled deeply—jack cheese. Steak cut fries had been heaped
“What a surprise.” Susan’s voice belied that statement, and Colt tried not to laugh when she scowled at her brother.
“If my arrival surprised you, you’re about to be absolutely astounded.”
Matthew had no sooner said that when the door to the street opened once more, admitting a man who, but for his dark hair and eyes, could have been Matthew’s twin.
Dressed in jeans and a tee, this man also kissed Kelsey, then Susan, and sat in the remaining chair, beside Kelsey.
Colt approved the tactic of the brothers Benedict sandwiching the two women between them.
“I had no idea we were going to be treated to a family luncheon,” Susan said. She glared at both brothers.
Because she’d not done the honors as she had with Kelsey, Colt introduced himself and Ryder.
“Josh and Alex sent them to me,” Susan said.
One look at her face and he knew she was ticked. “Susan.” Colt could appreciate her rancor, and knew it was in part fueled by embarrassment. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Your brothers have every right to insist on meeting us.”
Her response was to give him a smile that made him wish they were all three back at her place.
He switched his gaze from her to Matthew, only to find that man regarding his sister, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“So you know Alex and Josh,” Steven said.
Ginny brought over a tray of drinks—tea for everyone but Kelsey, who’d asked for water. Colt waited until the young woman had set down the glasses.
“We’ve known them for a couple of years, as we tend to bump elbows at the same gatherings in Houston. As of last week, however, we became business partners.”
Matthew tilted his head to one side. “You’re the wildcatters they were talking about taking on as partners in the Evercroft deal?” He half closed his eyes, and Colt knew he was searching his memory. “ Dos Hombres ? The small outfit started up from out of El Paso?”
Because he’d made the words “small outfit” sound like something he didn’t want to step in, Colt said, “Not that small, thank you very much. And yes, that’s us. After we shook on the deal, your brothers asked us if we could do them a favor and drill a new water well for your sister on her ranch. Since it had been a while since we’d had the opportunity to handle the equipment ourselves—our first love—we jumped at the chance.” Only after the words had escaped his lips did Colt realize they could be taken two ways. Fortunately, another matter claimed the Benedicts’ attention.
“Damn it, Susie, are you still living off in the middle of nowhere on that piece of scrub land laughingly called a ranch?” Steven seemed really aggrieved.
Before Susan could say anything, his wife did. “Susan likes that ranch, and she has a perfect right to be there if that’s where she wants to be.”
“I can speak for myself, Kels.” Susan reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.
“I know that. It’s just that your brothers are being particularly pigheaded all of a sudden, and I, for one, don’t like it. I’m not very happy with your attempted heavy-handedness, either one of you.”
“Uh-oh.” Matthew looked over at his brother, one eyebrow raised. “You remember what the dads always say.”
Steven nodded. “Yep. If the woman of the house isn’t happy, no one’s going to be happy.”
Colt thought it had to be a measure of comfort on their part that the brothers would talk so openly about family.
“It’s all right, Mrs. Benedict.” Ryder leaned forward and directed his comments to Kelsey. “Like Colt said, we’ve no problem being scrutinized by Susan’s family.”
Ginny returned with a tray that seemed bigger than she was. Loaded onto it were plates piled high with food that smelled heavenly.
“Looks good.” One of Colt’s personal favorites was chopped steak. This one came smothered with cooked onions and mushrooms and—he inhaled deeply—jack cheese. Steak cut fries had been heaped
Similar Books
