When Bruce Met Cyn by Lori Foster Page A

if they were romantically involved. Not that Bruce would poach on an existing relationship, but…
    His curiosity was put to rest the second Bruce looked at Cyn. His brother had the strangest expression on his face, an expression Bryan hadn’t seen on him since the more rambunctious days of their youth. It was a look of hunger.
    Well, what do you know? Bryan grinned, prepared to enjoy himself.
    â€œCynthia,” Bruce said, and he sounded more like a clergyman than ever.
    Bryan noticed that the girl, who really was a knockout, twisted to face Bruce with naked happiness. She grinned, saw Julie, and her slim brows came down in a frown.
    Supposedly, they’d just met last night, but they were both showing possessive signs already. Interesting.
    Bryan stood. “Bruce, Julie. Should we all move to a bigger table? Or since Shay’s about to leave, maybe we could just grab another chair?”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere,” Shay protested.
    â€œBut you have an appointment,” Bryan reminded her, doing his best to swallow his grin.
    â€œIt’ll wait,” she all but hissed, and Bryan couldn’t help but chuckle as he reseated himself.
    Bruce cleared his throat. “I was just walking Julie out.” And then, because Bruce was always a gentleman, he did introductions. “Cynthia, this is Julie Rose. Julie, Cynthia Potter.”
    â€œA pleasure.” Julie held out her hand.
    Bryan could understand Cyn’s jealousy when she spotted Shay. After all, his wife was about the most delectable woman he’d ever met. But Julie? She was a stereotypical teacher-type. Plain. Medium brown hair, puppydog brown eyes. Skinny, nondescript bod.
    He’d give Cyn credit for trying to hide it, but she looked murderous. Wearing an insincere smile, she accepted Julie’s slender hand in a very brief shake. “The same.”
    Bruce nodded to Cyn’s bag. “So you did a little shopping?”
    â€œJust an ACE Bandage for my ankle. The pharmacist suggested it.”
    â€œHow’s it feeling?”
    â€œI’m ignoring it.”
    After that conversational gambit fell flat, things came to a screeching halt, so Bryan decided to stir things up a bit. “Bruce, Cyn was just telling us that she spent the night with you.”
    Bruce went rigid as hot color crept up his neck. “I offered her a place to sleep, yes.”
    Julie, never one to get involved with rumor or gossip, never so much as blinked. “You’re new to town?”
    â€œBrand spanking new.”
    Bruce turned his gaze down to Cyn. Bryan watched his brother, so he didn’t miss the way Bruce’s attention grew hot and sharp with pure masculine awareness.
    Bryan exchanged a glance with Shay. She, too, had noticed the change in Bruce and she looked as amazed as Bryan felt. It was about time his brother rediscovered his masculinity. Not that Bruce was a wimp. Far from it. But he spent all his time helping others, with no consideration for his own needs.
    In a voice as soft as butter, Bruce asked, “How did the job hunt go?”
    For the first time since she’d walked into the diner, Cyn looked vulnerable. “Not so great—yet. But the day’s not over. After I check into the motel, I’ll start looking again.”
    Julie, always nice if too puckered up, said, “The motel is okay, but costly, especially if you’re planning to stay any time at all.”
    Cyn’s smile looked like a feminine warning. “I’m moving here for good, but I don’t have much choice on the motel.” She looked at Bruce. “I’ve got to sleep somewhere.”
    â€œI know a place,” Julie said, before Bruce could even get his mouth open. “It’s not far from here.”
    She pulled a pen and paper from her very organized purse and jotted down an address. “Mary Donniger, a lovely lady who works day care, needs someone to care for her horses now that her