Been There Done That (Leffersbee #1) - Hope Ellis Page 0,85

had always been the older, taller pseudo-brother to Nick. But even at six feet, Walker had to look up to Nick’s towering height.

Nick stuck out his hand. Walker only looked at it, scowled, then fixed Nick with a grimace, an expression of such startling menace that I was taken aback. Nick’s eyes widened as he took a step back.

The silence was weighted and deafening.

“I didn’t cheat on your sister,” Nick said, and Walker glared at him for several more heart-stopping moments before transferring his attention to me. Walker lifted his chin, his eyes travelling over my face as he sought my confirmation.

“I believe him,” I said weakly.

“Well, that changes things!” Walker then initiated some intricate handshake that began with him slapping Nick’s palm and ending with them loosely embracing in a one-armed hug. “Good to see you, family! Zora, I’m glad you got things figured out. He’s a little big for me to whoop now using gentleman’s rules. I woulda had to sneak attack him. With a car.” He lowered his voice, stepping in closer to deliver the next line to Nick, but I still caught it. “I still can, too, if the need arises.”

Nick blanched as Walker cuffed his arm. “Good to see you, brother. We need to catch up while you’re still in town.”

Nick nodded, clapping Walker back on the arm. I didn’t miss Walker’s wince. “Count on it.”

I peered at my brother. “What are you doing out here?”

“Got a date.” Walker inclined his head to a young, smooth-featured woman watching us from the corner of the coffee shop, then looked back at us. “What are y’all doing here?”

“Work,” I said.

Nick narrowed his eyes at me, then turned back to Walker. “Yeah, man, we better get back to it.”

“Alright. Let’s do dinner at Zora’s soon.”

“Why don’t you volunteer your house, Walker?”

“Because then I’d have to clean it. Now you get to clean yours. You’re welcome. See you both later. Wish me luck.” He threw up two fingers and turned away.

Nick resumed his seat in the booth, shaking his head. “Wow. It was good to see that guy.” He sounded bemused.

“I guess so.” I realized I was grateful Walker had shown up when he did. The conversation with Nick had gotten intense.

A ding sounded from the depths of my purse. I unearthed my phone and found a message from my brother.

Glad to hear old boy there didn’t cheat, but you may have other things to worry about. A screenshot followed of Jackson at some sporting game, face painted, mouth open with glee. A woman sat on his lap, equally jubilant. And because it was Jackson, he’d left little doubt to the nature of the relationship: his hand was on her right breast.

Damn. That was Jackson. Sloppy.

I glanced up from my phone to find Nick watching me closely.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah. Just fine.”

I risked a glance across the restaurant and met Walker’s stare. He gave me a nod, his jaw set. Dear God. When Grandma Leffersbee warned us of all that would go awry when we practiced deception, boy, had she been right. I wished I could signal to Walker that it was okay, that he didn’t need to string Jackson up.

But Nick was sitting at the table.

And if Nick got confirmation that Jackson and I weren’t together . . .? And he would, the longer he hung around town . . .

I didn’t even want to think about it.

Nick sat back, his expression and body language conveying patient serenity.

“There’s more we need to discuss, as soon as possible. There’s more you need to know. It’s important. Right now, all I’m asking for is time, Zora. I’m in no hurry to leave. Why don’t we just give it time and see how things sort themselves out?”

Inwardly, I groaned.

Time was the last thing this situation needed.

Chapter Twenty

Zora

The community center was transformed.

Almost every Friday night, a good portion of the town descended on the community center to take in great music while scarfing down the county’s best barbecue, salads, and baked goods. I’d spent many a Friday here in my lifetime, rotating between different classrooms to hear local musicians produce every variety of country, bluegrass, and folk music imaginable.

Now, the auditorium was filled with enough equipment and lights to resemble a small television studio. I counted nine chairs ringed in a circle with a videographer and light stands parked outside the perimeter. Several suits congregated at one side by the bleachers. The univesity’s marketing team huddled on the other side next to a folding