She angled her neck. “Where’s your brother? You two seem to be together all the time.”
Zachary grinned, and the smile finally reached his eyes. “Zeke discovered that the pretty veterinarian was headed out to Trent’s field all by herself, and he went to make sure she didn’t trip over a rock or something.”
She matched his smile. “I take it Zeke has a crush?”
Zachary pushed away from the doorjamb. “Heck if I know, but he has something. Makes him ornery, too.”
Sounded like Zeke was a lion with a thorn. Maybe the vet would take it out and even the odds around the lodge. There was way too much testosterone around. The washing machine dinged.
She stood. “Zachary? Ranching is dangerous, isn’t it?”
“Definitely. Danger comes from every direction, it seems.” He tugged the brim of his hat. “I’ll see you later.”
No, he probably would not. She had to get out of there.
* * *
Trent drove carefully through the storm, keeping an eye on the quiet woman in the passenger seat.
She crossed her arms. “I wasn’t finished with your sheets yet. They’re in the dryer, but now they’ll be all wrinkled by the time somebody takes them out and puts them on the bed.”
That somebody would be her, but apparently she thought she was going ahead with her crazy plan. He took her hand. “We need to grab lunch, sweetheart. You worked hard, and you have to be hungry.”
She tilted her head in acknowledgment, just like a queen.
He grinned as he pulled to the curb in front of the one diner in town. “I’m treating you to lunch, and we’re going to have a talk.” He’d been working through how to explain the plan to her without scaring her. There was no need for her to know everything about him or what he could do, although he did want her to feel safe. It was a tightrope he was walking, but he could handle it. “Wait here.”
She waited patiently as he exited the truck and ran around to open her door, hustling her across the wide sidewalk and into the entryway of Sandra’s. They shook rain off on the rubber mat right inside the door.
The familiar smell of cheeseburgers, chicken, and pie assailed him, and he breathed deep. “I more or less live here when I can.” Putting his hand to the small of her back, he propelled her inside and down to a blue booth, nodding at folks as he went.
She scooted in her side and reached for a menu. “I love the colors in here. Pretty blue, light peach, white. It’s refreshing and inviting. Peaceful, even.”
All right. He knew where the exits were, what could be used as a weapon, and the best place to dodge a bullet, but he’d never noticed the colors. “I like that you notice stuff like that.” She blushed, and he liked that even more. Who blushed these days?
She read through the menu. “Everything looks so good.”
“Hi, Trent.” Sandra gracefully set two glasses of water on the table, and she smiled at Hallie. “You must be Hallie. I’m Sandra, and the lunch special is a Cobb salad, but the shrimp is fresh in, and that salad looks amazing, too.” Sandra had to be in her midtwenties with deep green eyes and curly blondish hair with red in it that looked natural.
“Hi,” Hallie said, smiling. “I’ll have the shrimp salad.”
Sandra nodded. “Drinks?”
Trent took a sip of his water. “Sandra has an excellent wine selection. I’ll have a Wallace Red. It’s a good beer, if you like beer.”
Hallie looked from him to Sandra. “I’ll have the same. Thanks.”
Sandra nodded and turned for the kitchen.
Hallie frowned. “She didn’t take your food order.”
He shrugged. “She knows what I want.” Sandra was magic like that. Had been since she’d purchased the diner recently.
“Really?” There was something odd in Hallie’s voice.
It took him a minute, and when he recognized the tone, he had to cough away a chuckle. “Yes. You sound jealous.” Would she be honest about it?
She looked him right in the eye. “That is one beautiful woman, and she knows your tastes well enough that she didn’t take your order. You’ve been kissing me lately, like a lot. I’m not jealous. I’m irritated.”
That was fair. He flattened her hand beneath his, enjoying her little struggle to reclaim it. Fire lanced her eyes when she glared at him, her hand staying right where he wanted it. She huffed out a breath, and he leaned toward her. “Sandra is a friend and a