King's Country (Oil Kings #4) - Marie Johnston Page 0,35
about this place,” I said. “She takes me here every time I come to town.”
Inside, I pulled out the chair for her and sat. She ordered nothing but water like usual, and while it was a pub, I didn’t want her to drive back on a freshly freed foot, so I ordered a Coke.
We ordered and talked about Billings and how she’d come here a few times a year but didn’t usually go anywhere but McDonald’s for food. I told her where Dad’s office was, his house, and Aiden’s.
Bristol played with the tab that had secured the napkin around the silverware and her gaze glanced off every table. But her posture tonight was the opposite of how it’d been at Hogan’s. Billings was big enough for anonymity. If we lived here, maybe we’d run across someone we knew once in a while. But Bristol and I weren’t from here and we didn’t know anyone.
The meal arrived. I sampled her burger and she stole a few of my waffle fries. My mind was working over what we could do before we went back to King’s Creek when a familiar voice broke into our conversation.
“Dawson?” Kate broke away from a group of women all dressed in business-casual wear. She shoved a lock of light brown hair behind her ear and smiled at me.
I grinned and rose, wrapping my arms around her. “Kate, my favorite sister, how ya doing?”
She laughed and patted my back. “I’ve heard you say that to Eva and I’d bet my paycheck you’re going to say it to Savvy the next time you see her.”
Of course. They were all my favorite, but I considered Kate my oldest sister since she’d married into the family first.
Kate’s gaze landed on Bristol and I tensed as much as my date. But leave it to Kate and her calm manner and warm heart. “Bristol, so nice to see you. Emilia said you broke your leg. Are you doing okay?”
The corner of Bristol’s mouth lifted. “I had a good nurse.”
Her joking with Kate surprised me as much as Kate’s hearty laugh. “I imagine. Rancher. Chef. Nurse.”
“You wanna join us, or do you have plans?” I’d love to have Kate around anyway, but Bristol had had a whole lot of me and she seemed to be enjoying Kate’s company.
Kate peeked over her shoulder. The group she was with had found a table on the other side of the restaurant. “I’d hate to intrude.” She worried her lip. “But it would be fun if I could peel Aiden away from the office.”
I hadn’t thought of my brother. The guy worked a minimum twelve-hour day. When he was at my place, unless his ass was in a saddle, he was always on his phone or computer. “Call him up. Tell him I said to get his lazy ass over here.”
I’d messaged Dad, given him a quick rundown of what had happened with Bristol and how she was staying with me while she mended and that Grams was on the rampage. His reply had been the quintessential father washing his hands of the whole deal: Do what you think is best.
Kate bit her lip again and glanced between me and Bristol. “Are you sure? You two were probably loving not having everyone all up in your business.”
That was Kate. Quiet. Shy. Sharp as hell. I asked Bristol, “You mind?”
“Actually, I don’t.” Shock resonated in her voice, earning a beaming smile from Kate.
“Let me go talk to them and I’ll call Aiden.” Kate rushed off.
I sat back down and lifted a brow. “She’s awesome, right?”
“She knows I’ve been at your place.”
I dipped my head. “I texted Dad, but all I said was that you’d broken your leg and I’m helping you out and Grams can mind her own business.” I had expected Dad and my brothers to double down and bug me every day. Every week at the minimum. But they hadn’t. I’d been left alone.
Were they phoning each other like nosy church ladies?
Hell, I was surprised the actual nosy church ladies hadn’t phoned me. If I’d broken my leg, I’d have been stocked with more casseroles than one man could eat in a lifetime.
I looked to where Kate had ducked between the two sets of doors that made up the entrance to call my brother. “I wonder if she’ll get Aiden to leave the office.”
“Is he really . . .” Bristol shook her head. “Never mind. None of my business.”