The room was about half full, many of the customers wearing costumes or masks.
A waitress dressed as a pirate wench in a low-cut white cotton blouse, black corset, and very short, red gathered skirt came by to take their orders. Long dark hair hung down her back, and her bosom nearly spilled over the top of her blouse.
The waitress gave Bran a thorough glance and smiled. “Happy Halloween. What can I get you?”
Jessie had a hunch the woman was offering more than a drink, but Bran didn’t seem to notice.
“Cosmo for the lady,” he said. “Club soda with a lime for me.”
Jessie’s gaze shot to his face. “Seriously?”
He just smiled. “And bring us an order of those wings that guy over there is eating.” He glanced at Jessie. “Anything else you want?”
She just shook her head.
The waitress smiled at Bran. “I’ll be right back.” She sashayed away, hips swaying, but Bran’s gaze didn’t follow.
“You’re not drinking,” Jessie said.
“I don’t drink when I’m working. The glass of wine I had last night was it till this is over. Add to that, I’m carrying.”
Carrying. For an instant, she had forgotten it wasn’t long ago people were shooting at her. That, and the reminder she was nothing more than a debt he believed he owed her brother, did nothing to heighten her mood.
Bran glanced around at their colorful surroundings. “My brothers and I used to love Halloween. Mom would let us pick our own costumes, and we all tried to outdo each other to see which of us could look the scariest.”
“I’m more a Thanksgiving and Christmas person myself. I look forward to the holiday season every year.” The thought sobered her. She wouldn’t be having Thanksgiving or Christmas with her father this year. Her mom was gone. Her brother, Danny. Now her dad. She would face the holidays alone. She felt a quick burn behind her eyes and glanced away, hoping Bran wouldn’t notice.
He reached over and covered her hand where it rested on top of the table. “Hey, I can see where your thoughts just went. You’re welcome at our house. Chase and his wife, Harper, are planning to make a big Thanksgiving dinner. They’re newlyweds, and Harper is excited to be hosting. There’ll be other people there too, friends of the family. For Christmas, we’re all flying down to the family ranch out in the Texas Hill Country. It’s real pretty out there.”
She wiped an unexpected tear from her cheek. “That’s really nice of you, but I’m sure I’ll find something to do.” She managed a half-hearted smile. “I’m just not used to Dad being gone, you know? It doesn’t seem quite real.”
She toyed with the paper napkin the waitress had set in front of her. “Dad was my rock. He was always there when I needed him. I miss him every day.” She looked Bran straight in the face. “I’m going to clear his name, Bran. No matter what it takes.”
He squeezed her hand. “We’re only getting started. The next few days should be interesting.”
The drinks and wings came. Bran helped himself, and they talked and began to relax. She probably shouldn’t be drinking because Bran was looking better and better. She wanted to reach out and brush back the curl of dark hair that had fallen over his forehead. She wanted to run her hands over all those glorious muscles beneath his shirt.
Inwardly she sighed. She didn’t have sex with men she had only just met, no matter how attractive they were. After Ray Cummings, she wasn’t sure she would ever have sex again—though she had tried on two separate occasions. Guys she had been dating for a while and believed their relationship might be going somewhere. Both attempts had been disastrous, embarrassing for both of them and especially her.
She finished her cosmo and was thinking about ordering another when Bran rose abruptly from his chair.
“Time to go,” he said, but the wings he’d ordered were only half gone.
“What is it?”
“Not sure. Couple guys came in after we did. Fellow wearing a Frankenstein mask and the guy next to him with a skeleton face. They’re in jeans and sneakers, not costumes, and they seemed a little too interested in us. Don’t look at them. Just get up and let’s go.”
Jessie stood and started walking. Bran tossed some bills on the table to cover the drinks, and a sizable tip, and they crossed the room to the door.
“Keep walking,” Bran said. “I’ll be right behind you.” He held back