Even as Brandee asked the question, it occurred to her that this was the most normal conversation she and Shane had ever had. Usually they engaged in some sort of verbal sparring or just outright arguing and rarely traded any useful information.
“She came here after college to study oil reserves and met my dad. They were married within six months and she’s been here ever since.” Shane used his toast to clean up the last of the egg. “She went back to Boston after my dad died and stayed for almost a year, but found she missed Royal.”
“I’m sure it was you that she missed.”
Shane nodded. “I am the apple of her eye.”
“Of course.” Brandee thanked Heidi as the waitress set a plate down on the counter. With the arrival of her breakfast, Brandee had intended to let her side of the conversation lapse, but something prompted her to ask, “She didn’t remarry?”
Never in a million years would Brandee admit it, but Shane’s story about his mother was interesting. Shane’s father had died over a decade earlier, but Elyse Delgado had accompanied her son to several events at the TCC clubhouse since Brandee had bought Hope Springs Ranch. Her contentious relationship with Shane caused Brandee to avoid him in social situations and she’d never actually spoken to his mother except to say hello in passing. Yet, Brandee knew Elyse Delgado by reputation and thought she would’ve enjoyed getting to know the woman better if not for her son.
“There’ve been a couple men she’s dated, but nothing serious has come out of it. Although she was completely devoted to my father, I think she’s enjoyed her independence.”
“I get that,” Brandee murmured. “I like the freedom to run my ranch the way I want and not having to worry about taking anyone’s opinions into account.”
“You make it sound as if you never plan to get married.” Shane sounded surprised and looked a little dismayed. “That would certainly be a shame.”
Brandee’s hackles rose. He probably hadn’t intended to strike a nerve, but in the male-dominated world of Texas cattle ranching, she’d faced down a lot of chauvinism.
“I don’t need a man to help me or complete me.”
At her hot tone, Shane threw up his hands. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No?” She snorted. “Tell me you don’t look at me and wonder how I handle Hope Springs Ranch without a man around.” She saw confirmation in his body language before he opened his mouth to argue. “Thanks to my dad, I know more about what it takes to run a successful ranch than half the men around here.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
“But you still think I need someone.”
“Yes.” Shane’s lips curved in a sexy grin. “If only to kiss you senseless and take the edge off that temper of yours.”
* * *
The second Brandee’s eyes cooled, Shane knew he should’ve kept his opinion to himself. They’d been having a perfectly nice conversation and he’d had to go and ruin it. But all her talk of not needing a man around had gotten under his skin. He wasn’t sure why.
“I have neither a temper nor an edge.” Brandee’s conversational tone wasn’t fooling Shane. “Ask anyone in town and they’ll tell you I’m determined, but polite.”
“Except when I’m around.”
Her expression relaxed. “You do bring out the worst in me.”
And for some reason she brought out the worst in him. “I’d like to change that.” But first he had to learn to hold his tongue around her.
“Why?”
“Because you interest me.”
“As someone who sees through your glib ways?”
“I’ll admit you’ve presented a challenge.” Too many things in his life came easily. He didn’t have to exert himself chasing the unachievable. But in Brandee’s case, he thought the prize might be worth the extra effort.
“I’ve begun to wonder if convincing me to sell Hope Springs had become a game to you.”
“I can’t deny that I’d like your land to expand my development, but that’s not the only reason I’m interested in you.”
“Is it because I won’t sleep with you?”
He pretended to be surprised. “That never even occurred to me. I’m still in the early stages of wooing you.”
“Wooing?” Her lips twitched as if she were fighting a smile. “You do have a way with words, Shane Delgado.”
“Several times you’ve accused me of having a silver tongue. I might have a knack for smooth talking, but that doesn’t mean I’m insincere.”
Brandee pushed her unfinished breakfast away and gave him her full attention. “Let me get this straight. You want us to date?” She laughed before he could answer.
He’d thought about it many times, but never with serious intent. Their chemistry was a little too combustible, more like a flash bang than a slow burn, and he’d reached a point in his life where he liked to take his time with a woman.
“Whoa,” he said, combating her skepticism with lighthearted banter. “Let’s not get crazy. How about we try a one-week cease-fire and see how things go?”
Her features relaxed into a genuine smile and Shane realized she was relieved. His ego took a hit. Had she been dismayed that he’d viewed her in a romantic light? Most women would be thrilled. Once again he reminded himself that she was unique and he couldn’t approach her the same way he did every other female on the planet.
“Does that mean you’re not going to try to buy Hope Springs for a week?” Despite her smile, her eyes were somber as she waited for his answer.
“Sure.”
“Let’s make it two weeks, then.”
To his surprise, she held out her hand like it was some sort of legal agreement. Shane realized that for all their interaction, they’d never actually touched skin to skin. The contact didn’t disappoint.
Pleasure zipped up his arm and lanced straight through his chest. If he hadn’t been braced against the shock, he might have let slip a grunt of surprise. Her grip was strong. Her slender fingers bit into his hand without much effort on her part. He felt the work-roughened calluses on her palm and the silky-smooth skin on the back of her hand. It was a study in contrasts, like everything else about her.
Desire ignited even as she let go and snatched up her bill. With an agile shift of her slim body, she was sliding into the narrow space between his chair and hers. Her chest brushed his upper arm and he felt the curve of her breasts even through the layers of her sweater and his jacket.
“See you, Delgado.”
Before he got his tongue working again, she’d scooped her coat and purse off the back of the chair and was headed for the front cash register. Helpless with fascination, he watched her go, enjoying the unconscious sashay of her firm, round butt encased in worn denim. The woman knew how to make an exit.
“Damn,” he murmured, signaling to the waitress that he wanted his coffee topped off. He had a meeting in half an hour, but needed to calm down before he headed out.
A cup of coffee later, he’d recovered enough to leave. As he looked for his bill, he realized it was missing. He’d distinctly recalled Heidi sliding it onto the counter, but now it was gone. He caught her eye and she came over with the coffeepot.
“More coffee, Shane?”
“No, I’ve got to get going, but I don’t see my bill and wondered if it ended up on the floor over there.” He indicated her