Belonging to Bandera. Tina Leonard

And that Hog was about the most alluring bait he’s seen in months.”

      “Well, then he probably deserves it,” she said huffily. “Maybe he doesn’t like you being his ball and chain. I know I wouldn’t.”

      Bandera stared at her. “Ball and chain?”

      She turned around. “Frankly, your possessive attitude grates on my nerves.”

      He blinked. “Possessive?”

      “Yes. You should be happy for your brother.”

      The brunette had been quite a looker. Very Cherlike, in her younger days. And she’d let Mason drive her Hog. He sighed. “Mimi isn’t going to like you,” he told Holly. “I’d watch that rhetoric around her.”

      “Who’s Mimi?”

      “The next-door neighbor. Well, used to be.”

      “Well, she’s not here. And you gotta live life to the fullest, as I’ve learned only too well today.”

      “I know that quote,” he said. “But I think there are varying definitions of what living life to the fullest means.”

      “Mike has a cell phone,” she reminded him, “and we can follow them to wherever you were planning to go in the first place.”

      “True.” Bandera began to feel better. “Yes. Nothing to worry about.”

      Somewhere a door slammed loudly, making them both wheel around. He grabbed Holly and held her against him.

      “Are you always nervous like this?” she whispered.

      “Shh!” He’d thought the shop owner was the only person working in the place. She’d hung up a Closed sign in the window. He and Holly had seemed to be alone on miles of deserted country road. “I’m going to go make certain everything was locked up.”

      “Okay.” She began walking and he pulled her back.

      “No,” he said, “I’m going to check, and you’re going to stay here.”

      “Bandera! I just canceled a wedding! I think I can check to make certain a door was closed properly.”

      “I can’t allow you to get in trouble out here.”

      She sighed. “Come on, cowboy. I never dreamed you’d be so needy, or I wouldn’t have kissed you.”

      “More on that later,” he said. “Stay behind me.”

      “Whatever.”

      He walked to the door, which had an old screen covering. It looked as if the brunette lived in the front part of the house and ran her business from the garage. He took hold of the handle, giving it a good shake, and the door swung open.

      He and Holly exchanged glances.

      “Not a good sign,” he whispered. “I really did think this door slammed.”

      “I did, too. Go on in.”

      “No!” Bandera said. “It’s her house!”

      “And she’d appreciate you making certain nobody walked inside!”

      Holly had a point. “Will you stay out here?” he asked.

      Her eyes got big. “What do you think?”

      “I think hell no.”

      She pushed him inside. Then she followed, glancing around. “Oh, it’s so pretty,” she murmured. “I love yellow-and-green gingham.”

      It looked like rays of sunshine had been splashed throughout the den. Plants were everywhere, blooming lush and green. The sofa was overstuffed and the chairs were fat leather recliners. “She didn’t seem like the kind of girl who decorated comfortably.”

      “She seemed fine. I don’t know why she’s bugging you so much.”

      “Because she drove off hanging on to my brother’s backside. I’m telling you, that wasn’t in the plan.”

      “Today is not the day for plans. I’m going to call my mother,” Holly said, crossing into the kitchen. “Look! She baked chocolate chip cookies.”

      “You yak, I’ll eat.” He perched on a flower-painted bar stool and made himself at home with the yellow-gingham plate. “Mmm. Maybe better than wedding cake. You should have one.”

      Holly rolled her eyes, but took one from him, being very careful to avoid his fingers, he noticed. Dialing the phone, she stood on the opposite side of the bar, instructing the operator to make a collect call.