2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
4 th of July picnic at Brooke’s home…
Brooke Banks stared out at the crowd of people milling around the garden and seated at the picnic tables on the patio. Her best friend Mindy Sue was holding court by the pond with her boyfriend, Marco, and several of their college friends. They were entertaining themselves playing cornhole and horseshoes on the grass. They’d all come to support Brooke through this happy but difficult event.
“Brooke! Is that really you!” Mrs. Ellis’s mouth hung open as her gaze went from the tips of Brooke’s cowboy boots, up her legs and her slightly curvy body, to her green-eyed gaze. “Wow! You were always a pretty girl, but now you’re a beautiful young lady.”
She appreciated the praise. At least someone had noticed she'd grown up. “Thank you.”
“I’m so sorry about your stepfather. We’ve missed him these last two years.” Mrs. Ellis’s husband, the mayor, had been friends with Harland since they were boys in school.
Two years ago, her stepfather had died of a sudden heart attack. He’d held the annual picnic for all his friends, fellow ranchers, and community leaders. She missed him every day. She, her mom, and his son, Cody, hadn’t been ready to carry on the tradition after Harland’s passing. But this year, Brooke insisted they revive it. It was important to keep Harland’s memory alive. Traditions mattered and kept them together.
Plus she hoped it would help Cody look toward the future and see this place as his now, because he was the one carrying on in his father’s absence.
And it didn’t hurt that some of the most influential people in the state were here.
As a lawyer, Cody could use the connections with his father’s cronies. You never knew when you’d need a favor from someone with the kind of clout many of the individuals here today flaunted.
She nodded to the governor and his wife, who were chatting with her mother, Susanne, nearby. Mindy Sue’s father, Doug Wagner, was one of the most highly respected and successful defense attorneys in the state. There were three judges, plus the district attorney and several of his associates here, too, along with most of the business owners from three nearby towns. Everyone they’d invited showed up out of respect for Cody and his father.
And she’d been the one to pull all of this together, from the invitations to the catering, decorations, the music, games, and fireworks show. Every detail, she’d conceived and executed.
She hoped it showed everyone on the ranch that she’d grown up, because from the second she’d arrived home from college, she’d had to remind everyone she was twenty, not ten.
It started with their ranch hand the day she arrived home for summer break calling her little one. Paco didn't mean anything other than affection, but it made her feel like a little girl and not the woman she'd grown into. It didn't help that Cody refused to let her have even half a glass of wine at dinner. He never missed an opportunity to exercise his overprotective streak when it came to her.
Even more annoying, his girlfriend was Team Cody all the way. UGH! Of course she sided with him to score points.
Mrs. Ellis pressed her hand to her heart. “Time passes so quickly. We blink and…” She waved her hand up and down in front of Brooke. “Little girls turn into young ladies. Friends pass.” She waved at her misty eyes. “Sorry. I miss Harland.”
“Me, too.”
“And I haven’t seen enough of your mother. How is Susanne doing? She must be so proud of you.”
“She is.” Brooke was lucky to have such a supportive mom, even if she was having trouble giving Brooke her freedom. “And she’s well. It was hard in the beginning, but now we’re all just trying to keep Dad alive in our hearts.”
Mrs. Ellis patted Brooke’s forearm. “That’s the way, now isn’t it? You must be close to finishing college.”
“One more year to go until I graduate with my bachelor’s degree.” She couldn’t wait.
Mrs. Ellis leaned in. “And is there a special young man?”
Brooke’s cheeks warmed. “No.” Just Cody. But he wasn’t hers. No matter how hard she tried or wished it were true.
“Well”—Mrs. Ellis nudged her shoulder—“the right one will come along soon enough.”
Yeah, I already found him. He’s just not into me. Not in that way.
Her mom, Susanne, made her way over to them. “Betty, don’t you look lovely.”
Mrs. Ellis’s sleeveless, fuchsia-colored sheath dress complemented her dark hair and green eyes while showing off a nice pair of toned arms. Mrs. Ellis must work out, because she was in good shape.
Mrs. Ellis waved off Brooke’s mother’s compliment. “Thank you, Susanne. You’re as beautiful as ever. That turquoise dress just makes you glow.” The women shared a quick embrace and kiss on the cheek.
“I’ve missed you,” Susanne confessed.
Her mom had retreated from her friends after Harland’s death, lost in her grief. But over the past year, she’d slowly started to really live again and reconnect with old friends.
Brooke loved that the party had brought these two back together.
Mrs. Ellis held her hand out toward Brooke. “I nearly didn’t recognize your beautiful daughter.”
“They grow up so fast.” Her mom smiled, even if a bit of sadness crept into her eyes that time had passed too quickly and soon Brooke would be off to school again.
“Yes, they do.” Mrs. Ellis was probably thinking of her two children. “Thank you for inviting us to the party.”
“Oh,” her mother said, “I’m so happy you’re here, but the event”—Susanne looked around at all the people, decorations, and buffet nearby—“this was all Brooke’s doing.”
And today Cody would see she could handle a party of this size and scale and make it enticing for all these people to show up and be here for him. All she’d had to do was call up the governor’s wife and tell her how much she hoped she and her husband would attend, and that her stepfather Harland had loved her pecan pie. Mrs. Harris had won first place in the state fair three years in a row and took great pride in showing off her version of the official state pie. She had graciously agreed to not only come to the picnic but to bring a dozen of her homemade pies herself. From there, it had been simple to let others know the governor would be attending, and the RSVPs had rolled in. Not that these people wouldn’t come because they respected Harland and Cody. They would. They did. But it never hurt to have a little incentive for those who thrived on being seen in the right circles.
And she’d do anything for Cody.
Mrs. Ellis’s smile grew as her gaze shifted to Brooke. “I should hire you for the mayor’s next event.”
Pride swelled in her heart. She’d worked hard on this picnic. And Mrs. Ellis’s approval meant a lot. She attended a ton of events each year. She’d know if something was done well, or fell short. “Unfortunately, I’ll have my nose stuck in books for the next couple semesters.”
“You should think about becoming an event planner.”
Mrs. Ellis’s suggestion was nice, but Brooke had other plans. And they included running the ranch with Cody.
Unfortunately, she wouldn’t have Cody all to herself. His girlfriend, Kristi Randall, beelined it across the patio toward her and she inwardly cringed.
Kristi barely got out, “Sorry to interrupt, Susanne, Mrs. Ellis.” She turned to Brooke. “Have you seen your brother?” Kristi stood before her, searching the crowd with barely a glance for her.
Kristi had never liked her. The feeling was mutual. Kristi wanted all of Cody’s attention on her. Brooke? Same. Still, you’d think Kristi would want to befriend Cody’s best friend.
Not Kristi. She saw other women as competition.
And while Brooke loved Cody, she also knew she wasn’t in the running to be anything more than what she already was to him.
And referring to him as her brother. Yeah, no. She and Cody didn’t call each other brother and sister. Their seven-year age gap meant they hadn’t been raised together. Brooke and her mom arrived on the ranch when she was ten. Her mother hired on as the cook before Harland fell hard and fast for Susanne and they married. And while Harland had felt like the father she’d never had, she and Cody treated each other like good friends, not siblings.
She’d never, not once, thought of the charming, temptingly hot Cody as her brother.
Kristi huffed out her frustration. “I’ve been looking for him everywhere.” In her long, flowing white dress, pink strappy kitten heels that Brooke hated to admit were super cute, and a tan sunhat over her long golden hair, Kristi made Brooke look like a ranch hand and not the hostess of one of the most sought-after invitations in the state.
Brooke should have put more thought into her outfit like her mother suggested. Not once, but like four times.
She never really paid much attention to what she wore on the ranch or at school. She went for comfort over fashion.
Today she’d thought she’d upped her game by wearing a faded denim skirt that hit mid-thigh and showed off her tanned, toned legs, a short-sleeved, fitted red T-shirt that had lace detail around the arms and hemline but now felt like it wasn’t anything special, and her black cowboy boots. She’d pulled her hair up into her usual ponytail to keep it out of the way and off her neck in the hot sun. She could have tried something different. Maybe keeping it down and using some pretty clips to keep it out of her face, even if it would be heavy and hot draped down her neck and back.
Compared to Kristi, she looked plain.
Not exactly showstopping for this who’s who party.
Standing next to Kristi, seeing how everyone else around her had dressed in what Mindy Sue would probably call resort chic, suddenly made her uncomfortable. Nervous butterflies battled in her belly as her cheeks heated with embarrassment. She’d tried so hard to make today perfect for everyone. Now, she felt out of place. Not the first time.
Changing now would look too obvious. So she let it go with a heavy heart and tried not to let herself think about it again.
Brooke glanced at Mindy Sue and her other friends out on the lawn, all of them in sundresses or skirts and pretty blouses, hair done, makeup on. Brooke had swiped on some ChapStick and mascara and called it done.
Even the guys were in khakis and slacks with short-sleeved button-up shirts.
She scanned the crowd again and noticed the ranch hands had put on their finest boots, dark denim, and cowboy shirts with pearl buttons, belt buckles shining.
She sighed, thinking that instead of spending the whole morning helping the caterer set up, she could have taken time to actually think about what she wanted to wear and put together something a bit more…sophisticated. Maybe then Cody would look at her like he looked at other women. And she wouldn’t feel like the lovesick shadow who followed him around all the time, hoping he’d see how much she loved him.
Ugh. Pathetic. And yet she couldn’t squash the undying hope that lived inside her that one day…
Kristi tapped her on the shoulder. “Brooke. Hello. Cody?”
Right. Brooke looked out across the patio, gardens, and grass area where the just-over-two-hundred guests were mingling. “I haven’t seen him since we came out to greet everyone.”
Kristi huffed out a breath.
Trouble in paradise?
One could hope. Because Kristi had this way about her. She liked getting what she wanted and seemed to be the kind of person who’d do anything to get it.
An only child. Spoiled.
But Brooke had also gotten the sense that pleasing her parents really mattered to Kristi. Brooke got that. You wanted them to be proud of you. It just seemed like Kristi really needed it more than most.
Still, Brooke recognized the longing in Kristi’s eyes. She felt it in herself every time she thought about Cody or even looked at him. He had this quality that drew her in.
Kristi and others weren’t immune to it either.
But Cody was different with Brooke than he was with the other women who came and went. They could talk for hours or just chill and watch a movie with nothing said. She knew him so well, she could read him like a book. And he was always there for her. Since the day she arrived at the ranch with her mom, they just clicked.
They were friends.
She wanted them to be more.
He ignored all her attempts to get his attention in that way.
She had half a mind to tell Kristi he was off talking to some ex, but that was petty and immature. She’d long since grown past trying to sabotage Cody’s girlfriends by conveniently forgetting to deliver messages, or telling them Cody liked something that he hated. He always caught on and gave her a disapproving look that made her feel terrible. She didn’t want to be on the wrong side of Cody. She definitely didn’t want to lose the amazing connection they shared.
She was really trying to be the grown-up no one on the ranch saw her to be, including her mother and Cody.
Maybe she could do a better job by thinking things through first, like dressing appropriately for the party and presenting herself as the adult she felt like on the inside. Then everyone would see it. Right?
It sucked that everyone still treated her like a child. Well, at least a teen with no sense, despite her stellar grades and the twenty years she’d kept herself alive and well, thank you very much.
Maybe she’d made some mistakes along the way. Thinking Jamie was her friend at middle school summer camp, only to find out that Jamie had hidden a bottle of vodka in Brooke’s bag and she got caught during inspection the first day and sent home. Luckily, her mom believed her that she hadn’t stolen it from the bar at home. It was a cheap brand they didn’t keep in the house. Then there was the time she’d played spin the bottle at Brent’s house freshman year with a bunch of friends. She really wanted her first kiss to be with Cody, but Joe came in second, and then the bottle landed on Chris. She’d been disappointed but game to kiss him just to get it over with. But Brent, the asshole trickster, who she’d turned down in front of several of his friends for the spring dance, told her to close her eyes. She did and puckered up to kiss Chris but got a face full of dog tongue instead. Brent got his revenge. Everyone laughed at her. The next day at school, everyone snickered behind her back about her French-kissing Brent’s mini poodle. Yeah, high school was not fun with that hanging over her head.
Kristi frowned as she continued to scan the crowd. “If you see him, please send him to me. Tell him my father would like to have a word with him? It’s important.”
The demand wrapped in the request rubbed Brooke the wrong way. “We’re supposed to give a speech while everyone is eating. The lines are forming now. I’m sure he’ll find me soon.”
“That can wait. This can’t. It’s an opportunity Cody won’t want to pass up. Not if he’s smart.”
Cody was the smartest guy she knew.
“What’s it about?”
“The future. One I think Cody wants, which is why I worked so hard to set this up.”
Brooke cocked her head, concerned and suspicious. “What did you set up?”
Kristi huffed. “My father is waiting. Will you just help me find him?”
Mrs. Ellis and Susanne both raised a brow, though Kristi didn’t see their curious gazes.
Brooke couldn’t let the snappish tone go. “You know, a straight answer would get better results.”
“Cody wants to make a name for himself. I can make that happen.” Smugness was not becoming on Kristi.
The muscles in Brooke’s shoulders tensed. “He doesn’t need anyone to make him look good. He’s smart, driven, and good at everything he does.”
Kristi smirked. “Oh, I know he is.”
Brooke didn’t like the innuendo. She avoided Mrs. Ellis and her mother’s stares. “Whatever.” She tried to walk away, but Kristi snagged her arm and halted her.
“Don’t mess this up for him.”
She turned and looked Kristi right in the eyes. “I want what’s best for him.”
Kristi grinned again. “Good. Then send him over to me.” She smiled smugly and walked away.
Brooke wanted to tear Kristi’s pretty blonde hair out.
Mrs. Ellis gave Brooke the same sympathetic look as her mom. “Don’t let her get to you. Women like her end up with no friends, wondering why no one likes them.”
“I guess. Excuse me. I have to find Cody.” She decided if whatever Kristi was talking about would really help him, then she’d do the right thing.
She found him in the garden, sitting in an Adirondack chair next to his buddy Brad Whitlock, the district attorney’s son. They’d grown up together and went to college together.
Brad saw her coming and grinned. “Hello, beautiful.” He took her hand and tugged, putting her off-balance so that she landed in his lap. He hugged her close. “Where have you been all my life.”
“Right under your nose. But the B word you use for me is usually brat.” She elbowed him in the gut, making him laugh as she smiled back at him. Brad was like a brother to her.
Which was weird to think of him as when she’d never seen Cody that way.
And the object of all her desires frowned at his friend.
Brad ignored it. “I think gorgeous suits you better now.”
Cody pounded his fist into Brad’s shoulder with anger in his eyes as he reached out and took Brooke’s hand, pulling her up and out of Brad’s lap and into his. “Hands off, asshole.”
Brad held up his hands. “I was just saying hello.”
Cody narrowed his gaze. “You know the rule. No flirting with her .”
Brooke cocked a brow. “Is this like the bro code?” She had to admit, she liked seeing Cody possessive over her. And sitting in his lap gave her all kinds of shivery feelings and indecent ideas.
Brad chuckled. “You don’t mess with your best friend’s sister.”
Cody nudged her off him. “Is it time for the speech you want us to make?”
Brooke stood beside him, knowing he’d changed the subject on purpose, but not understanding the wince he’d given at Brad’s words or the strange look in his eyes when she left his lap. Regret?
No. That’s wishful thinking and my imagination.
She tamped down her hormones and adoration for him and focused. “Uh, Kristi ordered me to find you.”
“Excuse me?” Cody didn’t look happy about that.
Brooke let it go. “Her father wants to talk to you. Something important.”
“Better hop to it,” Brad teased. “Don’t want to keep the future Mrs. Jansen waiting.”
“What?” Brooke nearly choked on the word and the idea that Cody planned to propose.
Cody punched his fist into Brad’s arm again as he stood. “Stop joking about shit like that.”
She grabbed his forearm and stopped him from walking away. “Are you…”
“No,” he said emphatically.
She breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t planning on asking her to marry him.
Yet.
Shut up , she yelled at that voice in her head.
Cody glanced at the crowd. “Where is she?”
Brooke looked past him. “By the bar.”
“How about I get you a drink, Brooke?” Brad offered.
“No,” Cody snapped. “Brooke isn’t of age.”
Brad shook his head. “Come on, old man. We were drinking way younger than she is now.”
Cody met Brad’s taunting eyes. “Go find one of the couple dozen available women here today. She’s not for you.”
Brooke wanted to break the tension between these two friends. “I mean, I could do worse.”
Cody’s lethal gaze landed on her. “Are you serious?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I’m going to make sure everyone is heading to the buffet line.” She walked away, but not before she heard Brad tell Cody, “I was just messing around.”
She knew it was to keep his friendship with Cody on good terms, but it kind of pinched her heart, too, that he wasn’t serious about her being beautiful, or that he would be interested in her.
Not that she wanted to date Brad. It would just be nice if he thought she was worth Cody’s wrath.
You’re being ridiculous.
She knew that.
Still, the whole interaction with all of them felt weird. Like maybe Cody didn’t want her with anyone but him.
Now that’s really ridiculous.
Or was it?
She really needed to stop this train of thought and get a grip.
She made it through the garden and to the buffet line just in time to catch the moment Cody found Kristi and slipped his hand around her waist, pulling her close to his side as he used his free hand to shake her father’s hand.
Kristi looked up at him adoringly.
Cody glanced down at her and smiled. People close to them noticed the happy couple.
Was he really thinking about marrying her? Or had Brad really just been joking?
Brooke’s heart sank. She was too used to this feeling when it came to Cody. Maybe one day he’d see her as the woman she’d become.
The one who wanted him and only him.