Page 7 (1/2)

"It’s a e pylon, Cole crossed his arms and responded to Brandon’s statement "Duly noted"

And dis, Cole had dropped in to this double-story bayside ho tie Harley-Davidson He would have offered to help but Cole knew from old Brandon didn’t let anyone near his bike That the showroom-quality cruiser ever made it out onto the street was a miracle Guess everyone had their passions Their weaknesses

Cole’s thoughts veered to Taryn Quinn and her exuberant expression the day he’d given the go-ahead for her location survey He’d be a liar not to ad tiht surprise hier, he’d have asked Roone frohts Brandon’s conversation brought hiate Eloise

"Fro a handlebar as if it were a shapely feuy responsible for the atteone to his maker"

"So it would seem"

"A death certificate’s pretty final"

"What if this guy was a patsy?"

"It’s possible Has your father’s ard to Eloise’s loyalties?"

"Not as yet"

"Like I said" In a white tee and faded jeans, Brandon straightened his linebacker shoulders and snapped the polishing rag at the air "You want her tailed? Big mistake"

"That’s my call" Cole wanted Eloise cleared of all suspicion, if only for his own peace of mind "Tell me what you know so far"

Since their phone call five days ago, Brandon had dug around Eloise Hunter nee Warren’s background Born in Atlanta Current age, thirty-five Father a political figure Mother a close friend of Cole’s h school No conviction

Polishing the other handlebar now, Brandon confirer They caught up again when he flew out to visit his late wife’s re relatives some months after her death The subsequent contact between the two gave "consoling the bereaved" a whole new nauseating

Cole pushed off the pylon "Stick with it And can you look into my father’s new housekeeper while you’re at it? Nancy Souilty of anything Still"

Brandon chuckled "Not your type?"

Re the mustache, Cole shuddered "Not by any stretch"

Brandon ran a pal with your love life?"

"What love life?"

"That’s what I figured"

"I’ you dated in our Navy Cadet days? Don’t think you’ve had a steady relationship since"

"A year-long crush on a lieutenant’s daughter isn’t a steady relationship"

"Dear, sweet Meredith McReedy She broke your heart"

"Like an egg in a skillet," Cole confirrin, "and she didn’t even know it"

"Selfish fe you behind to pine"

"I got over it Eventually"

"Wonder if she’ll be at the reunion tonight" Brandon glanced up fro bucket "You’re going, right?"

"I received the invitation"

"Don’t avoiddown the drive toward his car, Cole lowered the sunglasses perched on his crown onto his nose "I’ up with friends?"

"Everyone’s married now I can do without the questions When are you settling down? Why haven’t you got kids yet? Last reunion, the woot it into her head I should fall down on one knee and propose"

Brandon’s big hands found his jeans’ waistband "I’m sure you can come up with a few more excuses if you really try"

"You’re taking someone?"

Brandon was never without a lady on his arm - a little like Dex, only his brother’s affairs were usually plastered across the pages of nuazines Brandon was farlady I o"

"Weeks, did you say?" Cole’s lips twitched as he opened the driver’s side door "Must be serious"

"Don’t panic No starry eyes on either side We have oing around"

Leaning a foreare, Cole spilled all about the delectable, infuriating Taryn Quinn - hoas attracted to her on a number of levels despite the fact that he’d soon need to terminate her contract

Cole ended, "Then I’ll be the one needing a bodyguard"

Brandon’s eyebrows hitched "Fiery, huh?"

"On occasion"

"Sounds interesting Bring her along"

"She barely tolerates me"

"Oh, and she has brains"

Cole grinned "As a matter of fact, she does"

"What’s her story? Why isn’t she attached?"

"That’s a question I’ve asked myself"

Brandon’s hands dropped to his sides "You sound suspicious"

"No Not anyoodbye A nition, Cole stopped to wonder Should he invite Taryn to that reunion? Business issues aside, he did find her intriguing Certainly she’d doused him in wine and had tried to put hi in to her - defending her - in ways that, frankly, astounded hi, he kicked over the engine and shifted the gears into Reverse

He didn’t need ht If the idea ever crossed his ain, he’d make an appointment to have his head examined