“Turquoise?” Grandpa nodded. “That’s interesting.”
“Well, it goes with the cabinets. And it has personality.”
“That’s true.” He smiled. “I think Jack and Rose would like it.”
Now she told him about naming the trailer. “Do you think that’s okay? Jordan said his aunt would like it.”
“I think Rose would be honored.” He gave her a sideways hug. “I’m real proud of the way you’ve worked on this old trailer, Dillon. I knew I gave it to the right person.”
As she thanked him, Margot rang the dinner bell at the house. “Did Margot cook tonight?” Dillon asked. “I thought you were barbecuing ribs.”
“Well, Margot wanted to make some salad and things. But the ribs are about done. That’s what I came to tell you.”
As they walked to the house, Grandpa asked about Brandon. “Do you know where your young man is staying?”
“First of all, he’s not my young man.”
“Yeah, sorry. My bad.”
“And as far as staying anywhere, I assume he’s back in Colorado by now.”
“Maybe not. Margot said he dropped by this morning . . . when we were at church.”
“Oh?” Dillon didn’t like the sound of this.
“I’ll give him one thing, he’s persistent.” Grandpa stopped in his tracks, pointing down the driveway. “Speak of the devil—doesn’t that look a lot like the car he drove over here yesterday?”
Dillon shaded her eyes to see better. “Oh no.”
“So you didn’t know he was coming?”
“No.” She felt her stomach tying into a knot.
“Looks like he’s already in the house too.” Grandpa nodded toward the kitchen window, where he was talking to Margot.
“Probably inviting himself to dinner.” Dillon groaned. “And I was really looking forward to those ribs too.”
“No reason for you to miss out on them.”
“I’d rather starve than—”
“Hello!” Brandon came bounding down the back porch steps, hurrying toward them. Today, he was dressed casually and, as much as she hated to admit it, he looked handsome in his jeans and plaid shirt. Very un-Brandon-like. And, unless she was mistaken, he was wearing cowboy boots. Seriously?
“What are you doing here?” Dillon asked him as Grandpa went to check on the barbecue.
“Didn’t Margot mention I’d stopped by this morning?”
“Not exactly.” She remained in the driveway, arms folded across her front.
“Well, I was sorry to miss you. I had a golf date with one of the clients I’d met with on Friday. So Margot suggested I come by for dinner.” He held out his arms. “So here I am. Aren’t you just a teeny-tiny bit glad to see me?”
It felt mean to say how she really felt, so she just shrugged. “Interesting outfit.”
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d like it. I got it in town after my golf game. Looks like what the guys around here are wearing.”
“Uh-huh.” She frowned.
“Oh, Dillon. I wish I could turn back the clock on all the stupid things I did. You don’t know how much I miss your old sweet smile.”
She forced a smile. “It’s not that it’s completely gone. It’s just that—”
“I know, I know. You’re still mad at me. I was a jerk. I’m trying to own that now. All I want is for you to give me a second chance. Is that too much to ask? Can’t we try again?”
She blew out a sigh. “Brandon, you don’t get it. We’re through. You and I are a thing of the past.”
He shrugged. “I know that’s how you feel right now. Margot explained a few things to me this morning. She says it’ll take time for you to get over our breakup. I understand that. Like I said yesterday, I deserve some of your angst. But I’m willing to wait for you to cool off. Because I know deep down you want to be with me, Dilly. I know we can make this work again.”
Why did he not get it? Dillon was speechless. But she was also hungry and, despite her unwanted guest, was determined to indulge in Grandpa’s ribs. The smell alone made her stomach rumble. Deciding Brandon wasn’t worth missing dinner, she headed for the house.
“Oh, there you are.” Margot smiled at them. “We’re eating in the dining room tonight. Easier than hauling everything outside again. Dillon, can you take this—”
“I need to go wash up.” Dillon held out paint-speckled hands. “Maybe Brandon can help you.” Then she hurried to the upstairs bathroom, where she planned to leisurely wash her hands and while away the minutes until she heard Grandpa come in with the ribs. After that, well, she would just have to grin and bear it.
A few minutes later, Dillon sat down at the table with her focus on food, trying to pretend Brandon wasn’t sitting across from her. As usual, Brandon took control of the conversation. His charisma and charm were apparently winning not only Margot but Grandpa too. Especially when he asked them more questions about their farming projects, making enthused comments and offering some of his own ideas. For a brief moment, Dillon fell under his spell, thinking he wasn’t so bad. She even wondered why it was she had absolutely no interest in him. Except that she didn’t. But was that only because of Jordan? What if she’d never met Jordan? Would she be making plans right now to return to Colorado with Brandon?
Brandon shared with them that he planned to remain in town through the Fourth of July. “I’m overdue for some time off.” He explained how he’d taken a hotel room at the Best Western. “And I’m enjoying your small town.” He winked at Dillon. “I can see why you like it so much.”
Despite her confusion—and even if there were no Jordan Atwood—Dillon didn’t think her old feelings for Brandon would ever reawaken. And she was determined to set him straight on this—before the sun went down. So after dinner, Dillon took him outside. Her goal was to make her position clear—but with a softer approach this time.
“Brandon,” she began as they sat on the front porch together. “I’ve been thinking about what you’ve said and it seems possible that you really have changed. That’s great. I’m truly happy for you. And you need to know that I do forgive you. I don’t hold anything from the past against you anymore. Maybe I used to, but I’m done with that now.”
“I knew it was just a matter of time.” He sounded triumphant.
“But that’s not all, Brandon. You also need to understand that it is over between us. What we used to have was good . . . in its own way. But I’m done with that. I have moved on.”
“I don’t think you really mean that.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. “You used to have deep feelings for me, Dillon. You told me that you loved me. You can’t take that back—”
“I thought I loved you, Brandon. But now I realize that wasn’t love. And I seriously doubt that you ever loved me. Not really.”
“That’s not true. I did love you. I still love you. More than ever. But I used to suppress my feelings, Dilly. I know it sounds cliché, but I was afraid of commitment. Then after you left me, I had time to think about it. Time to realize what you meant to me. And, you’re right, I have changed. I can see us together now. And I’m even willing to consider a wedding date—as soon as next summer if—”