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Both of them burst out laughing. “She’s itching to say something about our little dinner, isn’t she?” Tate mused.

“For sure.”

Tate leaned forward and crooked a finger. “You know we could give her something to talk about if we wanted to.”

Kelly smiled and shook her head. “As tempting as that is, I don’t think so. Besides, I know what you’re doing.”

“What? What am I doing?” His eyes widened, but Kelly wasn’t born yesterday.

“You’re avoiding answering my question. And by doing that you’ve already confirmed what I suspected.”

“And what’s that?” His fingers continued to fiddle with the wrapper from his straw. She noticed they were long and his nails were neatly cut. Considering he worked with plants and dirt every day, they were clean.

“Tyler didn’t talk to you about it at all. I wondered when I saw the way you two interacted today.”

Tate’s chest rose and fell. “Yeah, he sprung it on me. It’s typical Tyler behavior. I should be used to it, but I’m not.”

The dynamics between the brothers wasn’t something she needed to get involved with, but Tate looked so defeated. Clearly, everything was getting to him and he didn’t know what to do.

Right then, she decided she would accommodate as many of Tate’s wishes for the event as possible. Except maybe the flowers.

Chapter Five

Tate was surprisedhe was able to make coherent sentences. Normally, around Kelly, he seemed to stumble over some words like he was fifteen years old. The more time he spent with her, the more relaxed he became.

Her dinner invitation surprised the hell out of him, considering the way they’d parted at the farm.

“Look, I want to apologize for how I acted today. Like I said, Tyler didn’t tell me, and then we got into it in front of you, and then I took out my bad temper and annoyance at him on you. You didn’t deserve that. So I’m sorry.”

She reached out and touched him, a light connection that was over in seconds, but he savored it. “Thank you. I can’t begin to understand the dynamics between siblings. I’m an only child, and the only people I argued with growing up were my dolls. It was always a one-sided argument.”

Tate chuckled, trying to picture a young Kelly arguing with dolls. “I’m sorry you lost all the arguments.”

For a second she was silent, and then she laughed. “How did you know I always lost?”

He shrugged. “Lucky guess?”

Norma arrived at their table. The aroma of fried food assailed his senses, and his stomach grumbled in appreciation. It had been a long time since he’d had anything to eat. He’d been so focused on making sure he got everything done before his meeting with Kelly that food was the last thing on his mind.

Once Norma walked away, he grabbed his silverware and dug into the chicken fried steak, corn, and mashed potatoes. The first mouthful was ambrosia.

“Been a while since you had something to eat,” Kelly commented, a small smile playing around her lips.

“Yup.” No way was he going to be embarrassed about enjoying a good meal.

After Mom had died, Dad had employed Mrs. Bates to cook for them. Tate had always enjoyed sitting in the kitchen, watching her. Occasionally, she’d let him help, and after Tyler left for college and it was just Dad and him, his dad made the decision they didn’t need her to cook anymore, just clean. Tate had taken on the task of chef for them. One of the main reasons he’d gone to college nearby was so he could still live at home and keep an eye on Dad, because he hated the idea of him being alone in the house. It had been tricky sometimes with his schedule, but he’d made it work.

For the next few minutes, they enjoyed their food. He wondered if she spent most evenings with her mom or by herself. Kelly had her own place, but her mom was a widow.

“Do you like to cook?” he asked once he’d satisfied the immediate hunger gnawing at his insides.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s a passion, but I don’t mind it. Seeing as I only cook for myself, I usually make enough to have for two meals. If I’ve got a ton of orders and work late, knowing that I’ve got a meal already prepared at home makes life a little easier.”

Well, that answered his question. “Must be lonely cooking for one.”

The spark in her eye died the second he said the words, and he wished he could take them back. He’d highlighted her single status. No one wanted to be reminded of that. Yet she had to be happy in herself because she’d been prepared to have a meal alone tonight. If he hadn’t been walking past, she would be sitting by herself.

Yeah, probably not a good idea to bring that up with her, either. That would definitely get him kicked out of the booth.