Page 20 of Forbidden Flame

He ran a hand through his beard. “I did miss you.”

“You could have come over last night. I stayed at Grandpa’s.”

“I know. I had somewhere to be.”

“And someone to bother,” I said as I raised a brow at him.

“Someone has to make sure you’re safe.”

“That someone is me,” I said.

“Now. Now. Let’s not get into a fight first thing in the morning,” Dad said.

Teddy proceeded to tickle Izzy until she wiggled away from him, and he set her back in her chair. “What are we eating?”

Teddy plucked a piece of bacon off Izzy’s plate.

“Hey, that was mine.”

“Don’t steal bacon from a seven-year-old,” I admonished him as I got up to get more.

“She doesn’t mind,” Teddy said.

“Actually, I do mind,” Izzy said with such a grown-up voice we all laughed.

Teddy sat down to eat with us, and when Dad took Izzy into the living room to watch cartoons, I asked, “Why are you really here? I don’t believe it’s to see Izzy.”

“I love my niece.”

“I know you do, but that’s not why you’re here.”

“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, feeling a mixture of love and frustration with my brother.

“One of the Monroes won you in a date last night. Anything could have happened.”

“He was a perfect gentleman.” I hoped my face wasn’t flush.

“He’s our enemy.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s a cousin, not one of the brothers.”

“You know it doesn’t matter. They’re all bad.”

“I think you’ve lost some perspective over the years. They’re just a family trying to make money. They’re just like us.”

“We used to have the monopoly on trees, because our farm is closer to town but the last few years, the Monroes have bitten into that with the opening of the their store, and their holiday light display. I don’t like it.”

“I don’t want us to struggle, but they’ve done some amazing things over there. They have community events, movie nights, the auction, and carriage rides.”

“How can we compete?” Teddy asked.

“We might need to think outside the box.” My pies drew a certain number of people in but not enough. Recently, the Matthews Inn had reopened, and tourists stayed there and visited the farm.

“I love you and don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

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