Page 26 of Bravo

She nods. “Thanks. I hope so, too.”

He takes the money she set in front of him then offers her a few quarters back. “See you next week.”

“See you next week.” She smiles before heading for the door, but I beat her there, holding it open.

“Weekly office supply visits, huh?”

“It’s thrilling, what can I say.” Once we’re on the sidewalk, she looks me up and down. “You’re dressed nice for an afternoon of errands.”

“Church,” I reply, pointing to the chapel across the street.

“Oh, yeah. It is Sunday, isn’t it?”

“It is.” She starts walking, so I join in, noting her truck parked a few spots away. We’re there before I’ve even managed to come up with anything else to say, and as Sammy unlocks her door, I’m kicking myself for going into the store to begin with. “See you later?”

“See you later.” I offer her a wave then watch as she drives off before crossing the street toward my truck.

Much to my dismay, all of my brothers are standing there, waiting for me. Elliot arches a brow. “Needed kitten stationary?”

I unlock my door and toss the pack into my truck.

“I saw Sammy over there, too,” Riley offers.

“Curious, isn’t it?” Tucker adds.

“Can’t a guy buy kitten stationary in peace?”

“Not when that guy is practically shooting hearts from his eyes,” Dylan says. “Though I will say, hearts and kittens do seem to go together.”

“I am not shooting hearts out of my eyes.”

“No?” Riley leans back against my truck. “That’s certainly what it looked like to me. What about you, Tucker?”

“Looks to me like our big brother has a crush on Sammy.”

Heat creeps up the back of my neck. “She’s just interesting is all.”

“Hey, we think it’s great,” Elliot says.

“You do?”

“Yeah. Sammy is great, and you’re you, so why wouldn’t we be happy?”

“I just get a ‘you’re you’?” I snort. “Flattering.”

He shrugs. “I speak the truth. Want to grab some lunch before heading back to the ranch? I’m starving, and Mom is heading over to Mrs. Kinsley’s house.”

“Sure, I could eat.”

“Great.” He pushes off my truck and starts back across the street toward the café. I fall into step with my brothers, my thoughts still on Sammy. She’d said last night at dinner that she left college to travel. Based on her tone, I assumed she either lost contact with her family or didn’t have anyone left.

Yet, the postcard says something else, doesn’t it? And if she sends one weekly, that’s having regular communication, yet she doesn’t own a cell phone, and there aren’t landlines in any of the cabins. Maybe postcards are her only way of getting in touch with family? Or maybe she’s estranged?

I can’t imagine anyone ever turning their backs on her, but people have done stranger things. Still, it’s one more mystery surrounding a woman who has captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on her.

CHAPTER 9

KENNEDY

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