Page 18 of Spilling the Tea

Chance didn’t say anything, thinking how sad it was that Zoey had lost her grandparents and then, years later, her parents. Except for that paternal aunt, she had indeed been left alone.

“Michelle and her husband were doctors living in the north,” his great-grandmother was now saying. “He was a fine-looking young man. The day I saw them, I also saw their daughter. She was about five or six and was a cute little girl.”

Chance thought that cute little girl had become a beautiful woman. A woman who could get under his skin if he allowed it to happen. He was determined that he wouldn’t. “Since you recall her grandparents and parents, and Zoey as a little girl, I think conversing with you will be meaningful for her, Mama Laverne. Is it possible for the two of you to talk?”

“Yes.”

“May I give her your phone number?”

There was another pause. This one was longer than the last. “I prefer meeting her in person, Chancellor. Can you bring her here on Friday?”

He preferred not to. “I might be tied up at the ranch on Friday. I’ll see if Corbin is available to bring her.”

“She’s met Corbin?”

“He’s stopping by this morning and will meet Zoey whenshe drops by to see that portrait. Any particular time you want to meet with her on Friday?”

“She can join me for lunch.”

“Thank you for agreeing to talk to her.”

“You’re welcome, Chancellor.”

Chance disconnected the call, thinking Mama Laverne didn’t sound like herself. That made him wonder if she’d been overexerting herself lately. He didn’t want to alarm his family members, but he would talk to his aunt Bessie to see if she’d noticed anything concerning.

***

Corbin, who’d arrived an hour earlier than he was supposed to, stood beside Chance as they gazed out the kitchen window and watched Zoey get out of the car.

Chance heard his cousin’s sharp intake of breath before saying, “To show my gratitude for turning this gorgeous creature over to me, I apologize for any mean trick I’ve ever played on you while we were kids.” Corbin stared out the window at Zoey as if transfixed.

“I didn’t turn Zoey over to you. I merely want the two of you to meet.”

Corbin rolled his eyes. “Bullshit. You want me to take her off your hands. And as I alluded to last night, maybe it should concern you why.”

Chance had news for Corbin. He knew why, which was why he’d taken such drastic steps. “You better not get out of line with her,” he grumbled.

“Now that’s something I can’t promise I won’t do.” Corbin then resumed looking out the window. “Damn, Chance. Look at those curves, that stunning face, that mass of hair, and how it blows in the wind.”

Corbin’s words annoyed Chance because he was also seeing those things. However, he was seeing beyond them to the decent woman he believed her to be. It bothered him that hiscousin’s main focus was Zoey’s physical attributes. “She’s a nice person, Corbin.”

Corbin laughed. “I believe you, but at the moment, her niceness is being outplayed by all that fineness,” he said, playfully slugging Chance in the shoulder with a sexually suggestive grin on his face.

When Zoey’s feet touched the steps, Corbin rushed to the door instead of waiting for her to knock.

Chance frowned, already regretting his decision to introduce Zoey to Corbin.

***

Before Zoey could raise her hand to knock, the front door flew open. There stood a man who resembled Chance. A brother, perhaps? A cheerful expression touched the corners of his lips as he extended his hand out to her. “Zoey Pritchard, it’s nice meeting you. I’m Corbin Madaris.”

She returned his smile and took the hand he offered.Madaris. Where had she heard that name before? If this was Chance’s brother, then it stood to reason that his name was Madaris, too. Chancellor Madaris. She liked the sound of it.

“Nice meeting you, too, Corbin.” If they were related, this man had a more pleasing personality upon opening a door than Chance.

She switched her gaze to Chance when he came to stand beside Corbin. The two men were identical in height, and she could see how much they favored each other. Upon seeing Chance, her smile automatically widened. “Good morning, Chance.”

“Good morning, Zoey. Come in. I hope I didn’t call you too early this morning.”

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