A red Ford pickup eased to a stop directly behind him, and Brody glanced at the driver before a huge grin spread across his face. Somebody upstairs was looking out for him, because Liam sat behind the wheel. Walking back to his brother’s pickup, he leaned on the open door.
“Bro, am I happy to see you. Got a flat, and Ridge apparently didn’t return my jack after he borrowed it.”
“No problem, I’ve got mine. Want a hand?” Liam’s words were accompanied by a smile. “Good thing I headed home early today, or you’d be stuck waiting for Frank to come fix it.”
“Appreciate the help. I need to get home and grab a shower. I’ve got plans tonight and really don’t want to cancel.”
Liam slid from the truck and reached behind the driver’s seat, pulling out everything to fix Brody’s flat. Between the two of them, they should be able to make quick work of change it, and Brody would get back on the road before too much more time passed.
“Hot date, huh?”
Brody grunted as he looked under the back of his truck for the spare, then straightened, holding his hand out for the tools. “Yeah. I’m going out with Beth Stewart.”
Liam whistled and bumped his shoulder against Brody’s. “Whoa, seriously? You finally got off your butt and asked her out?”
“Nope. She asked me.” Brody tried to hid his smirk, but wasn’t sure how successful he was. “Called me this morning, out of the blue, and asked me to dinner.”
“That’s awesome. Maybe now you can both stop making goo-goo eyes at each other when you think nobody’s watching.”
Brody straightened to his full height and spun to face his brother. “What are you talking about?”
“Dude, are you oblivious or simply blind? You look at her like she is a roast beef dinner and you haven’t eaten in days. She looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars. Frankly, it’s getting kinda old.”
“I thought I hid my feelings pretty well.”
Liam slapped him on the back. “Don’t forget, I’ve known you most of our lives. I’ve seen how you look at women, and I’ve seen how you look at Beth. There’s no comparison. She does something to you none of the others did. It’s about time you figure out if she’s the one.”
Brody knelt and began removing the lug nuts off the flat. “What if she is? The one, I mean? Won’t it be weird, seeing as how her sister is marrying our brother?”
Liam shrugged and folded his arms across his chest. “Naw, I’m fine with it. Not saying some folks won’t gossip. That’s human nature, a little scandalous, a bit salacious. Fodder for the rumor mill, especially in a small town like Shiloh Springs. Nobody in the family’s gonna object, if that’s what you’re wondering. Anybody else says anything, they’ll answer to us. And I doubt anybody wants to cross Momma.”
Brody gave an expert flip of his wrist and pulled off the last lug nut. Pulling the flat off, he laid it on the ground and lifted the spare, shifting and turning it to fit into place, all the while considering Liam’s words.
“She’s been through a lot. It’s a good thing her ex is behind bars, or I’d be tempted to hunt him down and teach him a lesson.”
“Trust me, you’re not the only one. I think Dad would be first in line behind you.”
Their father had made his feelings clear on more than one occasion exactly what he thought of Evan Stewart and his actions toward Beth and Jamie. Though never when Tessa or Beth were within earshot. None of the men in the Boudreau clan disagreed with their father’s assessment and his multitude of suggestions of what Stewart deserved. Personally, Brody wished he could get five minutes alone in a room with the other man.
Finished tightening the lug nuts, Brody released the jack and lowered the truck. Liam grabbed the flat and tossed it into the truck bed, and Brody gathered the tools and handed them back to his brother.
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” He plucked at his sweat-soaked shirt. “I definitely need a shower now. I should have just enough time to get home and changed before picking up Beth.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“Claudette’s.”
“Nice. I figured first date you should go someplace special, where you might get a bit of privacy,” Liam chuckled. “Not something you’re likely to get if you went anywhere in Shiloh Springs. The gossip mills would be running overtime before you even sat down.”
“Which is why I vetoed Beth’s suggestion of going to Daisy’s. I want to spend a little private time with her. Just the two of us, you know?” Brody brushed his dirty hands on his jean-clad thighs. “Tessa’s gonna watch Jamie for the night.”
Liam quirked a brow and gave him a knowing grin. After giving Brody a slap on the back, he headed for his truck. “Have a good time, bro. You deserve it.”
“Thanks. And thanks for the rescue.”
“No problem. Call me tomorrow and let me know how it goes.”
Brody waved as Liam pulled back onto the road, before climbing behind the wheel and starting his truck. A quick glance for oncoming traffic, and he was headed back toward Shiloh Springs and his date with Beth.
Nothing better ruin his plans for the perfect evening. Nothing.
CHAPTER TEN
It felt like a million butterflies had taken flight in her stomach as Beth watched through the front window as Brody’s pickup truck pull into her drive. Her hands clenched into fists, and she nervously opened and closed them several times, her breath caught in her throat. She’d been on pins and
