Overruled(85)

Brent shrugs. “I’ve been to Milan, Paris, Rome—but never to the Gulf Coast. I thought it’d be interesting to see Shaw’s hometown for the weekend. Broaden my horizons. Jake’s visited before; he knew the way. And we missed you guys—the office has been lonely without you. You made it sound so great on the phone, I knew I had to come experience it for myself.”

Then Jake tells us the real reason.

“Brent’s parents are flying into DC for the weekend. He hauled ass like the running of the bulls was behind him.”

Brent turns to Jake with a scowl. “Don’t judge me. My mother is a frightening woman.”

“She’s a four-ten, ninety-pound socialite who doesn’t speak above a whisper,” Jake scoffs. “Terrifying.”

“Two of my cousins just announced their engagement, and a third sent out birth announcements for their first child. My mother was going to show up with a list of debutantes and refuse to leave until I chose one. It would’ve been brutal.”

Jake stands. “Speaking of mothers, Momma Shaw sent us up here to grab you two for breakfast.” He throws a pair of jeans at Stanton’s head. “You might want to put pants on.”

With this wake-up call, I’m grateful to be wearing my more conservative pajamas.

“How’s Operation Wedding Destruction going?” Brent asks as Stanton and I climb out of bed.

I make my tone lighter than I feel. “Well, there was a tornado yesterday. That should throw a wrench into things.”

Stanton rubs a tired hand down his face. “No, it won’t.”

I turn my head—genuinely surprised. “Really? You don’t think so?”

He pulls a T-shirt over his head. “If there’s one thing citizens of Sunshine know how to do well, it’s make the best with what you’ve got.”

? ? ?

We fill Brent and Jake in on the tornado on the way into the house. In the kitchen, Stanton’s mother is setting down plates of food on the table and Marshall shovels oatmeal into his mouth, yelling up the stairs for his sister to hurry. Mr. Shaw had left hours earlier to tend to an outbuilding damaged in the storm. I close my eyes as I sip from a cup of much-needed hot coffee. Brent comments on the beauty of the ranch, and thanks Mrs. Shaw for her hospitality. Conversation turns to the summer weeks when Stanton was in law school and would come home to visit, and bring Jake with him.

Then, much to her brother’s relief, Mary comes skipping down the stairs, dressed for school in a beige skirt and pink tank top. She greets me, Stanton, and Jake—then her eyes light up like a jack-o’-lantern when they land on Brent.

“Why have I not been introduced to this piece of deliciousness?” she teases. She holds out her hand. “I’m Mary Louise . . . and you are?”

Brent swallows a bit of biscuit and shakes her hand. “Brent Mason; it’s a pleasure.”

As Mary sits in the empty chair beside him, she hums under her breath. “I’m bettin’ it will be.”

He looks at me questioningly, and all I can do is shrug back.

“You work with my brother?” Mary asks, leaning over.

“That’s right,” Brent says.

“That’s so interestin’.” She sighs, resting her chin on her hand. “Are you a college intern?”

Brent clear his throat. “No . . . I’m a lawyer. An old, boring lawyer.” When she just continues to stare adoringly, he adds, “Very old.”

“I really wish you boys would stay with us,” Mrs. Shaw laments as she finally sits down to eat her own breakfast. “Doesn’t seem right to have y’all stayin’ at the hotel.”

The hotel—’cause like the stoplight, there’s only one.

“Brent can stay in my room,” Mary announces. Before her mother can respond with more than a frown, she giggles. “I’m jus’ jokin’.”

Then she turns to Brent and mouths No I’m not with a Lolita-like wink.

I cover my mouth at Brent’s horrified expression and look around to see if anyone else noticed. Jake’s intent on finishing his food, and Stanton . . . Stanton stares dejectedly into his coffee cup.

“Thank you, Mrs. Shaw, but really, the hotel is great.”

Mary leans back, her hands disappear under the table—and ten seconds later Brent jumps up like he’s been electrified.

“Whoa!”

All eyes turn to him. Mary bats her lashes innocently.