Grady was somewhat surprised when she brought the extra bottle over to him. “You look like you could use this,” she said, and sat down on the step beside him. She tucked one knee under her chin while her foot tapped to the beat of the music.

Grady saluted her with the bottle and took a long swallow of beer. Neither spoke for a few minutes; both of them just stared at the dance floor. Finally Caroline said, “He’s really something, isn’t he?”

“If you came over here to sing Richard’s praises, I don’t want to hear them.”

“This might surprise you, Grady, but I’m not a fan of your brother’s.”

It was news to Grady, and he found himself grateful that at least one other person hadn’t been blinded by Richard’s charm. “I get the impression you aren’t particularly fond of me, either,” he said wryly.

She grinned. “I don’t dislike you. I don’t always agree with you, but you’re not half-bad.”

It wasn’t much of a compliment, but Grady would take what he could get. “Hey, careful. Sweet talk just might turn my head.”

Caroline burst into laughter.

Grady smiled for probably the first time that day. “So you’re not one of Richard’s adoring fans.” Funny how that one bit of information encouraged him.

“If it was up to me, I’d string Richard up by his thumbs. Savannah’s been stuck in the kitchen for hours. I don’t think she had any idea what to expect. Richard had told her to plan for about 150 people—she assumed he was joking.”

Right then and there Grady decided that, come morning, Richard was off the Yellow Rose. He didn’t care how many arguments Savannah made in their brother’s defense. They should’ve run him off the property the minute he set foot on their land. Grady shook his head. Surely Savannah would agree with him now.

“Maggie certainly seems to be taken with him,” he noted, frowning as he brought the beer bottle to his lips. His younger brother danced with the five-year-old, twirling her about the floor. The youngster’s shrieks of delight could be heard over the music. Richard’s success with Maggie rankled, especially since the child ran away in terror whenever she laid eyes on Grady. Somehow or other, without realizing what he’d done, Grady had frightened the kid. For the life of him, he didn’t know how it’d happened, and despite his efforts, he hadn’t been able to repair the damage.

Caroline kept a close watch on her daughter. “She’s easily swayed by charm, it seems.”

“She isn’t the only one.”

“Are you jealous, Grady?”

“Hell, no,” he protested before he had a chance to fully consider the question. On second thought, he had to admit there was a grain of truth in Caroline’s words.

It was bad enough that Richard had implied—or outright said—that Grady and Savannah were throwing him this party. The fact that he had just about every woman in town fawning over him and almost every man eager for his company only added insult to injury.

“I don’t suppose I could convince you to take a spin,” Caroline said, motioning with her head toward the dance floor.

“Not on your life.”

Caroline sighed as though disappointed. “That’s what I thought.”

“Hey, you don’t need me.” He gestured toward a group of single men standing under a live oak tree. “Any one of them would be happy to dance with you.”

“I suppose.” But she didn’t budge and, truth be known, he was glad she didn’t. He thought of inviting her to go bowling with him—that would be more to his liking—but hesitated. It’d been so damn long since he’d gone out on a date he wasn’t sure how to go about asking.

Then it dawned on Grady that maybe Caroline was interested in him. “Are you saying you want to dance with me?” In other circumstances he probably wouldn’t have asked, but he’d downed three beers on an almost empty stomach and his inhibitions were definitely lowered.

“I might be,” she responded.

He mulled over her answer. He liked Caroline, admired her for the good friend she was to Savannah, and while he’d certainly noticed her, found her attractive, he’d never thought to make anything of it.

“You should get married,” he said, and for the life of him, Grady didn’t know what had prompted him to suggest such a thing. Horrified, he stared down at his empty beer bottle.

“Do you have anyone in mind?” Caroline asked.

“Not me.” He wanted that understood.

“Don’t worry, Grady, you aren’t in the running.”

He’d asked for that, but he didn’t like hearing it. Then, thinking he should resolve this before things got out of hand, he decided to explain. “Maggie needs a father.”

Caroline was on her feet so fast it made his head spin. “Don’t tell me what my daughter needs or doesn’t need, Grady.”

“Fine, I won’t.”

“Good,” she declared, and stomped away.

Women! They had to have the last word. But after Caroline left, Grady regretted the conversation. Worse, he knew he was one hundred percent at fault. He should never have said the things he had. It wasn’t his place to suggest Maggie needed a father. It had made him sound judgmental or disapproving when that wasn’t his intent at all. He respected Caroline; he just thought her life as a working single mother was too hard. And he hated the way little Maggie seemed so susceptible to any man’s charm. Any con man’s charm. Well, nothing he could do about it now.

The sun set and after a while someone lit the Chinese lanterns. The lights swayed in a soft breeze, casting shadows that danced about the yard. The band switched from lively melodies and line dances to slower, more mellow songs. Couples, wrapped in each other’s arms, slowly circled the floor.

Families with young children packed up their youngsters and started home, prompted by thoughts of work and school in the morning. Playing the role of gracious host to a T, Richard escorted them to their cars, then stood in the driveway and waved them off.

“Nice party,” Adam Braunfels said as Grady headed toward the house, around nine o’clock.

“Not my party,” he was quick to tell the owner of Chili Pepper.

“I hope everything was satisfactory,” Adam said next.

Grady tucked his hands in his back pockets. “Great. I certainly didn’t hear any complaints.”

“Good. I want you to know I was as fair as I could be with the tally.”

Grady didn’t know what Adam was talking about or, rather, why Adam was telling him, but he nodded his head, which had started to pound. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and his mind continued to dwell on his disastrous conversation with Caroline.

Adam pulled a slip of paper from his hip pocket and handed it to Grady. “I’d appreciate if you could write me a check now, Grady, before I go back to town.”

“What?” He was sure there’d been some mistake.

“For the barbecue,” Adam explained as if he were dense. Grady knew why he wanted to be paid; what he didn’t understand was why Adam expected him to do it.

“I already said this wasn’t my party.”

Adam’s mouth thinned. “I don’t care whose party it is, I need my money.”

“And you expect me to pay?”

“Yes.”

“This is Richard’s business.” Grady was about to walk off when Richard raced to their side.

“I need my money,” Adam repeated, looking from one brother to the other.

Richard’s feet shifted nervously. “Would you mind paying him, Grady?” he asked. “I honestly thought my check would be here before now.” He looked down at his boots. “I...I feel horrible about this.”

Arms folded, Adam stared at Grady, ignoring Richard completely.

Grady felt as though the top of his head was about to explode. He had no choice but to pay up. His brother had done it to him again. Either he wrote Adam a check now or he came off looking like the bad guy.

***

Laredo was elbow-deep in the kitchen sink when Frank Hennessey walked into the room. The sheriff nodded politely at Savannah, who sat with her feet propped up on a chair. It was the first time all day Laredo could get her to take a break. He knew she was exhausted. Hell, he was himself, and he hadn’t worked near as hard as she had.