Kaegan didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t help wondering if perhaps the Witherspoons knew all of his and Bryce’s secrets from the past. He always thought they were smarter than most parents.

“And another thing,” Chester said, interrupting Kaegan’s thoughts. “Bryce is a lot like her mother. Sweet as pie just as long as you don’t cross her. When that happens she can be as hard as nails and stubborn as sin. Then you have to all but pour honey all over her to get her sweet again. You got your work cut out for you. Winning my daughter back won’t be easy. She can’t be rushed and she has to believe you’re sincere in everything you say and do.”

The older man then looked at his watch. “I’ve said my piece. The rest is up to you, Kaegan.”

Kaegan nodded. Yes, the rest was up to him.

CHAPTER NINE

BRYCE SAW JEREMY the moment he walked into the restaurant, and when he saw her, he smiled. She smiled back and he began strolling in her direction.

The man was handsome, but he didn’t have those drop-dead gorgeous features that Kaegan possessed. Not that she should be comparing him to Kaegan.

“Good seeing you again, Bryce,” Jeremy said when he reached her table and extended his hand out to her.

“Good seeing you again, too, Jeremy,” she said, taking his hand and immediately noting she felt nothing. Not that warm, sensual feeling she was hoping for from his touch. “I’m glad you could join me.”

“Thanks for the invitation.”

“Hey, it’s the least I could do for your help that day,” she said.

“I was glad to do it. Did you get that tire fixed?”

“Yes, I did. At least, one of my brothers did. He took it in and got it repaired for me.”

“You got siblings?” he asked her.

“Yes. Two brothers, and you?”

“One sister, and trust me, she’s a handful. In fact, she can be rather difficult at times.”

“Older or younger?”

“Younger, thank goodness. I couldn’t imagine how things would be if she was the older one. She’s twenty-five and still has a lot of growing up to do.”

Bryce wondered what he meant by that, but decided not to ask him. She, on the other hand, always thought that her brothers were more mature than they should be. That was why it hadn’t come as a surprise to her or her parents when they’d married right out of high school. No need to say Ry and Duke had settled down since there was never a time they’d been unsettled. Her sisters-in-law were lucky women and they both knew it.

At that moment the waitress appeared to take their order. “They have pretty good pastries here, if you’d like to order one in addition to the coffee,” Bryce said, smiling over at him. “Today it’s on me.”

He shook his head. “Thanks, but I ate a big lunch. Tomorrow is the last day for my business seminar and the firm I work for always throws a big luncheon the day before.”