“I get the idea.” Megan surveyed the breakfast platter Francine had just set in front of her. Airy-looking scrambled eggs nestled alongside bacon, sausage, crisp hash browns, and a short stack of blueberry pancakes, served with a pitcher of warm maple syrup.

“Wow, Francine,” she said, “that looks absolutely decadent. I just hope I’ll have room for it all.”

Francine chuckled. “That’s what most folks say. But the plates that go back to the kitchen tend to be empty. Eat hearty, honey.” She bustled back to the kitchen.

Conner grinned at her. “Go ahead and dig in. You haven’t been to Branding Iron until you’ve eaten one of Francine’s breakfasts—every bite.”

Accepting the challenge, Megan picked up her fork. The food tasted as delicious as it looked and smelled; the eggs and pancakes were so light that they didn’t make her feel stuffed, as she’d expected they might.

Conner was making good progress on his own breakfast when Megan remembered something Francine had said. She’d resolved to ignore the remark, but she hadn’t forgotten it. As long as it was on her mind, she decided, she had nothing to lose by clearing the air.

“I’m curious about something,” she said. “I hope you won’t mind my asking you a personal question.”

If he was worried, he didn’t show it. “Ask away,” he said. “I’m a man with no secrets.”

“All right.” Megan rested her fork on the edge of the plate. “When we first came in here, Francine referred to me as your ‘lady of the day.’ What was that supposed to mean?”

Conner’s eyebrows twitched. He exhaled. “Boy, you play hardball, don’t you?”

“If that’s the way you want to put it.” Megan smiled as she said it. “So, are you going to answer me, or are you going to take the Fifth?”

“You’re entitled to an honest answer,” he said. “This is a small town. As a single man with no commitments, I’ve dated a lot of women, mostly as friends. In a big city like Nashville, I could do that without word getting around. But this is Branding Iron, a place where everybody knows everybody else—and everybody talks.”

“So I take it you’ve acquired a reputation as a heart-breaker.” Megan raised an eyebrow. She was enjoying this.

“I’ve never broken anybody’s heart on purpose—and I’ve never made promises I couldn’t keep.” He was actually blushing. “All I’ve ever wanted was a good time. But, yes, a few of the women have gotten other ideas.”

“So I’m your lady of the day.”

He looked like an adorable little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Megan, that doesn’t mean—”

“No—it’s all right,” she said. “I’m only here for the holiday break. I even have a sort of boyfriend in Nashville, so everything you’ve told me is A-OK. If we can enjoy a few laughs and part as friends, that’s fine with me.”

A breath of relief whooshed out of him. “Thanks,” he said.