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interested.
    Savannah glared at him. If she wrung his neck, she wondered, would he have any idea why? “Caroline’s bringing her apple sauce cake,” she added casually. “Her mother’s recipe.”
    At the mention of her friend’s name, Grady raised his head. “Caroline’s going to the church dinner?”
    â€œOf course.” At last, a reaction. Her brother might be one of the most intelligent men she knew, but when it came to women he was the class dunce. “I’m bringing my chicken teriyaki salad,” she added, as if this was significant.
    â€œIs Laredo going?”
    â€œYes, and Ellie and Glen and just about everyone else in town.”
    â€œOh.”
    Savannah figured she was due a large heavenly reward for her patience. Oh. Was that all he could say? Poor Caroline.
    â€œIt isn’t a date thing, is it?”
    Savannah didn’t know how to answer. If she let him assume everyone was bringing a date, it might scare him off. On the other hand, if she said nothing, someone else might ask Caroline.
    â€œThis shouldn’t be such a difficult question,” Grady said, glaring at her.
    â€œYes and no. Some people will come with dates and some won’t.”
    He mulled that over. “Does Caroline have a date?”
    Savannah had to restrain herself from hugging Grady’s neck and crying out for joy. He wasn’t as dense as she’d thought. “Not that I know of.” This, too, was said casually, as though she hadn’t the least bit of interest in Caroline’s social life.
    â€œOh.”
    Grady was back to testing her patience again. She waited an entire minute before she ventured another question.
    â€œAre you thinking of inviting her and Maggie?”
    â€œMe?” Grady’s eyes widened as if this were a new thought.
    â€œYes, you,” she returned pointedly.
    â€œI’m…thinking about it,” he finally said.
    Her face broke out in a smile and she clapped her hands. “That’s wonderful.”
    â€œWhat’s wonderful?” Richard asked, wandering into the kitchen. He reached for a banana, peeled it and leaned expectantly against the kitchen counter.
    Grady and Savannah exchanged looks. “The church dinner,” she answered for them both.
    â€œYeah, I heard about that,” he said with his mouth full. “Either of you going?”
    â€œI think so.” Again Savannah took the initiative.
    â€œThen I’ll give some thought to attending, too.”
    Both Grady and Savannah remained silent.
    â€œI should probably have a date, though, don’t you think?” He pondered his own question. “Caroline. I’ll ask Caroline,” he said triumphantly. “She’ll jump at the chance to go with me.”

CHAPTER 3
    â€œY OU’RE A DAMN FOOL, that’s what you are,” Grady muttered as he barreled down the highway toward Promise, driving twenty miles over the speed limit.
    The reason for this hasty trip had to do with Caroline Daniels. By dinnertime he’d recognized that either he made his move now and invited her to the church dinner or let Richard beat him to the punch. Of course, he could have just phoned and been done with it, but that didn’t seem right, not when anyone on the ranch could pick up a telephone receiver and listen in on the conversation. By anyone, he meant Richard. Besides, Grady preferred to talk to Caroline in person; it seemed more…meaningful.
    He’d never been good at this court ship thing, but damn it all, he wasn’t going to let his brother cheat him out of taking Caroline and Maggie to that church dinner. Richard wasn’t interested in Caroline—Grady was sure of it—any more than he’d fallen head over heels in love with Ellie Frasier. His brother was far more concerned with cheating him out of the pleasure of Caroline’s company. Except that he had no intention of standing idly by and