That night Adrienne slept in the guestroom and Brandon slept in his old room.
One day when they were sitting on the porch steps together, Brandon proposed a solution.
Sometimes I think Brandon being here has backfired.
"Let go of my shirt, Adrienne," Brandon said as he grabbed her shoulders.
Brandon stood, his tall form unfolding like an accordion until he towered over her again.
Brandon shook his head and sighed audibly.
Brandon glanced at Adrienne as he opened the door for Julia.
Brandon was focused on one thing, and it wasn't romance.
In fact, the thing she found most attractive about Brandon was his smile.
If Brandon hadn't shared his plans with the other girls, it wasn't her place to go blabbing them now.
There was no denying that Brandon was a private person - or that he had confided in her more than Rachel or Julia.
Ever since Michael discovered that Brandon lives here, he's followed me around like a puppy.
Adrienne swung around to find Brandon leaning against the kitchen door jam.
Brandon handed a small sack to Rachel.
There were only three bedrooms, and because she had to get up the earliest, she was the lucky one to have a room of her own - with the exception of Brandon, of course.
Of course, Brandon was a little old for mama to be fussing over him.
Where was the sweet, gentle Brandon who never seemed to be upset by anything?
If it were any other man, she might think it was sexual frustration, but Brandon didn't appear to be interested in any of them.
Or was Brandon the one with the problem?
Anyway, with all the money in his family and the good looks as well, he couldn't hold a candle to Brandon in the charm department.
Brandon would be horrified by any thought of a romantic involvement with me.
Adrienne glanced at Brandon, who was now watching them.
Adrienne was still smiling when Brandon opened the door for her.
The idea that Brandon felt relieved wasn't all that flattering - or comforting, for that matter.
Brandon flipped through the radio stations, pausing on an "Oldies" channel.
All the same, Brandon introduced them as his parents - and Adrienne as a friend he had met in Tulsa.
Brandon raised a brow at Adrienne.
Brandon glanced down as he stepped around her and then grabbed her arm She smiled up at him mischievously.
We were delighted when Brandon called and told us he was bringing a friend.
Brandon scowled at his mother as he handed her the tray of fried chicken.
She plunged into the food on her plate, discovering that Brandon wasn't bragging about his mother's cooking.
"Well," Adrienne began, and then paused when Brandon cleared his throat.
It's nice to know Brandon lives with people he can trust, don't you think, Fred?
Brandon blushed at the implication.
Brandon squirmed in his chair and avoided Adrienne's gaze.
Well, if Brandon wasn't going to come to her aid...
Brandon cleared his throat again.
Brandon nearly choked on his tea, and Mrs. Marsh stared at her plate, not completely hiding a smile.
Brandon focused his attention on the food in his plate, his face turning a dark shade of red.
Brandon was fortunate to have been raised by two people who cared as much about each other as they cared for him.
Brandon should have told them, and when they finally made it to the barn, she said as much.
Brandon rode ahead of her most of the time, dropping back beside her when they emerged from the forest.
Brandon was right - almost, anyway.
Brandon may have considered his problem "stupid" at the ranch, but it obviously wasn't behind him.
Still, Brandon insisted on driving her to the house.
They were all giggling over coffee when Brandon walked in.
Brandon stepped over to the stove and poured a cup of coffee.
Brandon was deliberately ignoring them.
Brandon met her gaze, and his somber expression finally melted into a smile.
After they left, Adrienne gave Brandon a stern look.
She knew her face was getting red, and Brandon wasn't exactly pale.
Brandon shrugged out of his coat and hung it in the closet.
Brandon didn't act much different at the apartment, but he always seemed to end up in the chair beside her at the table.
Adrienne tried to pull away from Brandon, but he hung on to her defiantly.
"Brandon," Adrienne gasped, trying to squirm free of his grasp.
Brandon smiled sardonically as he gazed down at Adrienne.
Brandon frowned down at her.
Brandon, we all agreed on those rules.
She moved between Adrienne and Brandon, and put an arm around each of their shoulders.
Brandon finally found his voice.
"June," Brandon responded, raising a brow at Adrienne.
