Falling for Fortune. Nancy Robards Thompson

thought as he watched her walk away on her high-high heels with the grace and assurance of a tightrope walker. Her skirt was just short enough to draw the eye down to her firm, tanned calves. Now, that was a woman who knew how to dress. Unlike Kinsley, who hid herself under all that heavy tweed fabric that left her looking buttoned-up and shapeless. What a shame.

      Suddenly, seeing Kinsley in a skirt and heels like that became his new fantasy.

      “I see you come here for the good service,” Toby said, a knowing glint in his eye.

      “Of course.” As Christopher turned back to his brother and Angie, a blonde caught his eye. She was was seated at a table to their left—and he couldn’t help noticing that she resembled Kinsley—

      Wait, that is Kinsley.

      She was dining with a woman he didn’t recognize. He had a view of Kinsley’s profile. If she just turned her head ever so slightly to the right she would see him, but she seemed engrossed in her conversation. Just as he was contemplating getting up and going over to say hello, her server brought their food.

      She must have gotten here before him and ordered already. Besides, he, Toby and Angie had just sat down. They hadn’t even placed their drink order. He would wait.

      When she’d made his reservation she hadn’t mentioned that she’d be dining here herself, even though she knew he was going to be here right around the same time. Maybe she was afraid that he would think she was angling for an invite to join them. Most of the women he knew wouldn’t have been shy about doing that. But Kinsley was different. Quiet, understated, more conservative.

      She was a refreshing change from all the other women he’d met since he’d been in Red Rock. And there had been more than a few. Most of them were sassy and assertive, not at all afraid to reach out and let him know exactly what they wanted and how they wanted it. None of them was a keeper, either. They were all nice and fun, of course, but they left him wanting.

      Kinsley, on the other hand, was a puzzle, and most definitely, he realized as he was sitting there, one he was interested in trying to solve.

      Hmm. Why had he never thought about her like that before? He’d always thought she was pretty, and on occasion he’d tried to flirt with her, but until right now, he’d never really thought about what made her tick.

      As if she felt him watching her, she glanced his way, and their gazes snared. He waved and she lifted a finger before turning her attention back to her lunch companion.

      Despite this strange new Kinsley-awareness coursing through him, Christopher decided he should do the same and turned his focus to his brother and Angie. But pushing her from his mind was harder than he had expected.

      The view of the courtyard helped. It was spectacular, with colorful Talavera tiles scattered here and there on the stucco walls, Mexican fan trees and more thriving bougainvillea that seemed to be blooming overtime today in a riot of hot pink, purple and gold. But even the crowning glory of the stately, large fountain in the center of the courtyard couldn’t keep Christopher’s gaze from wandering over Kinsley’s way.

      “Too bad we couldn’t sit outside,” Toby said.

      If the temperature wasn’t pushing ninety, Christopher would’ve insisted that they sit out by the fountain. Even though the outside tables were shaded by colorful umbrellas, the humidity was a killer. He didn’t want to sweat through his suit and then go back to work.

      Not the image he wanted to portray, he thought, glancing at Kinsley.

      “Is this okay?” he asked Toby and Angie. “We could move, but it’s a killer out there.”

      “No, this is so lovely,” said Angie. “I want to stay right here.”

      Before she could say more, Marcos Mendoza, the manager of Red, appeared at their table.

      “Christopher Fortune, my man.” Marcos and Christopher shook hands. “It’s great to see you.”

      “You, too,” said Christopher. “My brother Toby and his wife, Angie, are visiting. I couldn’t let them leave Red Rock without dining at Red.”

      “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds.” Marcos leaned in and kissed Angie on the cheek then shook Toby’s hand. He hooked a thumb in Christopher’s direction. “This guy is your brother?”

      “Yep, I’ll claim him,” Toby said without a second’s hesitation. His brother’s conviction caused Christopher’s heart to squeeze ever so slightly, but he did a mental two-step away from the emotion and everything else it implied: the problems between him and Deke; the way he’d left home; the fact that he’d allowed all the ugliness to cause him to miss his own brother’s wedding.

      “Christopher here is one of our best customers,” Marcos said. “I can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together and figure out that the two of you were related. But different last names?”

      “I go by Fortune. Toby goes by Fortune Jones.” Angie flinched. Christopher hadn’t meant to bite out the words. There was a beat of awkward silence before Toby changed the subject.

      “Did you know that Marcos and Wendy are opening a new restaurant in Horseback Hollow?” he asked Christopher.

      “Seriously?” Christopher said. He’d only been away a couple of months and he felt like a stranger.

      “We’re opening The Hollows Cantina next month. In fact, my wife, Wendy, and I are in the process of packing up and moving there with our daughter, MaryAnne.” Marcos paused, a thoughtful look washing over his face. He turned to Christopher. “So if you and Toby are brothers, that means Liam Fortune Jones is your brother, too?”

      Christopher nodded.

      Marcos smiled. “I’ve hired his fiancée, Julia Tierney, to be the assistant manager at the restaurant.”

      Christopher forced a smile.

      “I had no idea that you were leaving Red Rock, or that Julia would be working for you,” Christopher said.

      “I kept it on the down low until I was sure that everything would pan out,” said Marcos. “This is a great opportunity for my family, and having my own restaurant will be a dream come true. Really, we owe this happy decision to Julia. She is the one who talked us into opening a place in Horseback Hollow. Your future sister-in-law should work for the Horseback Hollow Chamber of Commerce—she can’t say enough good about the place.”

      “Congratulations,” said Angie. “We will be sure to come in after the Cantina opens.”

      “I have your contact information,” said Marcos, “and I will make sure that the two of you are invited to the grand opening. The Fortunes are like family, and family always sticks together.”

      Toby shot Christopher a knowing look. “Yes, they do.”

      “In fact, Fortune,” Marcos said to Christopher, “I’d better see you at the grand opening celebration, too. Especially now that I know that you’re a native son of Horseback Hollow.”

      Christopher gave a wry smile. “Yeah, well, don’t go spreading that around.”

      Everybody laughed, unaware or ignoring the fact that Christopher wasn’t kidding.

      “I need to get back to work,” Marcos said. “So please excuse me and enjoy your lunch.”

      The men shook hands again and Marcos planted another kiss on Angie’s cheek before he moved on to greet the next table of guests.

      “When are Julia and Liam getting married?” asked Christopher.

      “That remains to be seen,” said Toby. “It’s a big step that he’s committed to one woman. Julia is good for him. She gets him, but doesn’t let him get away with squat. I think she’s about the only woman who could make an honest man out of him.”

      Nodding, Christopher gave the menu a cursory glance. He wanted to hear the day’s specials, but