Ray talked Brandy out of it.
Not the idea; not in a million years. She would go through with her plan and he knew it. But he talked her out of the rush which, in his opinion, was the part that was going to kill her. It had been no small feat. He circumvented her anger, fear and stubbornness by appealing to her intelligence… and her vanity. It"s one thing to be smart, another to be told you"re smart. Regardless of her determination, Ray knew, an intelligent woman could appreciate the courtyard was no place for anyone to be… alone.
“I think I know what you"re doing,” he said, “and I think you"re right.”
Brandy reacted as if she"d been slapped. Then the tension drained from her body; her defenses melted. She stared uneasily into his brown eyes watchful for deception.
“Yes,” Ray nodded, “I
