Nelson's Brand

“Sure.” He walked past her to his black Jeep and he didn’t allow himself to look back. Pursuing her had been a big mistake. She was Winnie’s best friend, and Winnie was obviously determined not to let her become one of his casual interludes. He had to keep his head. He had more than enough problems already, and alienating his future sister-in-law wasn’t going to solve any of them. That being the case, it might be wise, he told himself sarcastically, if he stopped following her around!

Allison was calm by the time Winnie finally joined her. “My dress is coming along beautifully,” she said. “Did I see you talking to someone?”

“Just passing conversation. I got your mother’s thread,” Allison said, evading the curious question gracefully. By the time they got back to the car, Winnie had forgotten all about it.

But Allison couldn’t forget about Gene. When she was invited, along with Winnie, to supper at the Nelson home two days later, it was almost as if Fate was working in her favor.

She wore a plain gray dress with a high neckline and straight skirt, gently gathered at the waist with a belt. It wasn’t a sexy dress, but when she wore it, it became one. She did her hair in a neat French plait and put on makeup as Winnie had taught her. When she finished, she looked much less sophisticated than she had at the barbecue—a puzzling outcome.

“I don’t look the way I did before,” she told Winnie after they’d said good-night to Mrs. Manley and were on the way to the Nelsons’.

“You look great,” Winnie corrected. “And tonight, will you please be yourself?”

“Why? Are you hoping that Gene Nelson might keep his distance if he sees what a frump I really am?” she murmured dryly.

“He seems to be doing that all by himself,” Winnie reminded her. “I’m not trying to be difficult, honestly I’m not.” She sighed worriedly. “I just don’t want to see you hurt. Gene…isn’t himself these days.”

“What was he like before?” Allison asked softly.

Winnie laughed. “Full of fun. He always had his eye on the ladies, but he was less blatant with it. Now, he’s reckless and apparently without conscience when it comes to women. He doesn’t really care whom he hurts.”

“I don’t think he’d hurt me, though, Winnie,” she said.

“Don’t bet on it,” the other woman replied. “You put too much faith in people’s better instincts. Some people don’t have any.”

“I’ll never believe that,” Allison said firmly. “Not after what I’ve seen. Beauty often hides in the most horrible places.”

Winnie’s eyes were gentle as they glanced toward her friend. She didn’t know what to say to Allison. Probably nothing would do much good. She’d just have to hope that Gene was out, or that, if he was home, he wasn’t interested in Allison.