“Tyler James Justice,” she said, reaching his side.

He’d been reading a message on his phone and his head lifted abruptly. As his gaze met hers, his expression went from pleased to surprised and then wary.

“Your grandmother thinks you’re arriving Friday night,” she added tersely. “Won’t she be surprised when she discovers you actually arrived on Tuesday and have been staying at the Graff.”

“Care to sit?” he replied, gesturing to the leather booth across from him.

She looked at him for a long moment before sliding into the booth.

“When did you figure out I was her grandson?” he asked.

“When she came by at lunch and told me her grandson, Tyler Justice, was coming to town and she hoped I’d be nice to you and show you around.” Amanda smiled grimly. “It wasn’t difficult to put Ty James and Tyler Justice together.”

“You haven’t told her I’m here though, have you?”

“No. I don’t want to upset her. She’s excited about your visit. She’s so looking forward to seeing you.” She continued to hold his gaze, wanting him to feel the full weight of her displeasure. “I’m not entirely sure why you told her Friday and arrived Tuesday, but that’s none of my business. I just don’t want to see her hurt.”

“And why would I hurt her?”

“I’m not sure. But maybe sneaking into town—”

“I’m not sneaking.”

“She doesn’t know you’re here though, and you gave me a false name.”

“I gave you my name.”

“But not your surname. Because you knew I’d recognize the name Justice.” Her voice grew harder, her tone frostier. “Not sure what you were doing in my chair earlier, asking so many questions.”

“She’s talked a lot about you. I was curious to find out more about you.”

“Then why not introduce yourself as Bette’s grandson? You commented on her chair. You heard me say she was a favorite client.”

The waitress approached, and asked if Amanda would like to order something. Amanda was about to say no, when she realized she was shivering on the inside, from nerves and cold. “I could use a coffee.”

“Nothing to eat?” Tyler asked.

“No, but thank you,” she added to the waitress, giving her a smile. Her smile disappeared as the waitress walked away and she looked at Tyler. “I’m not hungry because I had lunch with your grandmother an hour ago, just before her hair appointment.”

“Do you do that often?”

“Once or twice a week.”

“Is she that lonely?”

Amanda stiffened. “What kind of question is that?”

“I’m genuinely curious.”

“Your grandmother is not at all lonely. She plays in a duplicate bridge group. She is part of a birthday club. She is part of a gardening club. Bette organizes a weekly movie matinee day at the Palace Theatre and she is the ringleader of thirty some seniors that meet for the movies every Wednesday. Why don’t you go tomorrow and see how lonely she is?”

“Why so hostile?”

“Why assume she is lonely, just because she and I are close?”

His broad shoulders shifted carelessly. His expression was equally detached. Amanda couldn’t get a read on him.

“I would think you’d both prefer the company of someone closer to your own ages,” he said.

Her chin notched up. “Apparently, you’re confused, but then, you’re not the only one. Bette is confused, too. She thinks you’re arriving Friday to convince her to move to California, only you’re not living in California, are you? Didn’t you say you’re in Austin? Maybe you should explain to her where she’d live and why, since she thinks you’re a stand-up, honest guy?” She gave him another long, pointed look before rising. “I’ll get my coffee to go.”

“I am an honest guy. And if you’d give me a chance to explain—”

“I don’t believe in manipulating people or playing games.”

“I’m not playing games.”

“That’s right.