Chapter 14

The day after Briana had finally been discharged from the hospital when all of her tests had come back in the normal range, she had been relaxing at home when her phone rang. It had been her neighbor.

"Well, hi, Mrs. Stevens," she said cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"

"I know you just got out of the hospital and I don't want to alarm you, dear, but there is a man on your front porch…..and he's appearing rather strange."

"What do you mean strange?"

"It's…embarrassing to describe. Shall I call the police? There's been break ins around here and Lord knows you've had more than your share of excitement already."

"No, I think I may have an idea what's going on. Let me take care of it."

"All right, dear, but be careful."

Briana assured that she would and hung up, going to the front door and peeking through the peep hole, shaking her head at the sight.

When she opened the door, Brian stood there with a cheesy grin, bunny ears on his head, in his underwear, rose between his teeth, and holding a wrapped chocolate rabbit he'd pulled out of a bag.

"Brian! Good lord, get in here!" She yanked him inside. "Mrs. Stevens across the street thought you were some strange prowler and was about to call the police!"

"And Happy Easter to you too," he grinned, handing over the present and the rose.

"What on God's green earth possessed you to show up like that? Where are your clothes?"

"Didn't I leave any here?"

Briana gave him a look, quirking an eyebrow.

"I'm kidding," Brian said, holding up the bag. "I have some in here."

"Did you honestly drive over here looking like that?"

"Actually, I didn't put the ears on until I got here."

"Good God. You should be lucky you didn't get pulled over for speeding or something. The last thing we need is you getting on some gossip site looking like that. Thank goodness I told Mrs. Stevens I'd take care of this, considering I don't exactly get half naked men showing up on my porch wearing rabbit ears every day. Now go get some clothes on."

"All right, but do you know how many chicks dream of me naked?" he kidded, heading for the bathroom.

Briana could only shake her head and laugh, wondering how she ended up with such a nut. Even with all the clowning around Gary had done in his own day, he wouldn't have done something as blatant as this.

Brian came out a few minutes later. "Well, do I pass inspection?"

"Much better," she nodded. "I haven't made dinner yet. Would you like to stay over for some?"

"Oh good, glad you brought that up. Actually I was wondering if we could go out tonight. There's this nice place–"

"Which drive thru?" Briana teased.

"Come on, Bree, do you honestly think I'd take you to a drive thru for Easter dinner?"

"Considering your earlier attire, I had to wonder," she laughed.

"Ha ha, okay, you got me. No, there's this little café down the road. Nice and cozy. I've been wanting to take you there. No nut jobs bothering us."

"Sounds lovely."

"It is, and they serve some kick ass Italian."

"Italian for Easter dinner? That sounds quite different and very yummy. Count me in; I'll get changed."

"You're fine the way you are," he protested. "It's a casual place."

"Casual does not mean me going in old sweat pants and a faded T-shirt," Briana replied. "I'll be out in about ten minutes."

"I'll get back in my underwear and rabbit ears," he joked.

"You will do no such thing, Brian David," she called back while changing into jeans and a white peasant blouse before digging for a pair of sandals and finding her purse.

"What on earth prompted you to show up here like that anyway?" Briana wondered when she came back out, ready to go.

"Paul bet me fifty bucks that I wouldn't have the balls to do it. Fucker should know better by now that I'll do just about anything for money. I can't wait to go home and collect. I took a picture of myself on your porch with my phone to email him proof I did it, by the way."

"I should have known he was involved in this some way." She chuckled and shook her head. "With that, let's go get some of that wonderful dinner."

Brian put the ears back on. "Right behind you, sweetheart."

"And get those crazy things off your head."