Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“I love that,” I say softly. I can’t help but wonder if that’s a tradition he’ll carry on with his own kids.
“Yeah, his favorite is work hard and love harder. I’ve heard that one more than any of them.”
“Sage advice.”
“It is. Don’t tell him I said that. He’ll get a big head, and then we’ll have to hear all about it.” His voice is laced with humor and causes a tightening in my chest. The longer I’m here with him, the more I learn that the crush I thought was that of a teenage girl claws its way to the surface.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
He winks, and my belly flutters.
“What else can I do?”
“That’s it. We’re all done. I need to put the lids on these and then load the dishwasher.”
“You get the lids. I’ll load the dishwasher.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Hey, I was a part of this mess. I don’t mind. I have nowhere to be.” I’m stalling. I’m not ready to leave. I’m exhausted. It’s been a long, tiring yet happily unexpected day. I know I need to go home and get some sleep. I have a newborn and her two-year-old brother coming into the studio in the morning, so I need to get rested, but I don’t want the day to end. I don’t know if I’ll ever have him like this again.
All to myself.
We work in comfortable silence, cleaning his kitchen and packing up the meals that we just made for the week. “Keep one of those out,” he tells me.
“You can’t seriously be hungry?” I blurt, making him laugh.
“No. I’m not, but you can take it with you for lunch tomorrow.”
“Oh, no, Brooks, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to. Take one. See if you like it. You can hit your dad up for some of his seasoning.” He winks.
“I’m telling you he’s taking that with him to the grave.”
“Maybe, but I’m pretty sure all you have to do is bat those long-ass lashes and those big green eyes, and he’d give you anything you asked for.”
I swallow hard. “He’s immune. Piper and I have tried,” I tell him. I’m proud of myself for keeping my voice even and not letting him see how his words affect me. I don’t let him see that the things he says lights a fire in my soul.
“Huh” is all he says.
“It doesn’t work on Dad. Well, it doesn’t for most things, but it does work on Deacon. How do you think I talked my big bro into doing the blind photoshoot with Ramsey?”
“And he met the love of his life.”
“Funny how that happens.”
“I’ve known Deacon a long damn time. Drank more than a few beers with him. We’ve all been close since we were little, and there isn’t a better man for my baby cousin.”
“Who are you calling baby? Ramsey and I are the same age, old man.”
“Old man?” His hand clutches his shirt right over his heart. “I’m not even thirty yet.”
“Yet,” I goad.
“Baby,” he mutters.
“Hey!” I punch at his arm. Not hard, but enough to get my point across. “I just turned twenty-three. There are only six years between us.”
“So if I’m old….” His voice trails off, and I give him an exasperated look that has us both cracking up.
“Shut it, Kincaid.”
“I’m just messing with you. I like to see the fire in those green eyes of yours.” He reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ears.
“I should get going. It’s late.”
“You good to drive? You could stay over. I have two spare rooms with beds that my brothers usually use.”
He’s offering to be nice because that’s who Brooks Kincaid is. He’s the nice guy. That one who it’s impossible to hate and the one who makes it impossible not to fall for him. I speak from experience.
“I’m good. Thank you again for letting me use your truck.” I smile up at him, and he leans in just a little closer. My pulse begins to race. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was going to kiss me.
I really want him to kiss me.
“Drive safe, Palmer.” He reaches around me and grabs the meal container and hands it to me. “I’ll walk you out.” With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me out to his truck.
“I’ll call you tomorrow as soon as I hear from Declan.”’
“That works.”
“Thank you for today. For helping with my car, the truck, the trip to Sunflower Park, and meal prepping. All of it. I had a good time.”
“Me too.”
I give him an awkward wave before climbing behind the wheel and pulling out of the drive. Today is a day I’m sure to never forget. I just wish I knew how to make another one happen, and soon.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Brooks
I tossed and turned all night long. Every time I closed my eyes, there were a pair of emerald-green ones staring back at me. As the sun peeks over the horizon, I know I need to get up and get moving. Lying here in bed thinking about my friend’s little sister isn’t doing me any favors. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I put up a message in the group chat I have with my brothers.