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I wiped the chocolate off my mouth, took a big swig of my caffeinated beverage of choice, threw my shades on, and popped a mint. Dressed in my cutoffs and tank top, I wasn’t even trying to impress Brooks. Why bother?
I hopped out of my car and told the voice in my head to keep its mouth shut. I spotted Brooks at the entrance pacing back and forth. The sun fell on him, making his golden-brown hair glimmer and illuminating how dang attractive he was in his white dress shorts and polo shirt. He looked like he was hitting the golf course later. Wow, did he have some fine, long, lean legs. I wouldn’t mind doing some rounds with him. Oh my gosh, I needed to stop thinking like that. I was here to help him reconcile with Tom.
“Good morning,” I tried to say cheerily, with heavy friendly undertones, when I approached Brooks.
He stopped pacing for all of two seconds and said, “Hello,” before he went back to acting as if he were an animal trapped in a cage.
“You doing okay?”
“Not really.”
I went to reach out and grab his hand to calm him down, then thought better of it. I was still thinking about the kiss I’d lain on him. Sadly, it was the best kiss I’d had in forever. Considering where my thoughts were, touching him was out of the question. In fact, I was never touching him again.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and told them to behave. “It’s just your daddy.”
Brooks stopped dead in his tracks, and his brooding brown eyes hit me with such force I took a step back. “You know it’s more complicated than that.”
“I realize that, but the longer you stay away, the more complicated it’s going to get.”
“I know.” He started pacing again.
Against my better judgment, these imprudent words came flying out of my mouth: “Do you want to take a walk and talk before we head up to see your daddy?” What I really should have said was: “You’re on your own, buddy. And could you please make yourself look more unattractive?”
He breathed out a huge sigh of relief. “I would appreciate that.”
Of course he would. “There’s a park near here with a lake we could walk around.”
“Near the old county water tower?”
I was surprised he remembered. “That’s the one.”
He headed that direction, and I kept pace with him, making sure to keep my distance on the sidewalk that wended around the hospital and out toward the street we needed to follow to the park. Unfortunately, the gentle breeze was blowing his clean scent my way. He smelled like a spring rain shower, and I wanted to dance in it until I was soaked by him.
We both seemed nervous, me with my hands safely in my pockets as he walked with his behind his back, wringing them.
“How were the dead bodies?” I couldn’t think of anything else to ask.
He shrugged and chuckled. “Let’s just say I was the life of the party.”
“That bad, huh?”
“The exhibit was . . . intriguing.”
“Sounds awful.” I laughed.
“It was. But with that said, it was educational, and I appreciate that Morgan always wants to expand her knowledge.”
“I guess that’s a good thing.” As a matter of fact, I read Cosmo and Soap Opera Digest to keep my mind fresh and up-to-date on all the latest fashion trends and General Hospital gossip. Not to mention I took all the quizzes in Cosmo. And, not to brag, but I always scored high. Oh, and how could I forget my subscription to America’s Spa? A magazine specifically tailored for aestheticians. Did that count as expanding my knowledge?
“How was your date last night?” he asked.
“Well, the good news is I now have a half-million-dollar life insurance policy.”
Brooks’s brow scrunched. “What?”
“Don’t even ask. It was one of my worst dates ever, and that is saying something.” If I wasn’t mistaken, his lips twitched like he was going to smile.
He cleared his throat. “So, did he prove your theory right or wrong?”
“I guess it depends on how you look at it, but it’s neither here nor there. I think I’m going to call it a day on my scientific experiment. The only good thing that came out of last night was I got to see the Rangers trample the Astros. Did you get to catch any of it?”
He stretched his neck from side to side. “I didn’t.”
“You should definitely catch any replays. The ninth inning was AH-mazing. I won’t spoil it for you, but trust me, you will be proud of our guys. I mean, your team.” I was an idiot. In high school, we had always thought of the Rangers as our guys. We’d spent many nights on his couch cheering them on together and drinking root beer floats.
He stared out into the distance, fixed on the intersection ahead. “I’m trying to cut down on the amount of sports I watch.”
