I can’t hold back a wince. “Yeah, stupid idea, I know.”
But instead of being disappointed by the burnt cookies, Cooper’s face lights up. “Did the firefighter come? The one from my school? I still remember the handshake and I haven’t told anyone about it.”
My heart softens just a little toward Sawyer. He might have acted ten different kinds of strange when he saw me at the Grab N Go, but there’s no denying he was so good to Cooper that day at the school. “No, buddy, they didn’t have to come. There was no actual fire, just stinky smoke and burnt cookies.”
His face falls, but only for a second. “That’s fine. Maybe we can go to the station someday and I can show him I remember the handshake.”
My eyes dart over to Willow, who’s barely containing her laughter at Coop’s obvious interest in Sawyer. Somehow, in all of the mental chaos of trying to sort through my attraction to the damn man and his weird reaction to me being here, I didn’t realize my kid was just as infatuated with him after just one interaction. As much as I was after my first time, it seems.
I guess once is all it takes for someone like Sawyer Donnelly to leave an impression.
Cooper wanders outside to the tree house, and Willow saunters over, propping her elbow up on my shoulder as we look out the window into the backyard.
“There are worse role models for your son than a local hero.”
“You’re not wrong, but does that local hero have any interest in being a role model to a seven-year-old who comes with a horny mom? I’m guessing the answer is no.”
“Well, tomorrow night, if we find him at the bar, we’ll figure out if he’s up for a second round or not. If he isn’t, I’m sure we’ll find someone else to take care of the horny mom, and Cooper can find someone else to hero worship.”
Chapter eleven
Sawyer
I’m not proud of how I acted at the store on Thursday. In fact, Tori had every right to question my sanity. I barked at her, then I almost kissed her, for fuck’s sake. And even if I don’t want to admit how often I think about her, the way her eyes sparked when she challenged my dumbass behaviour was fucking hot.
It’s messing with me, the fact that I can’t get her out my head. I thought it was bad enough before when she was just a sexy memory, but then she messed with my mojo when I tried to hook up with someone else, and now it really does feel like she’s everywhere.
Apparently, even at the bar when I’m just trying to have a chill night with my brothers.
“Fuck.” I try to muffle my curse as the door to Hastings opens and the woman who’s haunting my dreams — and apparently, my waking hours, too — walks in with none other than her brunette friend from the gala.
Jude gives me a hard look. “Are you okay?”
I nod brusquely, keeping my head turned away from the entrance. It’s not that I’m mad she’s here. She’s got every right to be. I’m mad at myself for reacting like this. It’s not like I haven’t run into women I’ve hooked up with before, and it’s never been an issue. Carrie and her determination to land a round two not included.
But Tori’s different. And I really need to figure out how to handle that before anyone, especially my siblings, figures out that the newest resident of Dogwood Cove has me all tied up in knots.
And not the sexy kind of knots.
I force my attention back on to what Max and Jude are talking about, even though discussing injury stats in NHL players is not high on my list of fun topics.
“Hey, guys.” Hunter, who I still haven’t adjusted to calling my brother-in-law, drops down into the empty seat beside me and immediately pours himself a beer from the pitcher on the table. He takes several long swallows, and all focus shifts to him. Hunter’s not normally one to chug down a beer.
“What’s up with you?” Max asks, a frown creasing his forehead. Even though my gut reaction is to tease old man Maxy about getting wrinkles, I’m also curious about what might be bothering the guy who’s normally so fucking happy it’s annoying.
He takes another drink, then sets the beer down and looks up at us with a slight grimace. Even in the dim lighting of the bar, I can see his cheeks colour.
“You don’t really want to know, it has to do with your sister.”
The three of us groan. That’s definitely the hardest part about being friends with the dude who’s married to our baby sister. Obviously, we know they fuck. Her being pregnant is proof enough of what they get up to behind closed doors, but that doesn’t mean we wanna hear about it.
“Ignore them. We can be adults.” Beckett sits down across from me, setting the plate of nachos he was getting us in the middle of the table. “We’ll just pretend it’s not Kat you’re talking about.”
“Easier said than done, twinbro,” I mutter, shooting a mock glare at Hunter. “In my mind, you guys sleep in separate bedrooms.”
“How do you explain the baby?” Max says, stifling his own laughter.
“Immaculate conception.” I lift my own glass and take a drink to hide my smile.
