Page 88 of The Deadly Shallows

A half hour into the movie, Noah realized he’d fully relaxed for the first time since the mass shooting. His mind drifted to the intensifying depth of his feelings for Brooke.

He loved her.

If you love her, then let her have all she deserves. And that’s not you.

He drummed his fingers against the side table, wrestling with the right thing to do, but heaven help him, he treasured the woman.

He paused the movie.

“Getting more popcorn?” she asked.

“Uh-uh.” He reached over, cupping her face, his thumb caressing her uninjured cheek. “You are breathtaking. And I’m an imbecile for not telling you sooner.”

She rested her cheek against his palm.

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead but didn’t pull back, his skin warm against hers, their foreheads pressed together.

“Brooke.” Her name came out more a breath than a whisper.

She blinked, and he brushed his lips ever so softly across hers.

Please, Lord, let me be enough.

Her lips parted and he deepened the kiss.

“Uncky Noah. Up.” Owen, his two-year-old nephew, plopped on the center of his chest wearing a pair of PJ Masks pajamas.

“We’re making unicorn waffles,” Fiona, his four-year-old niece, said while pirouetting in her pink tutu over Peppa footie pajamas.

Noah rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked to the window. “It’s still dark out.”

“Very good,” Kenzie said, swirling a spatula in a blue mixing bowl. “You’re the smart one of the family, right?” She winked as Fiona skipped back toward her, the girl’s sparkly tiara tilting with the movement.

He checked his watch. 0535. He looked across the room, but the couch was empty. Brooke?

“Morning,” Brooke said, as she stepped back from the refrigerator, a silver-and-pink rhinestone tiara fixed on her freshly brushed brown hair. “So Mr. Sleepyhead is finally up.” She set a turquoise bowl on the counter beside the sink and lifted a colander of what he was guessing was fruit of some sort. The buttery scent of Kenzie’s homemade waffles hung in the air.

Fiona raced over to Brooke, lifting up her arms.

“Fi, you’re getting too big to be picked up,” Kenzie said.

Noah stood and stretched. How did Brooke look so refreshed and awake? He recognized Kenzie’s clothes on her. He was thankful to have such a kind and giving family.

“I’m going to take a shower.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder toward the hall, hoping that would help him wake up.

“Okay,” Kenzie said, “but don’t take one of your typical half-an-hour ones. Breakfast will be ready in twenty.”

Fifteen minutes later, he returned. “I’m sorry to bypass such a good-looking breakfast, but I need to head to the office.” He looked to Brooke. “Wanna come along?”

“Or you’re more than welcome to hang here,” Kenzie said.

“Stay Auntie Brooke,” Owen said.

Noah’s eyes widened. Auntie?

“Isn’t that cute?” Kenzie asked as Owen wobbled over to his little recliner by the TV. “Peppa’s aunt paid a visit on the previous episode, and Owen decided Brooke was his aunt.”

Pink flushed Brooke’s cheeks.