Page 39 of Big Girl Panties

As she disappeared into the house, Niko offered me another beer, but I was already checking my watch. "We should head out soon. Early mornings tomorrow."

"She's perfect for you." Leilani stacked plates. "Bring her around more often."

My gaze drifted toward the house. "I'm trying to. But her ex really did a number on her. She's got walls that would make Fort Knox jealous."

"Then be patient," Leilani advised, suddenly serious. "And for the love of all that's holy, be honest about everything. One tiny doubt and you're toast. But if you're genuine…" She shrugged. "She'll come around."

I nodded, filing away the advice just as Brooke reappeared, looking slightly more composed and absolutely gorgeous.

The fifteen-minute walk to Brooke's apartment felt like both an eternity and thirty seconds. Every time her arm brushed mine, I got hit with this electric shock that had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with how badly I wanted to hold her hand.

"Your family's wonderful." She glanced up at me with that soft smile that made my knees forget how to function properly.

"They're nosy, but yeah, they're pretty great." I grinned. "They adored you, by the way. Especially after you let my five-year-old niece paint your nails that alarming shade of purple."

Brooke laughed, holding up her slightly smudged fingernails. "Princess Sparkle Purple is a very sophisticated color choice, I'll have you know."

She'd sat there for twenty minutes while Lilly carefully applied three coats of nail polish with the precision of someone performing brain surgery, never once showing impatience. That's when I knew I was in serious trouble.

"Do you want kids?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, but I genuinely wanted to know everything about her… her favorite color, her biggest fear, whether she preferred pancakes or waffles, what she dreamed about.

She hesitated, like I'd asked her to solve quantum physics. "I do." She shook her head. "I mean, I did." A smile flickered across her face. "I always pictured the whole perfect package, perfect marriage, perfect kids, perfect house with the white picket fence," She trailed off.

"But?"

"But maybe perfect is overrated," she said with a little shrug that somehow made her seem both vulnerable and wise.

"What does perfect look like to you now?"

She took a deep breath, as if she were diving underwater. "Honestly? I thought I knew, but I was completely wrong."

"Your ex really messed with your head, didn't he?"

She bit her lip. A habit of hers that was going to be the death of me. "He made it hard to believe someone could want me for me. But he also showed me what I don't want." She stared forward as we continued to walk. "I think I want to focus on myself right now. I want to travel and figure out what I want, and I don't know if that will ever include having kids."

Relief washed over me. If kids were a must-have right now, I knew this was over before it ever began.

"What about you? Do you want kids?"

"Right now, kids don't really fit into my hectic life, but down the road?" I shrugged. "I think that's a discussion for later."

Her eyes met mine, and she smiled. "Yeah."

Thunder rumbled overhead, and I glanced up. "Rain's coming."

She tilted her face toward the sky. "I love the rain." Her voice went all dreamy and soft.

"You do? Why?" Most people complained about getting soaked.

Her eyes fluttered closed, as if she were remembering something beautiful. "There's something magical about it. My parents had this house with a wraparound porch before Dad's firm exploded and we moved to the city. I used to sit on the porch swing and read during rainstorms."

"But getting caught in it sucks…"

"No!" She shook her head firmly. "There's something incredible about dancing in the rain."

I stared at her. "How often do you dance in the rain?"

"Every chance I get," she said, eyes sparkling with mischief.