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Jessie blushed as they shook hands. “Hi, I’m Jessie Walker. I’m Bree’s cousin.”
Keenan looked over from Jessie to Dec and cocked his head.
“It’s a long story,” Bree said.
“An endless story,” Jessie added, giggling.
Bree took a step back and said, “Now, please come inside everyone. I hear our daughter Ava is waking up.”
“Oh, we were just leaving,” Keenan said and furrowed his brows because he probably already knew what was coming next.
“But, Dad…” Tommy whined.
“It’s okay, Keen. You can stay. We’re just having brunch. It’s all very casual. Just so we can have this awkward first meet over with.” Bree slapped a hand before her mouth.
“Oh, I didn’t mean it like how it sounds. I meant that first dates are always awkward. But with the kids here, we can all sit around and relax. You know? Get to know each other without it becoming a job interview.”
Jessie giggled again. “Oh, I like that, Bree. You have no idea how nervous I was.”
“Mom dropped a vase this morning,” Liv said.
Declan laughed as he could see Jessie being fidgety. He turned and took a few steps back to make room for everyone to enter their home.
“Well, that was this morning. Now we know we have nothing to worry about,” Jessie said, smiling to Liv before guiding her daughter inside.
Bree placed Dean on the baby play mat and he reached out his hand for the mirror that hung above his head.
“I’m getting Ava, be right back,” she said. He nodded at Bree and turned to ask what everyone wanted to drink.
While getting the drinks, he watched Keenan and Jessie having small talk and Tommy and Liv sitting at the table ignoring each other. Bree walked back into the room with Ava in her arms. “Come kids, who wants to watch the twins play?”
Liv and Tommy both jumped from their seats and ran over to Bree. Declan could never grow tired of the cute baby sounds. Jessie oohed and aahed as she joined Bree and the kids.
Keenan joined Declan in the kitchen to whip out scrambled eggs and bacon. Jessie came into the kitchen looking for some juice to give to Tommy and Liv.
“If it’s alright with you, that is?” Jessie asked Keenan while raking a hand through her long blonde hair.
“Sure,” Keenan said as he kept on flipping strips of bacon.
Declan smiled as he sliced an apple in four pieces. His cousin was unaware of the appreciative looks Jessie was giving Keenan.
Jessie bumped her hip into the counter, and Keenan still didn’t look up.
“You are one hard nut to crack, Cuz,” Declan said.
“Nah.”
“I think after Evangeline, the only time you’ve shown interest in someone had been that time with Errin.” Declan remembered how angry his oldest brother Brennan got when Keenan’s showed his interest in the youngest Walsh sister.
“I just liked her spirit, you know? Errin tells it like it is. And she got that whole sexy angel thing going on.”
Declan stilled his slicing and pulled a brow when he looked up at his cousin.
“You know I would never go there now, come on. But when I first saw her standing there in Lucky? Yeah… she’s my type, all right.”
Declan leaned in and said in a low voice, “And Jessie isn’t?”
Keenan shrugged. “Didn’t get the vibe. You know… that tingle. She seems sweet.”
