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“It’s really okay. I’m a pretty open book. Is that enough? Do you have more? Your brother calls himself Mr. Transparency. I’ve been trying to emulate that more.”
Katie’s eyes went wide as she stared from her brother to me and back again. I glanced over my shoulder at Brady’s face. Ever so subtly, he shook his head.
Brady’s deep voice joined the conversation. “Come on, Katie. Give her a break.”
“Shut up, Brady. She’s handling this way better than you are.” Katie stuck her tongue out at her older brother.
I laughed at their antics. “He’s a bit…”
“Overprotective? Broody?”
I lifted one shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “Maybe just a little.”
“I raised a good man. Don’t tease him in front of his girl.” Terri rose from the table, patting Brady’s arm as she passed us. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get the guest of honor.”
I looked to Brady, who grinned widely. “My niece, Lyla. She spent some time with her dad this morning to celebrate her birthday. He’s a long-distance trucker, so she doesn’t see him as much.”
“Will your other sister be joining us? Lyla is her daughter, right?”
Katie glanced to Brady, their matching stares tight and full of emotion. Finally, Brady spoke. “She isn’t able to make it. Lyla stays with Katie right now.”
“Oh, of course.” Feeling very much out of my depth, I focused my attention on Brady. When our eyes met, I gave him a warm smile. “I’ll just meet her mother another time.”
“Adriana would love that,” Katie said.
“So first you have to win over Lyla. That’s no small feat on it’s own.” Brady grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes, but strangely enough, bubbles erupted in my belly at the mention of his niece. Out of all the women in the family, I’d heard the most about little Lyla. Her uncle was crazy about her, and I badly wanted to win her over. Biting down on my lip, I realized it was because I had had such little exposure with kids, outside of my friend Beth, that I wanted to know if I was even likable.
When Terri breezed back onto the porch, I held my breath, watching as a petite child in a bright-pink sundress with long, wavy brown hair followed in her footsteps. Her eyes were wide but immediately settled on me. Her mouth made a perfect “O” as she did.
I blinked, confused as the child let go of her grandmother and sidled straight up to me. With a delicate, tiny-fingered hand, she reached out to my face. At the last moment, I realized it wasn’t me but rather the intricate jeweled earrings that I had thrown on this morning that were drawing her eyes.
I grinned, tilting my head. “Do you like them? They are my favorites.”
“They are so pretty,” her sweet squeaky voice answered.
I pulled my hair back, allowing her to see more of my ear. She moved even closer, making my heart beat double.
“Maybe when you’re big you can get your ears pierced.” I immediately looked up at Brady, terrified I'd made some kind of horrible misstep. Only to find his gaze on me. And the way he was looking at me sent heat straight through my body, all the way to my toes, where they curled in my sandals.
I licked my lips, turning my attention back to Lyla. “My name is Cici.”
“I’m Lyla. It’s my birthday.”
“That’s why I’m here, to celebrate your birthday.”
Lyla gasped, clapping her small, pink-tipped hands over her cheeks. “Are you the princess performer? I told Max I was going to have one!”
“Wait, what? No, I…” I looked around, but the only help I found was Katie. Who was biting into her knuckle as she watched the two of us, eyes sparkling with barely contained laughter.
At least she tried to hold it in. Both Brady and Terri had burst into laughter. I gaped at them both; Brady’s head had dropped back, the long, muscular line of his neck flexing. Lucky for me, Katie stepped in, curling her arms around her niece. “No baby, Cici is here with Uncle Brady. His girlfriend.”
Lyla’s little face fell and with it my heart. I leapt to try to remedy her disappointment. “I’m so sorry I’m not a real princess, but I did bring you something special for your birthday.”
She blinked up at me, looking less concerned. “Really?”
“Really, really. I’ll have your uncle go get it in a few minutes.”
