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“Find her.”
“Yeah, the one that will make me want to change her last name.”
“Brooks Kincaid, are you a closet romantic?” I jest, because the talk is getting a little deep, and it’s on the tip of my tongue for me to blurt out that I volunteer for the position.
“Nah, I wouldn’t say that. Do I plan on being a bachelor for the rest of my life? No. I’m not in a hurry either.”
“So you’re just living your best life? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” My tone is light, hiding that deep down, I want to know the answer.
“Maybe.” He laughs. “But I look at it more as I want to settle down, but I don’t want to settle, if that makes sense?”
I let the meaning of what he’s saying sink in. “Yeah, it makes perfect sense, actually. Should I add ‘words of wisdom’ under the things I’ve learned about you today?”
“Only if you promise not to tell my pops. Those are his words. Raymond Kincaid is full of life lessons. For as long as I can remember, he’s taken all of us on camping and fishing trips. We load up and leave Mom at home, giving her some time without all of us kids. Some Mommy time we used to call it. Anyway, we fish, camp, and play flashlight tag, and just goof off and expel all the energy that’s created with nine boys so close in age. We still play now, even as adults from time to time. At night we sit around the campfire, and Dad always has something to say. Some type of wisdom for us.”
“I love that,” I say softly. I can’t help but wonder if that’s a tradition he’ll carry on with his own kids.
“Yeah, his favorite is work hard and love harder. I’ve heard that one more than any of them.”
“Sage advice.”
“It is. Don’t tell him I said that. He’ll get a big head, and then we’ll have to hear all about it.” His voice is laced with humor and causes a tightening in my chest. The longer I’m here with him, the more I learn that the crush I thought was that of a teenage girl claws its way to the surface.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
He winks, and my belly flutters.
“What else can I do?”
“That’s it. We’re all done. I need to put the lids on these and then load the dishwasher.”
“You get the lids. I’ll load the dishwasher.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Hey, I was a part of this mess. I don’t mind. I have nowhere to be.” I’m stalling. I’m not ready to leave. I’m exhausted. It’s been a long, tiring yet happily unexpected day. I know I need to go home and get some sleep. I have a newborn and her two-year-old brother coming into the studio in the morning, so I need to get rested, but I don’t want the day to end. I don’t know if I’ll ever have him like this again.
All to myself.
We work in comfortable silence, cleaning his kitchen and packing up the meals that we just made for the week. “Keep one of those out,” he tells me.
“You can’t seriously be hungry?” I blurt, making him laugh.
“No. I’m not, but you can take it with you for lunch tomorrow.”
“Oh, no, Brooks, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to. Take one. See if you like it. You can hit your dad up for some of his seasoning.” He winks.
“I’m telling you he’s taking that with him to the grave.”
“Maybe, but I’m pretty sure all you have to do is bat those long-ass lashes and those big green eyes, and he’d give you anything you asked for.”
I swallow hard. “He’s immune. Piper and I have tried,” I tell him. I’m proud of myself for keeping my voice even and not letting him see how his words affect me. I don’t let him see that the things he says lights a fire in my soul.
“Huh” is all he says.
“It doesn’t work on Dad. Well, it doesn’t for most things, but it does work on Deacon. How do you think I talked my big bro into doing the blind photoshoot with Ramsey?”
