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I winced slightly at her question, my mind flying forward to her being sixteen and asking the same thing.
“Definitely.” Hunter ran up the stairs behind her, the doorbell hopefully forgotten.
Brooke leaned in close, and I almost thought she would kiss my cheek. Instead, she touched my bicep and murmured into my ear, “Relax. They’re only seven.”
“Hmmph. Who knows what boys are thinking of at that age?”
“Not where your mind just went, trust me. He’s fascinated by video games and baseball, and I’m pretty sure he said how he doesn’t like girls just like a week ago.”
“Whew. That’s good to hear. When does that change?” I tilted my head to the side.
“I have no idea.” Brooke smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
She moved from the foyer into the large kitchen. “I wondered if you’d gotten your own place or were renting.”
“It was easier to stay here until we got our bearings.”
“Your parents help out a lot?” Brooke asked as she moved around the island, her fingers trailing over the cool surface of the quartz.
“Yeah. I couldn’t do this without them.” I didn’t want to leave Cammie with a nanny or a sitter. At least I could comfort myself when I was working by saying she was with her grandparents.
Brooke lifted the lid of the large pot on the stove, breathing in the aroma before asking, “Where are they?”
“They went to a B & B for their anniversary.” I gripped my neck, wondering if they’d do that if we weren’t staying there. Either way, I was grateful to have time alone with Brooke.
“Oh, that’s nice.” Brooke looked at me uncertainly.
Maybe she didn’t trust herself there without my parents as a buffer. I almost didn’t trust myself with the kids upstairs. I wondered how long they’d be occupied and if I’d have time for a repeat of that kiss in Java Coffee.
The island countertop was sturdy and large enough for what I wanted to do to Brooke. Spread her legs and lay her out like the feast she represented. But I definitely couldn’t explore that scenario with two seven-year-olds upstairs.
“Spaghetti and meatballs?” Brooke asked as she crossed the short distance to stand in front of me.
I shook my head to clear the image of a naked Brooke. “I figured I couldn’t go wrong.”
Brooke nodded. “Hunter loves both.”
“Good.” I let go of some of the tension I’d been holding in my neck.
A silence fell between us as I pulled out a bottle of wine and left it uncorked on the island.
Brooke looked from the bottle to me. “This feels like a date.”
I didn’t correct her. “The kids are here.”
The room was warm from the stove, and Brooke’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright. “Good thing.”
Was she saying that she wanted something to happen?
Pounding sounded on the steps as someone ran down the steps. Hunter rounded the corner, causing Brooke to step back. “Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”
“It’s ready. I just need to know if you want spaghetti and meatballs or a meatball sub with all the fixings.”
“Both,” he said easily.
I already knew what Cammie ate, the spaghetti, so I got two plates ready and set them up at the counter. I cut the garlic bread and added it to a serving platter in the middle of the island.
I was busy for a few minutes, getting the kids drinks and extra meatballs. As the kids dug in, I said to Brooke, “I figured we’d let them eat first.”
