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She swallowed the half-hysterical giggle threatening to erupt. Making rules, setting boundaries were so not how she lived her life. She wouldn’t even know how to go about doing that. The “contract” she’d drawn up was lying in tatters in the wastepaper basket, a clear indication of her lack of power to do anything within boundaries.
“Are we there yet?” Connor whined again.
“A few minutes more,” Gavin said. “We’re nearly there.”
They’d reached the huge gate at the entrance of the ranch, and were on the road leading up to the homestead. Inhaling deeply, Brooke frantically tried to calm herself. Within minutes, her mother would see her, and Mom never missed a thing. With a soft gasp, she tried to steady her breathing before she hyperventilated.
Setting boundaries and taking charge of her life would have to wait for later that night.
“Can we go and look at our house while we’re here, Mom?” Connor wanted to know.
“Yes, of course, sweetheart.”
Gavin parked in front of the house, and the front door flew open. The two German shepherds, Bear and Sasha, were right in front, tails wagging as they ran down the stairs. From the direction of Lindsay’s house, Lucy, the Spaniel Blake had bought for them, also came running toward them, ears flapping.
Charlie and Eleanor were behind them, and Lindsay followed, a little bit slower, her hand protectively on her abdomen.
Eleanor opened her arms and caught Connor as he rushed into her hug while the dogs barked happily. “I’m so happy to see you!”
Brooke was so tense, but she couldn’t help laughing. Connor adored his grandma, and even though she wasn’t your typical grandma who knitted, cooked, and baked cakes, she had the ability to make every mundane thing exciting.
While Connor went to greet Charlie and Lindsay, her mom clapped her hands before she hugged Brooke. “We have bubbly on ice. We can’t wait to celebrate you two being together. We’re all so, so happy for you.”
“He says he’s going to kiss her,” Connor announced.
“Really?” her mother asked, eyes twinkling.
“He says he really, really likes her.”
Everyone laughed. Charlie embraced Brooke before she hugged her brother. “I can’t tell you how happy we all are about your news. You dark horse, you!”
Lindsay also stepped closer to hug Brooke and her brother. “You two belong together; we’ve known it for quite some time, now! Come on in. We want all the details. Every single one.”
––––––––
Gavin had Brooke’shand in his as they stepped onto the back porch. A long table was covered with a white tablecloth and festively set. Logan and Blake looked up from where they were busy with drinks. Connor was kicking a ball on the lawn.
Logan’s gaze fell on Gavin and Brooke’s entwined hands. His eyes narrowed slightly even though his smile stayed in place.
Blake reached them first. “I hear congratulations are in order. Happy for you guys.”
“Thank you,” Brooke said, and then Logan enveloped her in a hug.
“He messes with you, you tell me,” Logan said, his eyes on Gavin.
As Gavin put out his hand to shake Logan’s, he tried to prepare himself for the handshake he was about to get. He remembered all too well the hard time he’d given Logan when he couldn’t make up his mind about Charlie. Logan was clearly about to reciprocate.
He was right. Logan gripped his hand tightly and squeezed. It took all his self-control not to wince. Okay, he’d deserved it. This time.
“How does your involvement with my sister influence your decision to be in the Seattle office for a month?” Logan asked coolly.
“I’m still going—that’s not a problem. Brooke knows about our arrangement, but we haven’t discussed details yet. She’s preparing for her exhibition and will be working hard, but maybe when she’s there for her exhibition, she and Connor could come and stay with me for a few days. We’ll see.”
Eleanor bustled outside with a bowl of salad in her hands. “Have you popped the bubbly, Logan?”
“On my way, Mom.” Logan shot Gavin a last, warning look before he turned back to open the bottle of bubbly.
Well, hell. When Brooke pulled her hand out of his, Gavin let her go. It was one thing to decide to have a “fake” relationship, it was an entirely different exercise to answer all the many questions they didn’t really have answers to.
