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“Want a hand?”
I’m not sure what expression I’m sporting, but it takes him nodding at the cappuccino maker behind me for me to remember what I was doing.
“Yes, please. I’ve used these machines before, but I can’t figure yours out.”
He walks around the expansive island. “Yeah, you have to handle her with care.”
“Her?” I raise my eyebrows.
He slides in next to me in front of the machine. “When she gave me problems, Theo was three and suggested I name her.” Brady chuckles, reliving the memory. “He thought maybe it didn’t like not having a name and since then, it stuck.”
I smile. “So, what’s her name?”
“Glinda.”
“Glinda… so proper.”
Brady shrugs. “I let Theo choose. He was really intoThe Wizard of Ozback then.”
“Well, if you can introduce Glinda and me, I’d be most appreciative.”
“Sure…”
While Brady goes about showing me how to turn Glinda on and how to adjust all the settings and exactly what they mean, I listen intently, but it’s hard when the hottest man I’ve ever known stands beside me. Especially a man I’ve been in bed with and I know how it feels to have him on top of me.
He reaches across me and his shoulder brushes mine. I’m acutely reminded that I’m not wearing a bra because my nipples pebble at our skin-to-skin contact as though my cells remember this is the man who gave us the best orgasms of our life.
Brady stills for a second and I wait for some smart comment to come out of his mouth.
God, this is so awkward. Hopefully it will get better as time passes and we grow more accustomed to being around each other day in and day out.
“I think I’ve got it, thanks.” I give him a wan smile, and he steps back to give me room to make one myself. I follow by memory everything he told me to do and the machine whirs to life and hisses. “Success!” I smile wide and raise my hands over my head, looking at him over my shoulder while the machine does its thing.
He gives me a funny look I can’t decipher. “Great.” He drags his palm along the back of his neck, and I purposely keep my expression neutral when his pec twitches and his lower abdomen flexes. “I’m gonna go shower.”
I nod, unable to say anything because my mouth is as dry as a cotton ball.
Once he’s out of the room, I slump against the counter. This is going to be a long few months. Good thing I packed my vibrator.
Six
Brady
The big day finally arrives—Hannah is leaving.
We all stand by the open front door, delaying saying goodbye as long as possible. I’ve got to hand it to my kid, he’s trying to put on a brave face when I know he’s breaking. During my season, Theo spends the most time with Hannah since I’m traveling so much. But he’s become quick friends with Violet, so hopefully she’ll cure some of the heartbreak.
What’s not to like? Violet has a killer smile, hot body, is cute as fuck when she’s embarrassed—which seems to happen easily and often—and smells incredible.
Okay, those better not be the same qualities my son likes in her, but they’re definitely the ones that draw my attention.
“And be sure to take pictures of his first day at school, okay?” Hannah says to me, tears in her eyes.
“I already told you I would. Like, five times.”
“I’ll make sure to text you some pictures every day,” Violet says, smiling at Hannah from a safe distance, trying to give us some family privacy.
“Oh, that would be wonderful. I might not be able to reply every day and depending on the time change when I get them, I might not text you right back, but know that I appreciate it.” She turns to say something to me but then returns her attention to Violet. “And make sure he gets a good breakfast before school. No sugary cereal or anything like that, otherwise he’ll be crashing by the second hour.”
