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“The pleasure is all mine. I see my baby brother’s taste in friends has improved.”
Everyone laughed as I let out a nervous chuckle. Preston smiled as he walked around me and headed into the house. Turning, I wanted to call out to him, but I was frozen. I knew why he was upset with me. The look in his eyes spoke more than words ever could.
Placing her hand on my arm, Angie led me back into the house. “Tonight is game night! You better keep your eyes open; the boys like to cheat.”
Giving her a slight chuckle, I nodded and said, “Got it.”
I spent the rest of the evening with Angie and Jenn as we finished up some things for Thanksgiving dinner the next day. I hadn’t seen Preston since dinner. As soon as he and the boys cleared the table, he excused himself along with Finn and they disappeared.
Drying off the last bowl, I stood and stared out the kitchen window.
“Harmony, would you like a cup of tea, darling? We can go sit on the back porch and talk.” Jenn handed me a cup of tea as she mouthed, “Peace and quiet.”
“No way, Mom. It’s game night! I’ll go find the boys.”
Rolling her eyes, Jenn shrugged. “I tried.”
Giggling, I shook my head and said, “Even though Angie’s just a few years younger than me, I feel like she has more energy than the Energizer Bunny.”
“You have no idea,” Jenn said as she shook her head. Standing, she said, “Let’s make our way to the dining room. Once the boys realize what game Angie wants to play, the peace will be over.”
Smiling, I took my cup of tea and followed Jenn to the formal dining room. I loved Preston’s childhood home. It wasn’t anything extravagant, yet it was classy and comfortable. I felt at home. Pictures of their family were spread throughout the house. There was a fireplace in the main living room and the formal dining room. Walking over to the fireplace, I picked up a picture of Preston.
“I see his charming good looks started early,” I said with a chuckle.
“Oh Lord, the girls that chased after that boy. His older brothers used to get so mad. The three of them could be standing there and the girls would always approach Preston first,” Jenn said with a lighthearted laugh.
Smiling, I placed the photo down and then picked up what looked like Preston’s senior picture. Good Lord, he had only grown better looking with age.
Running my fingers over the picture, it felt as if my lips were tingling. Placing my fingers on my lips, I could almost feel Preston’s lips on mine.
Hot breath hit my neck, followed by, “Whatcha thinking about?”
Jumping, I quickly placed the picture on the mantel. Preston stood there staring at me with an expression I couldn’t read. He wasn’t smiling, yet his eyes looked happy.
Opening my mouth to talk, I was startled when Angie began clapping her hands and talking.
“Okay! It’s family game night. Monopoly is the game of choice.”
Oh shit. I hate Monopoly.
I chewed on my lip, then whispered to Preston, “Can we vote on another game?”
“What’s wrong, Harmony, Monopoly not your thing?”
Smiling, I shook my head. “Not really.”
The next thing I knew we were all sitting around the table laughing our asses off as two hours passed by. Finn and Angie really got into the game and were in a dead heat to take over the entire board. Jenn and I had long since dropped out of the game. Preston and Wes seemed to be making sideline deals against Angie.
“Well, look at this sight.” The booming voice that came from behind me caused me to turn around.
My mouth dropped open as I looked at an older version of Preston. “Oh wow,” I whispered.
Jenn leaned over and said, “I know, now you see where Preston and the boys get their looks. He’s been gone for two days helping a friend with a building project. Let me go say hello.”
Blushing, I smiled at Jenn. Giving me a playful wink, she stood up and walked over to her husband. He wrapped her up in his arms and lifted her off the ground as he kissed her. The act was so intimate that I turned my head, only to find Preston looking at me. Wes asked him something, causing him to pull his eyes away from me. My heart was racing for some reason and I felt my body heating up.
Turning back to Jenn and Mr. Ward, I watched as they smiled and spoke softly to each other. So this is what love looks like. A true honest-to-God love. I wanted this. Desperately. Peeking back over at Preston, my breath caught in my throat as I watched him throw his head back and laugh at something his brother had said.
