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I don’t know what’s been more torturous. The faintest connection of Brodie’s hand with my thigh each time he changed gears, or when he busted me taking a whiff of his aftershave. His scent is almost as appealing as his handsome face. It is unique and sexy but oddly comforting.
“Does Caroline’s family work in the same industry as you?”
Another torture device joins Brodie’s collection. His laugh.
It is delicious and pussy-tingling.
“No.”
Before he can elaborate on his reply, Lucy screams, “Grandma Stell!”
“Wait until I pull up, Lucy,” Brodie demands.
We’ve barely stopped when she throws open her door, tosses off her belt, then leaps down from the truck at a million miles an hour.
I laugh when Brodie mutters, “You’d swear they didn’t see each other only last week.”
“I think it’s sweet.” An appreciative grin lifts his lips when I add, “And as you said, this is important for Lucy. Having a stable family basis is necessary for every child.”
Before I can shove my foot in my mouth, I slip out the door Lucy left open, then head for the bed of the truck to grab the cooler and bags.
“Please, allow me.” I startle when a man with a fancy hat leans over me to remove the cooler from my grip and pull it from the tray.
“That’s Riggs, the Ashburns’ butler.” When Riggs walks away with my bag, Brodie chuckles. “It takes a little getting used to. He still hasn’t forgiven me for accusing him of stealing my stuff the first time I came here.”
“You didn’t.”
His grin lights up my insides more than any fireworks tonight will. “I did. I was from—”
I want to scream when we’re interrupted. “Brodie, darling…” The beautiful middle-aged lady with gorgeous red hair trails off when she spots me standing awkwardly at the side. “Oh...” She blinks three times before composing herself. “Please excuse my rudeness. I wasn’t anticipating someone so…”
“Young?” I fill in when words elude her.
“I was going to say beautiful, but young suits just as well.” Her laugh makes her comment endearing instead of bitchy. “Oh my goodness, I’m making a fool of myself.” She slings her arm around my waist before guiding me inside. “It’s been so long since we’ve had someone new to the festivities I went and lost my manners.” I jump when her shout pierces my ears. “Herbert!”
A man with salt-and-pepper hair twists to face us. He’s more casually dressed than Mrs. Ashburn, with an open Hawaiian-printed shirt and matching boardshorts, but even out of the suits I’m sure he wears on the daily, he is undoubtedly handsome.
“Come meet…” Her greeting stops again before she cranes her neck to look at me. “I’m sorry, we’ve not been formally introduced. I’m Stella. Most people call me Stell, and you are—?”
The room falls silent when Lucy wraps her arms around my thigh and says, “My new mommy.”
“Oh... No… I… Ah.” Not wanting to hurt Lucy’s feelings, I cup her ear and tug her in closer to my thigh before saying, “I’ve never implied that. I swear.” My eyes are for Stella, but my words are for Brodie. Even if he eventually gives in to the tension burning between us, replacing Lucy’s mother would never be a part of the terms.
Brodie remains frozen at the side of the foyer, but Stella takes Lucy’s comment in stride. “Well, aren’t you lucky?” She bobs down to Lucy’s height before lowering my hand from her ear. “But I think people will look at me a little funny if I call her Mommy.” Lucy and a handful of the people surrounding us laugh when she murmurs, “She’s almost old enough to be my sister.” She tickles her tummy, assuring her she hasn’t done anything wrong. “So what should I call her instead?”
“Henley,” Lucy answers. “You can call her Henley.”
“Henley? What a beautiful name.” After returning to her full height, Stella squeezes my hand in silent support before mouthing for me to take all the time I need before I join everyone out back for lunch.
“Thank you,” I murmur, grateful she isn’t mad.
I can’t say the same for Brodie. He looks seconds from blowing his top.
“I didn’t—” He follows Lucy and Stella to the patio before I can assure him I’ve never given Lucy any assumptions that I am here to replace her mother.
“Let him cool off. He’s always been a hothead.”
I sling my eyes to the voice, gasping when I see a beautiful blonde with many identical features to Lucy. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was her mother.
“And please don’t look at me like that. I get enough glares from Brodie to last me a lifetime.” She saunters across the room before holding out her hand in offering. “I’m Chelsea, Caroline’s sister.”
“Identical twins?” I ask while shaking her hand.
“Uh-huh. But only in looks.” She laughs a dainty giggle. “Caroline was always the more reserved of our duo.” She signals for me to join her by the bar near the exit doors of the patio before asking, “I hope you don’t see this as rude, but how did you get in?”
