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She pinches her eyebrows. “They? Two of them?”
“Yes, a husband and wife. They’re good friends of mine.” I look around as I notice that all of her belongings are gathered together. “Are you looking forward to getting back to your normal life?”
She smiles in a way that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I am.” She nods toward her packed bags. “I’ll head out after our evening.”
“You don’t need to rush.”
“I have no reason to stay here. Your mother is gone, and our deal will be over.”
Before I can respond, the doorbell rings. “That must be them.”
“Is Karen getting the door?”
I hold out my hand for her. “No, I gave her the rest of the weekend off. It’s rare to get a quiet house to myself. Nico will go out with us, but then I’m dismissing him too.”
I had given them all the weekend off, thinking Amanda and I would want privacy in the house.
I hold out my hand, and she places her soft hand in it as we make our way downstairs. I’m realizing it may be one of the last times I get to hold it. I’m going to savor the sensation.
I open the door and see my friends smiling. “Blaire, Axel, this is the very talented Amanda Tremaine. Amanda this is Blaire and Axel Broxton.” Axel is a giant of man with dark, curly hair. Blaire is a petite, stunning redhead.
Amanda holds her hand out and smiles, clearly having no clue who they are. She’s so adorably naïve sometimes. It’s endearing.
“It’s nice to meet you two. What brings you to the area?”
Blaire and Axel both smile, loving that she doesn’t know them. Blaire answers, “Axel had a…work obligation in New York City.” Yep, the NFL draft where he got to announce his team’s draft pick. “Beckett said we absolutely had to stop by Philly to see your work. Our kids have never been, so we took them sightseeing today.”
Amanda’s face lights up. “How old are your kids?”
“Our daughter, Carrie, is eleven, our other daughter, Danica, is two, and we have triplet sons who are four and may very well be the spawn of Satan.”
Amanda laughs. “Wow. You have your hands full.”
Axel nods. “God yes.” He pulls Blaire close. “My wife is superwoman.” He nuzzles into her neck. “And she puts up with me.”
Blaire smiles in agreement. “He’s usually more difficult than the kids.”
Amanda laughs again as she motions for them to come inside. “Please come in.”
They take about thirty minutes to look at her artwork in the studio and around the house. It’s clear that they like it. They’re already asking her how manypieces are available. Amanda is beaming. It’s wonderful to watch.
We head outside to their limo, with Nico joining the driver in the front, and begin our journey to the jazz club. Blaire’s phone rings and she quickly grabs it. “It’s my brother FaceTiming. Let me just make sure everything is okay with them.” She looks down at the phone. “Hey, Beau.”
“Hello, baby sister. Is everything good out there?”
“Yes, the kids loved Philly. They ran up the Rocky steps today. I’ll send you some videos. We’ll be home tomorrow.”
“Great. What are you guys doing? It looks like you’re dressed up in a limo.”
Axel places his hand just under Blaire’s dress and brings his face to the screen. “I have my hands up your sister’s dress.”
Beau growls and Blaire slaps his hand away.
Amanda and I look at each other and smile at their family’s playfulness.
Axel grins. “I’m going to defile your sister in the limo. She’s got to go. We’ll see you guys when we get home. I need you to take our kids for a day or two so Blaire and I can spend it in bed, bringing the al dente noodle to the spaghetti house.”
“You’re an asshole, Broxton. Go back to the cave you crawled out of.”
