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I sneak downstairs and notice how Hagan has Adalee pulled into his side, while they’re making a charcuterie board. He pops an olive into her mouth, then they kiss. Logan and Harper are making snicker doodles and red velvet balls.
Will Brooke and I get to this point?
The doorbell rings, and they all turn to see me over their shoulders. “She’s here.”
The truth dawns on me, revealing that this is a new experience for me—having a girl over for something more than just a physical encounter. It's a realization that brings both excitement and a sense of vulnerability that I’m not accustomed to.
Inhaling deeply, I open the door to find Brooke in the knit cap I bought her at the lodge. Her ponytail has a pale-pink scarf-like ribbon tied in a knot with the tails hanging, which matches the pajamas I bought.
“Hey.”
I shut the door behind me. “Hey. You look amazing.”
“If you think the Michelin man is amazing. It’s freezing.”
I lean down and take her cheeks in my hands and kiss her shimmering lips. They’re a bit sticky and smell like cinnamon rolls. “You switched from peppermint.”
“I need to keep you guessing. A man like you might get bored with boring old me.”
“You underestimate yourself.” I pepper her neck with quick kisses. “Are you ready? Because I would be happy kissing you on the porch for two hours.”
“I’m ready to play something other than Hi-Ho Cherry O.”
I slip her hand in mine and push the door open, and she steps into my house, to play games as my girlfriend. This isn’t what I expected yesterday morning when I found out she had a son.
We walk into the kitchen, and the firing squad is lined up against the counter, no doubt wanting me to sweat.
Hagan is the first to say, “Nice to see you again, Brooke.”
Her eyes graze over each person and then to me, looking down at my plaid flannels. She clears her throat. “Thanks for inviting me. Did I miss the dress code part of the invitation?”
“Come to my room, and I’ll explain.”
“No rush, we have five more minutes on the cookies,” Harper says.
When we get to my room, I point to the boutique shopping bag on my bed. “This is for you. But let’s take off the stocking cap. It’s not snowing inside.” I wrap my arms around her waist and feel her body vibrating. “It’s pajamas,” I whisper into her ear. “They know all about us, and they promised they wouldn’t tell a soul. I didn’t want you and me to be the only ones without pajamas.”
She pinches the gold and cream shimmering tissue paper from the bag, reaches in, and pulls out her gift. The pants are on top, and she holds them next to mine. Then she pulls out the top. “Cookie,” she says with a smile. They have chocolate chip cookies printed with the nickname I gave her underneath.
“Why do you call me Cookie? I’ve never asked.”
“Because your freckles look like chocolate chips. They’re not red.”
She lifts them to her heart and says, “This may be the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. Thank you.”
“I like you, and I really want to make it past the first-round cuts.”
She looks up to me under her full lashes. “Me too, but it’s not just about how we feel about each other. It’s how you feel and deal with me having a three-year-old. He’s always going to be my priority.”
“Exactly how it should be.” She presses on her toes and gives me a long, closed-lipped kiss. “The bathroom is across the hall, or I can step out while you change.”
“You could help me.” Her words, tinged with a seductive undertone, have a hint of playfulness and desire. As if she were purring, her voice carries a sensuous quality, accompanied by a soft exhale that escapes her lips. It becomes evident that Brooke is challenging the boundaries of our relationship, subtly testing my commitment to keep it within the realm of getting to know each other better.
I peel her out of her jeans and kiss her belly button as I do. Then I pull her sweater over her head, revealing a green tank top. “Do you have these in every color?”
“Almost,” she says as she turns her back, removing the tank. Snatching the top from my hands, she slips it over her bra.
“You’re adorable,” I say as I scan her from head to toe. Her socks are covered in penguins. “I’m giving you fair warning. My roommates take competitiveness on a whole other level.”
