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She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she revealed the surprise. A couple of days ago she'd been helping her mom go through some boxes in the attic. Among them was a box of her stuff her mom had packed up after she'd left for college.
Including her high school cheerleading uniform. Which, thanks to the wonders of the divorce diet, still fit.
"Hey Colleen, it's good to see you." She was distracted from her daydreaming by a familiar male voice and looked up to see Cort standing in front of her, a pretty brunette next to him.
He leaned across the bar to give her a quick hug. "This is my wife, Justine," he said, indicating the brunette who stuck out her hand and gave Colleen's a firm shake.
Like his brother, Cort was tall and broad shouldered with a thick head of brown hair. But unlike JT, he hadn't improved physically since she'd seen him last. It could’ve been the long hours in the office, or the slow slide towards forty—Cort was thirty-six—but his once-flat stomach now pushed out against the front of his button-down shirt, and the once-chiseled lines of his face had gotten a little puffy.
Also unlike JT, he had an air about him, the kind of confidence that crossed the line into arrogance. A certain smugness to his smile that always set her teeth on edge.
Objectively speaking, he was still a good-looking guy. Just not if you were comparing him side by side to his younger brother.
"I was real sorry to hear about your dad," he said somberly. "He was a great guy."
"Thanks. And Mom appreciated the flowers and the note you all sent."
"I was surprised to hear you were working out here. Nursing not working out for you?"
She smiled even as her chest tightened at the reminder of why she had dusted off her bartending skills. Even though she'd spent most of the past week and a half in a dizzy fog that could only be brought about by a beautiful man giving you multiple orgasms, her financial situation hung over her, weighing her down like a wet wool blanket.
"I'm working part time over at the hospital," she replied. "But Dad's treatment wasn't cheap, so any extra money we can get helps."
And, of course, there's the perk of having an excuse to be near your brother several days a week.
"That's unfortunate," Justine said. "You know medical costs are the number one reason people declare bankruptcy in the U.S."
"Fortunately, we're not at that point." Yet. "What can I get you?" she asked, ready to get off the topic.
"Dewars and soda for me. How about you, honey?" he turned to his wife. "Chardonnay?"
Justine nodded and Colleen quickly served them their drinks.
"She taking good care of you?" JT came up behind his brother, the hands of a brown haired little girl and a brown haired little boy tucked into his own.
Cort took a sip of his drink and paused. "A little light on the Scotch but it'll do." He gave Colleen a wink.
"These must be your kids," she said.
"Yes," Justine piped up. "Anabelle is six, and Jordie is four." She smiled—an undeniably proud mother. "Anabelle, Jordie, this is Miss Colleen."
Colleen's heart melted as they both slipped their chubby hands out of their uncle's and held them out to her. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Colleen," they said in unison as she shook each of their hands in turn.
"Pleased to meet you too," she said. "Impressive manners."
"Only because they don't get to spend nearly enough time with their crazy uncle," JT said, waggling his eyebrows to make the kids giggle. "Now tell Miss Colleen what you'd like."
Anabelle went first. "May I please have a Shirley Temple?"
"Of course. How about you, Jordie?"
"Can I please have a lemonade with a cherry in it?"
"Coming right up." As she searched for the grenadine and maraschino cherries, she overheard JT's conversation with his niece and nephew about all the things they were going to do while they were here.
"Can we go on a picnic ride like we did last year?" Anabelle asked.
"Absolutely."
