Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Leif
I stared at Brooke, wondering if I was seeing things. I remembered that long reddish-brown hair of hers. Those hazel eyes had always captured me. She was a little below average in height. That was always a fun play against my six-foot-four frame. She was also all curves in the right places and had only grown sexier in the time we’d been apart.
Was she truly here? This blast from the past?
I let out another breath and helped move the last box into the house, doing my best to keep my eyes off the woman that had haunted my dreams for far too long.
She held the clipboard, a pen in her hair, another in her hands, a third pen attached to the cleavage on her top.
I was doing my best not to think about that particular one.
She was organized, meticulous, and had been the fantasy of my dreams for too long.
“You’re staring.”
I looked over at my cousin and shook my head. “I’m just in awe over here. It’s spooky. I don’t understand.”
Lake snorted at my attempt to not sound like I’d been drooling in my own memories. “I’m the one who has questions, Leif. Not you.”
“I suppose that’s all right. Is she seriously your neighbor now?” I kept my voice low since Brooke was walking in, still staring at the clipboard, and I didn’t want her to think I was talking about her.
Even though, of course ,I was talking about her.
The woman I’d shared a hot and steamy couple of weeks in Paris with was now living next to my cousin. The cousin who happened to be one of my best friends.
In all the places, in all the world, she had to show up here.
After all these years, after so many unending questions because I didn’t have her anymore.
She had just shown up.
I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind and looked down at the kid who was staring up at me. I could feel his gaze boring into my side, so I tried not to act like a growly asshole.
“Hey, Luke, is it?” I asked
“That’s me. Luke. Why are you so big? And why do you have something on your face?”
I held back a laugh. “I’m big because I’m a grown-up and most of the guys in my family are all this tall. I have a beard. My dad has an even bigger beard.”
I knelt in front of him, my shoulders aching from the unexpected moving day. I’d spent the entire morning working on a client’s back, bent over to get the perfect angle, so my client was comfortable. It meant that I was the one with back pain at the end of the day. One of my friends wore corsets these days to help with his stature, and I thought maybe I should try. Maybe I would force Nick to do it with me, so I wasn’t alone.
I was sure my dad had even done it once before, but my dad’s torso was so long that he would probably have had it custom-made.
Either way, though, I was tired and a little out of my element.
I knew kids, and one day I wanted kids of my own. I was the oldest cousin by more than a few years. Hell, I had been a grown adult when my parents adopted my two younger siblings. I had been packing for my college visit when the call came through that my parents would be parents again.
I knew how to act around kids. And although none of my generation had started the next generation yet, I knew we would soon. I helped raise my siblings and cousins, and had been their designated babysitter for years. Hell, I still was sometimes.
And yet, why did I feel so awkward around this boy?
He was cute for sure. He looked just like his mom, with dark red hair and light eyes.
A mom that I hadn’t seen in years. Due to the timing, I knew this kid wasn’t mine, so it wasn’t like a secret baby situation, but I had still done the math just in case. It had been a shock to see Brooke standing there, her eyes wide, looking glorious and gorgeous as ever.
And here I was, kneeling in front of her son, wondering who the hell his father was and why it looked like she was here alone.
Not that I was going to do anything about it.
I couldn’t do anything about it.
I was going on a dating moratorium, at least that’s what I told myself. The date with May had been okay, but the lack of sparks had killed my desire to try to date again.
Especially with a woman that clearly hadn’t wanted me before, no matter how hot our time together had been in Paris.
And she had enough baggage that she wasn’t going to be looking at me and wanting more. I wasn’t even sure why I was thinking about it.
I was just the big, bearded, tattoo artist, art-school dropout in other people’s eyes. It didn’t matter that the word artist was in the name. Most people didn’t think of me as such.
I was fine with that. My friends and family were, too. But many of the women I had dated hadn’t been.
I didn’t even know what Brooke would think, but that wouldn’t matter.
I was just the stranger with the beard that this kid looked curious about.
As if he had never seen a roughneck like me.
“Can I feel your beard?” Luke asked, and I shrugged.
“I guess it’s okay. If it’s okay with your mom.” I looked up as Brooke looked down at us, something in her eyes I couldn’t quite read.
She smiled and slid her hand over her son’s head. “Of course, you can. If it’s okay with Mr. Montgomery.”
I raised a brow, wondering if I liked being called Mr. Montgomery out of a mouth that had once been wrapped around my cock. Maybe I did.
“There’s a lot of Montgomerys around here, Brooke. Maybe he should call me Leif.”
She cringed and I wondered what that was about.
“I guess you’re right. Although, it’s kind of odd if there are so many Montgomerys, I run into you here.”
There was a deafening silence, and she cleared her throat while I just stared at her, wanting answers, wanting more. Knowing I couldn’t have it. Again.
“Sure, Luke, honey. You can feel his beard. Just be gentle, please, and don’t pull.”
That reminded me of the time she had pulled because she had been tugging me closer to her pussy.
That was enough of that.
“Okay.” Luke patted my beard and smiled. I lowered my head slightly, so he didn’t have to reach as much. “It’s soft.
“I use beard oil. It’s always good to have good beard care.” I winked at him, and he giggled.
“Will I have a beard?” Luke asked, his eyes wide and curious.
“When you’re older, sure. I don’t see why not.” I looked up at Brooke again, ignoring the tightening in my gut. “What do you think? Will the kid look good with the beard?”
Brooke looked at me, blinked, and smiled. “I think you would look quite dashing with a beard, Luke. But you still have a few years to go. Remember, you are not supposed to grow up too quickly. You need to give Mommy some time to get accustomed.”
“What’s acc-ustomed-ed?” Luke asked, sounding out the word.
“Accustomed. Getting used to it. So you have to give your mom time before you grow up and get a huge beard.” I roughed up his hair slightly and he grinned at me, smiling his mom’s smile.
“I can wait. I think it will be a while until I am as big as you. But Mom’s not big. Maybe I’ll be like her.”
“I think your mom is just the right size,” I said without thinking. When I clamped my mouth shut, I stood up, stretching my back. “So, what do you think? Does everything look good? Did you empty the truck?” I asked, trying not to act as if this was awkward.
Brooke let out a soft breath. “Yes. Thank you. You honestly did not have to do all of this. I am forever grateful.”
“We are always here to help,” Lake put in. She had been mysteriously silent for the entire conversation, and I knew she would have questions. Of course, the other woman would have questions. If I weren’t careful, she would bring those questions to the rest of the family, and then they would be a cacophony of Montgomery intrusiveness.
I loved my family. I honestly did. I loved how we were always there for each other. Only sometimes, it was almost a little bit too much. Because yes, we could keep secrets, of course we could keep secrets, yet we all wanted to help one another so much sometimes that it felt almost overwhelming.
Sometimes, despite myself, I had to remind my own mind that I was a Montgomery as well. Even after over twenty years of being immersed in this family, growing up with it and remembering that I hadn’t been born into it. Maybe by blood, but not by situation.
“Seriously though, you guys have no idea how much it helped.” Brooke put her hand around Luke’s shoulders as the kid leaned into his mom.
It was so strange to see Brooke as a mom. She was good at it from what I could tell in the little amount of time I’d seen her at it. She had kept one eye on what she was doing, one eye on making sure that Lake and I and the movers knew where to put things, and a random third eye that must only exist for parents on her kid the whole time. Luke had been safe and secure and had snacks when he needed them.
She was a wizard, just like my mom was.
It was still just so odd to see Brooke in that situation.
“You’re Lake’s new neighbor. We were not going to let you do it by yourself.” I nearly growled the words, and I ignored the pointed look from my cousin.
Brooke just blinked at me and shrugged. “With the timing, we ran late, and the movers were early, so I’m glad it all worked out. I would’ve been able to do it myself, as I did when I moved to California, but I am truly grateful. And now my house is full of boxes, and I only know for sure where my son’s sheets are for his bed, but that’s about it. I would offer to cook you dinner or something to say thank you, but I don’t think that will happen since I don’t know where my pans are. Maybe another time.”
She was looking at Lake as she spoke, not looking at me at all. I had to wonder if that was on purpose. I had seen anger and surprise in her gaze when I had pulled up, but why would there be anger on her part?
She was the one who had left. Yes, because her trip had been over, but she hadn’t shown up when we planned to meet.
She had decided no.
So it wasn’t my fault.
But laying blame wasn’t going to help this current predicament.
My cousin smiled. “Oh, you’re not going to cook for us. That casserole that I brought over is for you tomorrow. That way, you don’t have to cook tomorrow, either. However, I have something in the crockpot over at my house that I have been watching with the camera I have on in my kitchen, so you guys will come over and eat.” Lake nodded quickly as if she were ordering soldiers and she was the general.
Brooke blinked as she stared at Lake. “You seriously don’t need to do that. I just met you. You’re kind, I swear. But we can order in, or indeed have that casserole.”
“Think nothing of it. Let me make you a home-cooked meal and thank you for letting me help organize. You have no idea how much that helps me.” My cousin winked, then stared at me as if willing me to say something.
I shrugged. “She’s not lying. If she could organize the world, she would. I think she gets it from my aunt.”
“Your aunt, as in her mom?” Brooke asked, looking between the two of us.
Lake and I looked at each other and laughed. “No, technically, Lake is the daughter of my father’s cousin.”
“I have no idea what that means,” Brooke said, her voice dry. “So, you guys are like, second cousins, or first cousins once removed?”
“These are questions we do not ask,” Lake said solemnly, though her eyes danced.
“Exactly. All of us in this generation are just cousins. Getting too technical hurts our heads, and we were raised practically as siblings, so it doesn’t matter. But my aunt, and hers, since that’s what we call her, is into planners and organizing. Lake is just like her. And is, indeed, taking over the world with her business.”
“What do you do?” Luke asked, dancing on his toes.
“You see? These are things we should discuss over dinner. You can relax. And then you can sleep in your own home and get on with the rest of your lives, knowing that you have a busybody neighbor next door who is always willing to help.” Lake beamed, and I just laughed, knowing that there was no way that Brooke and Luke were getting out of this.
Lake wanted to help, and frankly, I figured she wanted a friend. And I wanted answers.
“Plus, you know, we’re not technically strangers. And I’m not just talking about all of the sweat and tears thrown out today. It seems you know my cousin.” Lake winked at Brooke, and I cursed under my breath, trying not to be too loud since Luke was standing right next to me.
Brooke pressed her lips together while pointedly not looking at me. “Oh. Well, that was a long time ago.”
“What was a long time ago, Mommy?” Luke asked, his voice curious.
There was nothing but curiosity in how Lake was looking at me as if she needed answers, and Brooke was glaring daggers at the both of us.
“Dinner sounds lovely. I guess it would be nice to catch up,” Brooke said, her voice clipped.
What had I done all those years ago? Did she hate me? I sure as hell hoped not. I wasn’t sure what else I was supposed to do. And fuck yes, I was going to catch up on something we should’ve done nearly ten years ago.
We left Brooke and Luke to make up their sleeping bags and have some alone time as I followed Lake over to her house.
Her place smelled like pulled pork and I groaned.
“Did you make the brioche rolls?” I asked, my mouth watering.
“Of course, I did. And coleslaw and baked beans. I should make a salad or something. Don’t kids need vegetables?”
I just shook my head. “I think coleslaw is a vegetable.”
“It’s covered in sauce. I don’t think that counts. You would think I would know that since we have so many kids in the family.”
“This feels new, doesn’t it?” I asked, feeling odd. I leaned against the counter, wondering if I should have a beer. Should I drink in front of the kid? It just reminded me that I didn’t know this Brooke. I knew the eighteen-year-old Brooke, back in the day when we had been kids. Both of us had learned that wine was delicious and available in Paris.
We weren’t those kids anymore, and now she was a mom, seemingly living out here on her own, and I felt like I was running in place.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean, Leif. You guys knew each other. From when?”
“From a long time ago, Lake.”
She cleared her throat and bit her lip. “Luke isn’t yours, is he?”
I blinked at her before I scoffed. “You know exactly how I came into this family, Lake. How my birth mom hid me from my dad, and I showed up when Mom was gone, and I had no one else. Dad didn’t even know I existed. He didn’t ignore me, didn’t push me away, didn’t abandon me. I lost time with him because I didn’t know who he was. Do you think I would do that to another kid? Do you think I would act the way that I did just then, trying to be as casual as fuck when it comes to her, if I thought for a second that was my kid? Jesus Christ, Lake. You know me better than that.”
Lake blushed. “I’m sorry. It was just the first thing that popped into my mind when a single mom shows up at the house, and you guys look like you know each other. That was wrong of me. I didn’t think that all the way through.” Lake moved forward, hugged me tight. “I’m sorry.”
She stepped away and went to get a bottle of wine out of the fridge, as well as the sparkling juice.
“It’s okay. I did the math myself. It’s been over ten years, though. Luke isn’t mine.”
“Wait, that means you knew her in what, Paris? Oh my God. The Paris girl?” Her voice got high-pitched and I saw hope in her eyes.
“Yes, it’s the Paris girl. That also means she’s the girl who never showed up when she was supposed to. The girl that chose another life over wanting anything more with me. That’s that Brooke. But don’t worry, things won’t be weird.”
“Well, that’s a lie.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, even though I knew what she meant.
“Because things are already weird. You should talk to her.”
I took the glass of wine she handed me and shook my head. “Yes, I’m totally going to ask her why she didn’t show up when she was supposed to. Why we never made a go of things, especially when she’s exhausted after moving and possibly driving for who knows how many days to get here? I don’t even know the whole story because I don’t know her. But yes, I should totally ask these questions when she’s in front of her kid and my cousin. Makes total sense.”
Lake blinked slowly. “You know, I feel like you’re getting more sarcastic in your old age.”
“I’m not old. Watch your tone,” I teased.
“Is that a gray hair in your beard? I bet you that’s why the kid was so in awe of it. Because it’s gray.”
I scowled then froze as the doorbell rang.
“There they are. Are you ready for this?” she asked.
“I’m going to go with no. Let’s do it.”
Lake gave me a weird look and set her glass down. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Leif. You’re my best friend.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “It’s just a girl from the past. A girl, from the looks of it, who needs help. She said she was a single mom? Maybe she doesn’t have a support system. Especially if we are the only ones that showed up to help her today, we can be her friends. I’ll get over whatever the hell’s going on in my mind. I promise. I always do.”
“Maybe that’s the problem, Leif. You’re good at getting over it. I’m quite sure you know what that means.”
My cousin kissed me on the cheek and then went to answer the door, Luke’s laughter filling the house faster than anything I thought possible.
And I stood there, wondering if I was making a mistake. If I should just go.
But as I looked at Brooke and her wide eyes, I knew I couldn’t go.
I couldn’t before. I wasn’t going to do it now.