41. Brooke
41
***Brooke***
“ I heard you had a run-in with your ex again today.” Colt’s voice was quiet as he leaned across me to grab a cutting board. His arm brushed my breasts and his lips quirked up at my intake of breath. “Don’t try to distract me.”
I leaned against the counter, my job of rolling out dough for homemade pizzas forgotten. I told him everything, not skimping on the details of Boomer bullying Finn. “He left after that. I’m assuming he got the point, especially since he was letting his mask slip in the end there.”
“I don’t know.” He pinned me to the counter and leaned down to kiss me. “If I see him, I’m going to politely escort him out of town. With a boot to the ass.”
“Just don’t get in trouble. His family is full of monsters. And lawyers.”
“Brooke.” Shaking his head like he was horribly disappointed in me, Colt sighed. “Baby. Do I look like the type to get in trouble? I’m a goddamn saint.”
I wound my arms around his neck. “You’re a lot of things, Colt, but you’re not a saint. Not even a little bit.”
“You like it.” He lowered his mouth to my neck and nipped me. “Great. Here come the clingers.”
I turned my head and glanced back at where Logan and Noah were entering the kitchen. Smaller footsteps followed them and I grinned when I saw Sinclair. “Sin! Hi!”
Colt groaned when I slipped away from him. “Great. Bested by a child.”
“Brooke!” Sinclair ran around her dad and flew into my arms. I was struck once more by how loving she was. It was clear that Kelly and Noah were raising her with so much love and care. “Daddy said I could come and see you and eat pizza. You’ve got white stuff on your face. Are you playing? Can I play, too?”
I laughed and easily picked her up. “I’m rolling out pizza dough. Want to help? Colt was just getting in my way so I could use a serious helper.”
Noah slid his arm around my waist and kissed the side of my head. “I’ll help, too.”
“No! No boys allowed. It’s just me and Brooke.” Sinclair wagged her finger at Noah and clutched me tighter. “It’s girl time, Daddy.”
I stroked the little girl’s head and felt a wave of longing. “She’s right. It’s girl time. You smelly boys go and get washed up for dinner.”
She giggled. “Smelly boys.”
Logan kissed the back of my neck and patted my hip. “You’re both lucky you’re so cute.”
Sinclair and I made four different pizzas while the guys stayed away. She was talkative and told me all about her day while we worked. Just before the last pizza was finished, she looked up at me with a wide smile. “We should have a dinner party!”
I pretended to think about it while tapping my chin. “Hmmm. Do you have a pretty dress to wear? You can’t go to a dinner party in just any old clothes.”
She nodded eagerly. “I have a dress here!”
“Should we make invitations?” I found a few loose sheets of paper and a pen. “Every dinner party needs invitations. What should they say?”
“Come to our party, dummies!”
“Okay, it needs a little work. Let’s see what we can come up with.” We workshopped a few different ideas and finally settled on a simple invite. I pulled out plates and glasses while she ran around to deliver them. Then she sprinted back to help me set the table.
“We have to get dressed!” She pushed me towards the stairs. “Go, go!”
Noah was coming out of his room as we got to the top of the stairs. The way he looked at me made my breath catch in my throat. He swept me into his arms and bent me backwards as he kissed me. Sinclair’s cheering drew him away before either of us were ready. He winked at me as he let me go. Then he swept Sinclair up in a similar way and rained kisses down on her nose and cheeks.
“Daddy! We have to get dressed for dinner!” She squealed. “You can’t wear that !”
“You really can’t.” I winked and slipped away. “Time for this pumpkin to turn into a better dressed pumpkin!”
I found one of the dresses I’d taken from Aunt Karlene and told myself I’d be more patient with the woman when I saw my reflection. She had great taste. The cream-colored dress clung to my curves with fringe that hung down the sides. I felt like Dolly Parton and I didn’t hate it. The dress stopped at my thighs and I didn’t have heels to match so I just went barefoot. I twisted my hair into a knot at the back of my head and swiped on some mascara before declaring myself dinner party ready.
Back downstairs I stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and watched as Noah danced with Sinclair. He was wearing a full suit and she wore a beautiful pink princess dress. Colt and Logan stood against the kitchen counter, smiling until it was their turn to spin Sinclair around. My heart felt too big for my chest as I watched. Three great men and they were all mine.
Colt spotted me first and his gaze heated. “Come here, Brooke.”
I let him tug me close and sway back and forth, despite there being no music. He was in a nice black shirt and black pants, as dressy as he got. “You look handsome.”
He raked his gaze over my chest and licked his lips. “You look edible.”
Noah cleared his throat. “Keep it PG, asshole.”
“Daddy! You said ass-”
He slipped his hand over Sinclair’s mouth. “Oops. Let’s just move this dinner party right along.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off of them as we settled at the table and ate the pizza. Logan was next to me and he slipped his hand over my thigh after his first slice of pizza and left it there. Sinclair told us about how she was going to throw a dinner party so big that she’d need six whole tables to seat everyone. As she described where we’d each sit, I was struck with a strange sense of loss.
Sitting there with a child between the four of us, it was hard not to think about what could’ve been. The life that could’ve been played just at the back of my mind. It felt so right, sitting there and having dinner like a family. I wondered what it’d be like if there were more children there. I wanted it. I wanted everything.