Page 162 of Foreplay on Words

This must be her middle brother, Drew, based on the matching wedding band of the handsome guy he was with. His husband had dark features and chocolatey brown eyes, his hair a rich shade of brown.

“Are you two gonna gossip all day, or do we get to meet your man?” Drew asked impatiently. “We rode six hours in a minivan to see you.”

“Where’s my baby?” Chase asked excitedly.

The darker-haired man, who I assumed was Miguel, put his hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow at Chase. “You better be talking about me.”

“Oh, you are too, but I was talking about the smaller ginger-haired one who has all of you wrapped around her finger,” she laughed.

“She’s back at the hotel with Elle and Ethan. We stole their ride to come surprise you,” Chase’s brother explained, and I saw her mouth form a little pout.

“Surprise!” Miguel cheered and held out his arms. “Now give me a hug.”

Chase stepped away from me and opened her arms, drawing her brother and Miguel into a three-way hug.

Miguel kissed her on the cheek and then leaned back to say something. “You too, lover boy. Get in here.”

Chase held out her hand toward me, and I grasped it. “Evan, this is my brother Drew and his husband, Miguel.”

“I...uh, I’m glad––it’s nice to meet you.” I fought the urge to facepalm. Apparently, I’d forgotten how to speak.

“Oh, the pleasure is all ours. Chase has finally met her match,” Drew laughed.

“I don’t know about that,” I told him quietly. I wasn’t sure I’d ever been her match, but I was in this as long as she wanted me.

“We do. She won’t tell us any gossip. That means she must like you,” Miguel grinned as he shook Chase a little in his arms.

“And I’m not going to.” She stuck her tongue out at them and put her arm around my waist.

“Put that away, girl. I don’t need to know what freaky stuff you get up to with your little writing partner,” Miguel laughed as he made a disgusted face.

“Oh, he’s not little,” she winked, and Miguel’s eyes widened.

“Really don’t need to know that,” Drew laughed and cringed as he looked at me. “You’re nice to look at, but I don’t need details about who Chase plays hide the sausage with.”

“Are you two ready to get started?” Dottie interrupted our little reunion as she peeked her head around the corner.

“Of course. Sorry for holding you up.” I smiled at her and looked over to Chase, who nodded. Dottie headed back toward the front, and Miguel started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Drew asked his husband.

“Better watch out for the cougars, Chase. They’re eyeing your man,” he laughed.

“Speaking of cougars,” Chase giggled.

“Don’t remind me,” I groaned. My mother’s friends were still roaming free in the bookstore.

“We’ll wander around. Go do your thing,” Miguel insisted.

“You ready?” Chase asked as she turned to face me. I felt like she always asked me that, and my answer was always the same.

“No.”

“Well, too bad. This is the only thing keeping me from squishing some cute ginger baby cheeks, so let’s go,” she told me, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the front of the shop.

“You better listen to her, or she’s gonna start asking for her own ginger babies,” Miguel laughed. And I wanted to give them to her one day, but I needed to get her to agree to marry me first.

“Don’t scare the guy,” Drew laughed as he pulled Miguel into his side.

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