Page 30 of Light My Fire

“I will too,” Jackson says. “Let’s give the girl options.”

“We have to be very clear about our intention,” Wyatt warns. “But no overwhelming her. And whatever she decides, we’re all cool with it.”

“Deal.”

“Deal,” I agree. “Now deal the next hand.”

This game just got more interesting.

CHAPTER 7

Jackson

“Good morning,”I say, giving Brooke a warm smile as I enter the kitchen. I’ve chosen not to get dressed, but am still in my lounge pants with no underwear and a white T-shirt.

My sister told me about the gray sweatpants love some women have. She said it’s the male equivalent of a sundress. It gives a preview for any interested parties.

I want Brooke to be interested. Curious. Flirtatious.

“Good morning,” she says, returning the smile from her stool at the island. Her eyes dart below my waist and her cheeks turn a delightful pink color. She immediately raises her mug to her mouth to hide her expression.

I fight the urge to grin.

“There’s coffee or I can make you some tea,” she says. She’s already put a bra on under her sweatshirt, much to my disappointment.

“I’ll have coffee, thank you, sweetheart.”

Luke is sitting three stools away from her at the island. A glance in his mug as I cruise past shows he’s drinking black coffee. He has a piece of bacon and two eggs on his plate in front of him. “You cooking for everyone?”

“Brooke said she isn’t hungry.”

“I’m hungry.” I head for the coffeemaker.

“There’s the stove.”

I don’t actually expect anyone to cook for me. It’s just entertaining to bait Luke. “Where’s Wyatt?”

“Probably still sleeping.” Luke sips his coffee. He’s fully dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt.

If Luke has been this short with Brooke too, she’s probably dying for Wyatt to get up. Guess it’s up to me to entertain her because Luke certainly isn’t trying. Now that I know how he feels about her, though, I know exactly what his issue is. He’s fighting the urge to push Brooke against the nearest wall and kiss her senseless.

Which makes me wonder how she would react to that.

I sense she wouldn’t object in any way. She keeps darting glances over at him like he intrigues her.

“Do you hear that?” I ask as I press buttons and wait for the coffee maker to do its magic. “What is that?” The sound has just started, but it sounds likesomethingwalking around on the deck. Not a person. More like a creature. I turn and peer toward the sliding door.

If I see a Sasquatch, I’m going to be really damn excited.

The snow has stopped, and the sun is shining, causing a blinding glare off of the snow that is piled a good twelve inches on the deck. I see a blur of fur pacing back and forth rapidly. “Is that a dog?”

Brooke turns. “Oh! That’s the neighbor’s dog, Henley. She likes to pop over and say hi. She’s so smart that she knows a car in the driveway means someone is home.”

She’s already standing up to go to the door.

“What kind of dog is she? A Lab?” I love all dogs, but I have a true fondness for Labs. I follow her to the slider.

Brooke is yanking it open and Henley tumbles in, tossing snow up in the air with her snout on her way through the door. Brooke laughs. “Hey, girl. Hi, how are you?” She scratches her behind her ears and bends down to give the dog a kiss on the head.

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