Page 31 of Inked Devotion

“That’s just what you think,” Brenna sing-songed, and I laughed.

“Hey, you do pretty well with us.”

“You’re right, but I’m pretty sure we may just outnumber you.”

“Now that’s a scary thought,” I said with a laugh. I ignored the way that her family looked at us and glanced at each other.

Brenna and I were good at being friends and decent about having conversations. Just because we had sex once didn’t mean we would do it again, and I wouldn’t be a ‘new Garrett,’ as they called the spouses.

We finished up dinner of the fantastic pasta and I got a quick tour of the house.

Brenna’s mother gestured towards the back patio and garden area that was indeed a jungle. She looked proud of it, so that was all that mattered.

“I need to start baking,” Brenna said as she rolled her shoulders back.

“I’m here to help.”

“You don’t have to,” she said as she wrapped an apron around her waist. Why did that apron look hot? What was wrong with me?

“I want to help.”

“Okay, fine. I’m not doing all the little desserts, as one of my aunts is dealing with that because she likes playing with chocolate, and I’m fine with that. I wouldn’t have time for it. However, usually, I would have baked a cake yesterday, because at this point it’s going to take me a few hours in the morning to get it done, but we will.”

“Brenna, a few hours?”

“I know, but it’s what I do. They want this cake, and it’s not an incredibly hard cake or even a checkerboard or tiered cake. As long as I get these in the oven and they cool quickly, we’ve got it.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Do you know how to knead?”

“Yes, my mom likes to bake bread. You know that.”

“Okay, I’m going to be doing this while you are going to bake bread.”

“What if I fuck up?” I said as I went to wash my hands.

“You’re not going to fuck up because I’m going to be looking over your shoulder and annoying you the entire time.”

“Do I annoy you when I’m helping you with the weeds in your garden?” I mumbled, and she rolled her eyes.

“Of course you do. It’s what we do. But it’s fine. We can handle this. It’s just going to take a few hours.”

I looked at her then, at the way that we brushed up against one another as we stood at the kitchen island, and I swallowed hard.

“A few hours.”

“We can do this. We can handle it.”

And I did not think right then as I nodded at her that either one of us were talking about bread or cakes.

Chapter 8

Benjamin

Iwas up before dawn, mostly because I hadn’t slept the night before. They put me in the guest room on the other side of the hall from Brenna’s room. One of the brothers had mentioned it had been their room before they had moved out, and they glared at me as they had said it. I had a feeling it had more to do with being near their baby sister than taking their old room. Brenna was in her old room, which still had the same twin bed she had slept in for years, but had been updated to fit another twin bed, and to make it look like a guest room versus her childhood room. And for that, I was grateful. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the childhood room of Brenna Garrett. I had problems enough with my complicated feelings towards her without seeing more of her past.

I crept down the stairs, unable to hear anyone else. Maybe I would make myself some coffee or see if I could stick the cinnamon rolls or monkey bread in the oven. I wasn’t the best baker, but Brenna left good instructions.

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