Page 44 of Just One More Temptation

Fallon felt the cool icy drink on her upper lip and caught the remainder with her tongue before replying. “That would be a no.”

“Trouble in paradise?” Brooke asked.

“No, if anything things are too good and Noah said something today that has me wanting to pull away.”

Brooke slid a finger over the top rim of her glass. “What could Mr. Perfect say to upset you so much? I can see it in your sad eyes.” She braced her arms on the table, leaning close.

With a sigh, Fallon admitted the painful truth. “He doesn’t want more kids and… I think that’s a deal-breaker for me.”

“He said that? In those words?”

She shook her head. “He said when he found out Charlie, the girls’ mom, was having twins he freaked out but he knows now that starting and ending with two really was the easy way. He implied it.”

“Imply doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. Maybe you should talk to him?” Reaching out, Brooke put her hand over Fallon’s. “I can see how hard you’ve fallen for him. You can’t just walk away without a discussion. Even if it’s about the hard things.” She patted Fallon’s hand and pulled hers back, taking another sip of her drink.

The thought of having that talk had Fallon freezing. “We haven’t even had a relationship discussion. I’m not going to freak him out by mentioning kids so early!”

“The way I see things, you can stick it out and wait for the conversation to happen naturally or bring it up. What you shouldn’t do is pull back because you’re panicking.”

She bit down on her lip. “I’ll think about it,” Fallon promised. But she honestly wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.

Get in deeper and be hurt more once she confirmed the truth? Or bring up the baby discussion at this stage of their relationship and send Noah running anyway?

Either way, in the end there were two choices. End things with Noah and walk away from the best man she’d ever known, or give up on her personal dreams to accommodate his already set life. Her stomach hurt at the thought of either resolution.

“Fallon? Is that you?” She glanced up as Noah’s brother, Liam, strode over to the table.

“Liam, hi!” She rose from her seat and accepted his hug. “It’s good to see you. What are you doing in my neck of the woods?”

“I came with some friends.” He tipped his head toward the bar. “But I have time for my brother’s girl. Who’s your friend?” he asked, his gaze on Brooke.

“Liam Powers, meet Brooklyn Snyder. Brooke, this is Noah’s brother, Liam.” She gestured between the two.

Eyes on Brooke, Liam lifted her hand and kissed the top. “A pleasure, Brooklyn.”

Her friend’s cheeks flushed red.

“Liam, you don’t have to lay on the flirting so thick the second you meet her!”

“But she’s beautiful.”

Fallon rolled her eyes and Brooke laughed. “Oh, he’s a charmer.”

“See? She likes me. Mind if I join you ladies for a few minutes,” he said, rather than asked, and slid into the booth beside Fallon.

He gestured to the waiter and when the man stepped over, Liam ordered. “I’ll have Macallan on the rocks. Refills?” he asked them.

“No, I’m still good,” Brooke said.

“Same.”

“So, Brooklyn, what do you do with your free time?”

“Oh my God!” Fallon threw up her hands, giving up on the flirt. Brooke could handle herself just fine.

Brooke laughed out loud. “I work at a financial firm and I don’t have all that much time to spare,” she lied. Brooke put in long hours at Fallon’s dad’s company but she was a valued employee who’d proven her worth. She could take time for herself. If she wanted to.

“I like you,” Brooke said, still grinning. “But the truth is, I’m seeing someone.”

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