Page 49 of Inevitable

“I like the sound of that,” Erin replied. “I never had much of a chance to get up to anything because there were too many eyes on me. I hope at some point to have a chance at some misbehaving and shenanigans.”

“When you’re ready, let me know. I’ve got about a dozen pranks that are sure-fire winners,” Lilly replied. “I haven’t done anything since college since I use all of my ideas for my books. But, I can be pulled out of retirement whenever you’re ready.” Tilting her head, she grinned. “My big sister, Loren, is an attorney, so we’ve got a sure-fire way to get out of jail.”

“Always important,” Claire commented.

“Sure is,” Lilly responded. “I have a good man I like to spend my time with, so spending a night in the pokey doesn’t sound real appealing.”

“Me, too,” Erin replied. “I just hope he feels the same way when I come through town again.”

“I bet he will,” Claire replied. As far as she could tell, men like Brady, Hunter, and Brock didn’t change their feelings once they caught them.

***

Brady studied his baby brother and tried to figure out what was different about him. It seemed some of his natural swagger was missing and he wondered where it had gone. “Where you been, Brody? I’ve hardly seen you this summer.”

“I’ve been working on a house over on Doyle and it’s about got me consumed. A woman inherited her grandmother’s house and we’re fixing it up.”

“Why do I feel there is more to this story?” Brock asked. “You have two crews that could be out there, so maybe it’s the woman that’s keepin’ you busy and not the house.”

Brody crossed his arms and huffed out a breath. “Brock, just ’cause you’re in love doesn’t mean the rest of the world is.”

“Didn’t say that. But you’re the one who used the word love, not me,” Brock replied as he tipped his head toward Brady. “Feel free to use us as an example of what happiness looks like. I’m about to ask Lilly to marry me and I have a feeling that Brady is going to do the same thing with Claire before too long.”

Hunter snorted and then crossed his arms. “There’s asking and then there’s accepting. Just ’cause you ask, doesn’t mean those wily women will agree. Even if they want to and know it’s a good idea.” He looked up at the house and shook his head. “Stubborn, mind-boggling creatures.”

Brady slapped his buddy on the shoulder. “I know that little speech you just gave has everything to do with a certain actress and not Lilly and Claire. Anything you want to share with the class?”

Hunter looked back at the men and shrugged. “Seems I’ve got myself tangled up with someone who is more irascible than me and it’s going to take me a while to figure how to get her mind right.”

Brody grabbed a beer out of the bucket, flipped the top off, and took a long drink. “I came over here to catch up with my brothers, not listen to a bunch of guys whine about their love lives. Our team had a fine opening game yesterday. Can’t we talk about that instead?”

Brady looked at Brock and shrugged. “Seems Brody is next and doesn’t know it.”

“Seems so,” Brock replied.

Brady heard the women and turned to see them all walk out to the patio. Claire’s smile made him realize that he was about done with the visiting and ready to go home. He had an idea or two that he wanted to get her interested in and the sooner he could get started the better. “We may head out early,” Brady said to the gathered group.

“Can’t leave before we eat supper. Lilly has a big pot of gumbo going and she expects everyone to stay,” Brock said.

As Claire approached, Brady held his hand out and waited for her to take it. “We’re staying to eat.”

“I know, honey. Lilly told me that when we spoke this morning. I told you before we left.”

“Guess I missed it.” He pulled her against his side and kissed her head. Seemed his plans were going to have to wait a bit longer. Which, by any measure, was going to be torture. He was hungry for his woman and he didn’t feel much like waiting. Yesterday had been amazing and he had a lot more to show her. Leaning over, he spoke quietly into her ear. “Let’s eat fast and get home as soon as we can.”

“You behave,” she whispered back.

“I bet you change your tune about me behaving after I get your clothes off.” He felt her elbow in his side and looked down to see her fighting a smile. She might act like she wasn’t interested, but he knew that she was. When she had agreed not to move out, he’d vowed to make sure he gave her every reason to stay. And he hoped what happened between them in the bedroom would be one of the many reasons she never wanted to be too far away. Come to think of it, they hadn’t confined their activities to just the bedroom. There had been a particularly satisfying encounter in the laundry room this morning that had left them both breathless and satisfied.

Seemed that seeing him do their laundry was exciting for Claire, and she had expressed her excitement in a way that pretty much ensured he would be doing the laundry from here on out. What the woman did with her mouth while he sorted was as close to heaven as he’d ever been. Which was not anything he should have been thinking about when he stood around with a bunch of people.

Taking a slug of his beer, he tried to concentrate on the conversation, which apparently was about where Erin was going to be filming in Morocco. He pulled Claire’s hand up and pressed a kiss against her knuckles. When he felt her shiver, he tried to keep his desire in check. Because the chances of running them both out of there were lousy.

The beast had been unleashed and Brady wasn’t real sure how long it would take to get himself under control. He’d fallen for the woman standing next to him and was about consumed with every little piece of her. The way she spoke, the way she laughed, and God damn…just the way she existed. Right now, for example, the sun was bouncing off her beautiful, shiny hair, making him want to run his hands through it and hold tight. Something sharp dug into his side, and he glanced down and saw Claire give him a look. “What?”

“Brody just asked you a question.”

Running his hand through his hair, he grinned at the group. “Sorry about that. I was lost in thought.” The group erupted in laughter and he joined them. What other choice did he have? He’d been caught daydreaming about the girl who’d stolen his heart. Embarrassing, definitely. Avoidable…absolutely not.

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