Page 24 of Bryson's Treasure

“That would be so cool, but don’t feel like you have to watch her for us. It’s been so nice the last few days that we could have a picnic or something outside.”

“It’s not a problem, and I know Noah loves to spend time with her. Maybe Sebastian can meet us at the movies when we’re in town. I don’t like going very long without talking to him.”

Lynn popped another tomato into her mouth. “I love your brother. Make sure to tell him hello from me if he meets you tomorrow.” Regret filled her about how they’d met. “I don’t know if I’ve said it to you before, but I’m sorry for what your brother went through.”

“Everything happens for a reason. If he hadn’t joined the crazy cult and given away all my money, I would never have met Noah.” Matilda paused for a second. “I went through hell for three months, and I wouldn’t go back and change a thing. Life is a long chain of events. If you hadn’t found your husband cheating, you never would’ve joined Faith of the Glorious One, and you never would’ve met Bryson. The best thing you can do is take one day at a time,” Matilda suggested.

“You’re right, I need to stop dwelling on the things I can’t change and focus on what I can do to help others.”

“See, now you’re talking. Life is too short to live in your past. Now, what do you plan to do with Bryson tomorrow besides sex?”

Lynn laughed. “I’m not even sure sex is going to happen. He insists on going slow. Like we haven’t tiptoed around our attraction since we met.”

“I see the way he looks at you.” Matilda chopped the lettuce up quickly and threw it in the bowl. “You put something sexy on, and that man won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”

“I’m not sure what he has planned, but I’m going to make sure it ends with him in my bed or me in his.”

“Did he say if Razor was able to find out who’s after you?”

Lynn felt the tension in her shoulders tightened. “No, she hasn’t found anything. All board members are clean from what she can find, but she’s going to keep looking.”

“They will find the person.”

“Once they find out who’s after me, I can move back to Brighter Days or find a place in town.”

Matilda narrowed her eyes. “This place is big enough for all of us. I don’t expect you to move out. We like having you here.”

“I like being here, but your relationship is still so new. Now you’ve added a few more people to the house.”

“Growing up, it was just Sebastian and me.” Matilda shrugged. “Having Noah’s brother and you near makes me happy. It would be even better if Grayson would come up here and build another house on the land.”

“From the way Bryson talks, it would take a lot for Kara to come live up here again.”

Lynn didn’t blame Kara for not wanting to live on the land. She had too many bad memories of her dad and sad memories of her mom dying.

Bryson, Noah, and Azadeh came into the kitchen and gathered around the dining room table. Lynn loved how, each night, they all ate together. They would talk about what was going on in the small town of Eagle Ridge, and Noah would tell embarrassing stories about Bryson. Then Bryson would get his brother back with embarrassing stories of his own.

Each night, they took turns doing the dishes. Tonight was Noah and Matilda’s turn. While the couple worked on the dishes, Lynn went and watched a cartoon with Azadeh and Bryson. Azadeh loved watching Bugs Bunny. By the time the credits rolled, the little girl could no longer keep her eyes open. Bryson picked sleeping Azadeh up from the couch and carried her to her room.

When Lynn exited the bathroom after brushing her teeth, Bryson was on the other side waiting for her. He smiled down at her before pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in closer. He pulled away too soon. She wanted more.

“Go to sleep, and tomorrow we’ll go on a date.”

Lynn didn’t know how on earth she would fall asleep after he woke her body up with that kiss. Her insides heated just from being in his arms. He stopped outside her bedroom and placed one more gentle kiss on her lips before turning and going into the room across the hall.

She let out a frustrated breath before changing into her T-shirt and shorts. When she climbed into bed, all she could think about was the kiss from the man across the hall. Is he lying in bed thinking about the same thing? She reached up and touched her lips, and they still tingled from his kiss.

Tomorrow would be her first date with Bryson, and she couldn’t wait to find out what they were going to do. She closed her eyes and tried to think about anything other than Bryson or she would never fall asleep.

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