Page 75 of My Ex's Brothers

Behind my cardboard, I blush.Seriously, Amelia, what is wrong with you? Thirsty much?

Lyla makes a sound, and for a moment, I think she’s going to start wailing and wake up.

But before I can even get my menu down, Dane’s dragging the stroller closer, rocking it back and forth until she quiets.

My insides twist and I can’t help but feel the heat blossom between my legs.

Watching him with her is…

Hot.

I know it shouldn’t be, but damn it to hell if watching Dane with my baby doesn’t give me a shot of baby fever.

“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asks, pulling me from my most inappropriate thoughts.

“I’ll have the Duck L’Orange, of course,” Dane says with a smile, and I notice the way the waitress smiles back at him.

“Of course, Mr. Rose,” she giggles, and immediately I’m taken back to Florida.

Every time Dex and I did leave the house, I had to deal with the women. Flirting, snapping selfies, touching him. He never brushed them off, just soaked up the attention and pretended it was such a travesty, a sacrifice he had to make to give us the life we had become accustomed too.

But now I know otherwise. I wonder what hiswifewould say. I wonder if they go out and she has to endure the “sacrifice” so she can continue the life she’s accustomed to too.

I tense as the waitress looks at me. “I’ll just have the chicken salad croissant and the niçoise salad. Thanks.”

I offer her the menu just as Dane says, “Oh, and could you bring my lovely date one of those chocolate crepes? The ones with the caramelized strawberries? And another refill for her coffee, please. Thanks.” He smiles genuinely and I can’t help the small smile that graces my lips when I see the waitress frown momentarily.

“Of course, Mr. Rose,” she says, hurrying away.

I try to stifle the smile, because I should not feel so, so…

“You should come to practice with me, tonight,” he says, sipping his coffee.

“I beg your pardon?” I say, reaching for the bread and butter.

“Practice. You, with me. Tonight.” He leans back in his chair.

“I don’t know if I can get a sitter on that short of a notice, Dane.”

“My parents can watch Lyla if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I sigh, wanting to argue, but he said they’d be fine with it.

“If you want me to call them when we get back to the car, I will, but I guarantee you they’ll be fine. I’m sure they’d love to get some of these sweet baby snuggles,” he says as he continues to rock her stroller.

Part of me wants to protest, but the larger part of me is enticed by the idea of a night out. Alone. With…Dane.

And Richie. He’ll likely be there too.

I stop for a moment, wondering what he would say if I showed up to practice with Dane. He seemed irritated this morning with Dane offering to take me shopping. Or maybe he was irritated with Tripp because we were making out in the kitchen.

This is all so complicated and I have no idea what I’m doing or how to navigate any of it.

But I think of Dane’s words.Just do what feels right.

So I nod as the waitress brings our plates.

“Okay,” I say, and I don’t miss the grin on his face. “But we are definitely calling your parents. I want to hear them agree to this, and if they don’t?—”

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