Page 38 of Sticking Around

I frown into the batter. “There’s always a reason.”

“Hey.” He puts his arms around my waist and hugs me. “Can’t a guy just want to do something for no other reason than he wants to? Maybe it makes me happy just to see you happy.”

I sway against his body. “I’m not convinced,” I tell him, a garbled laugh catching in my throat.

“Let me convince you.”

The idea of celebrating does sound kind of fun. “Brady?—”

He growls into my ear as he nips at me. “Leave it with me.”

“I don’t want a party or anything big,” I warn.

“No party, or anything big, got it.” I shake my head and pour the batter into the waffle maker. He moans as the batter begins to bubble. “Dammit, that smells good.”

“Are you talking about me or the waffles?” I tease, realizing he’s changing the subject.

“Maybe both.” He chuckles against my neck just as his phone rings. His mood instantly changes, and he backs up. I steal a quick glance at him as he pulls his phone from his pocket.

“I have to take this.”

I nod, and get to work on finishing our breakfast. His mood is somber when he comes back and I can only guess it was a family member looking for something from him.

“These look delicious,” he says and I don’t press, sensing he doesn’t want to talk about it. I turn the conversation to the apartments for rent, and we talk about that as we eat. Once done, we clear the dishes together, and I begin to clean up all evidence of my presence this weekend. I want the place spotless for Brighton when she gets back.

“I’m all set,” I tell Brady when I’m done cleaning and putting new sheets on the bed.

We start toward the door, but before we reach it, it bursts open. The second little Camryn sees us both standing there, she throws her arms out. “Uncle Brady!” she yells at the top of her lungs and darts to him.

“Indoor voice, Camryn,” Brighton corrects as she rubs her belly.

I grin and still my steps as Noah comes in with the bags. “Hey, you two are back early.” Behind them, Mabel, their big Bernese Mountain dog comes barreling in and she too goes straight for Brady. He does have a way with women. He drops down, setting Camryn on his knee, and pats Mabel like she’s his best friend in the world. It’s so goddamn adorable and sweet, the whipped cream pales in comparison.

“Hey, Mel.” Luggage in hand, Noah walks down the hall and sets the bags by the dryer.

“Hey, Noah.”

“Camryn has a birthday party to go to,” Brighton explains. “She was anxious to get back and get herself all prettied up. I think there’s a boy she likes.”

“Last I heard, she didn’t want anything to do with boys.”

Brighton arches a playful brow, because yeah, I get it. Last she heard, I didn’t want to have anything to do with boys either. As I shake my head at her, she glances at my bags by the door. “You know you don’t have to leave. We have plenty of vacant rooms on the lower level.”

“Staying here for the weekend was just what I needed, and I’m not going to take advantage of your generosity. Besides, Brady found some places online that might be suitable and I’m sure the bang fest back home is over by now.”

She leans in conspiratorially. “Speaking of bang fest.” Brady’s head lifts, and heat colors my cheeks when a grin toys with the corner of his mouth.

“Brighton,” I warn under my breath.

“Oops,” she chuckles when she realizes he heard too. She blinks innocently, which isn’t so innocent at all. “Sometimes I too forget to use my indoor voice.”

Ohmigod, I’m going to kill her.

13

Brady

Seagulls squawk loudly as we step outside. We walk to my car and I hit the fob to let Melanie in as I drop her bags into the back seat. She slides into the passenger seat, and I walk around the car. It would be so much easier for her if she just accepted Brighton’s offer to stay in one of the spare rooms. It’s not in her nature, and there’s a big part of me that admires a woman who doesn’t want to take advantage of others.

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