Page 137 of Tempting Promises
We walk into the kitchen to find Addison is cooking, Phoebe is making something at the island, and Asher is holding Sienna.
Before I can look for Olivia, the wind is knocked out of me as she barrels into me, giving me a bear hug.
Charlotte giggles and I extricate myself from her. Signing and speaking at the same time. “You almost crushed the family jewels, kid.”
Her eyes narrow.“Family jewels?”
Asher sighs dramatically. “Great, now you’re going to have to explain your balls to my kid.”
I smile at her.“Ask your dad about it, he’ll tell you. Olivia, you remember Charlotte?”
Charlotte waves.
Olivia looks at Charlotte, then me, and lifts her hands.“Please translate.”
“Sure, I’ll translate.”
Her eyes narrow.“Correctly.”
“Of course.”I sign and then clear my throat.
Olivia moves her hands, and I actually do say what she’s saying.“I’m so glad you’re here, and thank you for seeing that Uncle Rowan isn’t always stupid.”
Everyone in the kitchen laughs, and I tap my niece’s nose.“Hey now.”
“I said always.”
That she did.“What else do you want to say?”
Again I repeat what she signs.“I hope you’ll come fishing with us. We have a lot of fun.”
Charlotte smiles wide. “I love fishing.”
Olivia looks to Phoebe and signs.“See, girlslike fishing too.”
Phoebe signs back.“Not this girl.”
Asher looks up at his fiancée. “One day, love. One day, you’ll come over to the dark side.”
“Not likely.”
Elodie and Jett run in, grabbing Olivia’s hands and pulling her into the living room. Grady enters, mumbling something about kids and calling the doctor to inquire about a vasectomy.
His fiancée scoffs and then comes around the kitchen island, standing in front of Charlotte. “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for coming to our madhouse of a dinner. Normally we have this weekly dinner at Brynn’s house, but she’s in California for a meeting, so I drew the short straw. Which means toys galore and children randomly yelling.”
“I love it, and I’m just happy you guys invited me.”
Phoebe speaks this time. “You’re always invited. Truth be told, we like you more than Rowan anyway.”
I roll my eyes. “Please, we all know you wanted me and had to settle for Asher.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
I wrap my arm around Charlotte’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Phoebs, I’m taken.”
She clutches her hands to her chest. “What ever shall I do? How do I go on in this world?” Then she grabs Asher’s arms. “You’ll save me, won’t you?”
My brother, who’s forever the stick in the mud, huffs. “I can’t with you people.”
