Page 32 of Tangled
She believed it, even if he’d said it in jest.
“You really don’t mind, then?” she said, gesturing to the kitchen.
“Go,” he said. “It won’t take me more than ten minutes.”
She hesitated, then turned to leave. Halfway across the room, she turned back. Her heart thudded, and she questionedwhether what she was about to ask was something she should. But a need deep inside urged her on.
“Will you stay with me tonight? In my bed? To sleep?” She wanted more, but not now. Between her sickness and the new footing that they found themselves on, she had no wish to rush things. But she wanted the reassurances that both his presence and his body offered. She wanted to feel his arms around her and his heat envelop her. The chemistry they’d explored that night in LA was still there, and it had only grown stronger with each hour together. Right now, though, she wanted the quieter comforts he could provide. That she knew he’d want to.
A smile broke over his face, and his eyes twinkled in the unique way they did. “I’d be more than happy to,” he said.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The ringing of his phone dragged Brad from one of the best sleeps he’d had in a while.Beside him, Scarlett’s warm, pliant body curled into his.
“Answer it,” she mumbled against his chest. “Middle-of-the-night calls make me nervous. And you have a sister-in-law who’s about to pop with twins.”
That woke him up. Reaching for the phone, he felt around until he found it. “Yeah,” he said by way of answering.
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Tia’s gone into labor,” his mother said.
“Please tell me dad’s not driving,” Brad said, easing into a sitting position.
His mother laughed. “Not hardly. He’s sitting in the passenger seat telling me the best way to get to the hospital.”
“There’s only one way to get to the hospital from your house.”
“Yes, son, I am aware of that,” she replied as his dad all but shouted, “The next left, Annie. Left!”
Brad chuckled. “Is the family gathering?”
“Sometime in the next twenty-four hours, you and your brother are going to be uncles. But Cody isn’t much better at keeping his shit together than your dad, so we’re not sure how far along in labor she actually is,” she said. “I’ll find out once we get there and let you know.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Annie. I’m perfectly…don’t miss that right!” his dad barked.
“Right,” Brad said. “We’ll want to be there, so call as soon as you know anything. Love you both and give our love to Tia and Cody. Um, Cody didn’t drive, did he?”
This time, his mom chuckled. “No, Manvir did,” she answered, referring to Tia’s dad. Tia’s parents, famous chefs from Brooklyn, New York, were in the process of retiring. They’d been spending more and more time in Mystery Lake with Cody and Tia.
“At least we know they made it. Let us know what you find out, and for Tia’s sake, I hope we’ll see you soon.” He ended the call and let his hand fall to his lap. His baby brother was going to be a dad. The world was a crazy place sometimes.
“Annie?” Scarlett asked. Brad rolled his head and looked at her. “After they were here the other night, I meant to ask, but I guess I forgot. Why does he call her Annie?”
Brad smiled. “A pet name, I guess. Her name is Elizabeth Anne. He always called her Annie. Her parents called her Elizabeth. Aunt Annie was hard for my cousins to say when they were little, so they all call her Aunt Beth.”
Scarlett smiled. “Both names kind of suit her.”
Brad smiled and shifted back down onto the pillow, then held his arm out. Scarlett resumed her spot tucked against his side. “My mother is a woman of many talents and more patience than a saint. It’s not surprising that more than one name suits her.”
“So you’re going to be an uncle?”
He smiled. “I’m going to be an uncle. Intellectually, I’ve known that for six months, but now that it’s happening…”
“How do you think Cody and Tia are holding up? Are they ready?”
“Is anyone ever completely prepared to bring a baby home, let alone two? Tia will take everything in stride, though.”
“And your brother?”
