Page 252 of The Maxwell Brothers
I frowned slightly. "I'm not in a hurry, but I don't want to stay too long. I made donuts, and I want to take them to Helen while they’re fresh."
Travis straightened up. “Donuts? Where?”
“I left them on the front step.”
Luke’s jaw dropped. “Damn. I liked you on principle because you were giving Declan shit, but now I’m rethinking it.”
Sam and Kimberly both looked straight at the door.
I burst out laughing. “I thought it was easier. I made two boxes. I can bring one to you guys.”
Kimberly rubbed her palms together. “You know what? Bring them in. This conversation needs donuts.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll do it,” Declan said, immediately heading out to the door.
I glanced at him, zeroing in on that glorious ass of his.My God, he’s perfection.
When I focused back on the island, I realized all Maxwells were watching me. Travis flashed me a half smile, Luke seemed to bite back a laugh, and Reese was grinning.
Oh boy. I’ve been found out.
Declan returned with one of the boxes, opening it on the counter.
“These look incredible, and so professional. You made them?” Reese asked.
“Yes. I’m a baker. Helen loves them, so I thought I’d take a few to her and her friends at the home.”
Reese stopped in the act of biting into the donut she’d grabbed.
“Now I feel guilty for making you share them with us,” Kimberly said.
“Zero regrets here,” Sam exclaimed after swallowing a bite. Travis, Declan, and Luke were too busy devouring their donuts to say anything.
This group is fun!
“But not guilty enoughnotto eat it,” Reese added at last, taking a mouthful.
I rested my elbows on the counter, glancing at her. “I’m all ears.”
"We don't want to keep you too long with our dramatic backstory. So, the CliffsNotes version is this: My dad moved to London many years ago. He’d never been too involved in our lives. He took Mom’s death very hard—she passed away when we were kids." Her shoulders slumped, and Travis immediately put an arm around her. "Anyway, when I was visiting in Paris, I met up with him in London, and it turns out that he got married two months ago and will be having a baby girl soon.”
"That's a lot to process," I said slowly, reaching for a donut. “And Kimberly is right. The conversation does need a treat.”
"Wait, we didn't tell you what our problem was," Kimberly said.
“Oh, okay.”
"We’re not sure how to tell our family. Dad asked us to do it for him. We’re especially worried about our grandmother. Dad's mom,” Reese explained.
“I'm not sure what to say. I mean, I don't know your grandmother.”
“Gran is a very sharp woman. Great sense of humor, takes no shit. Can always tell when we lie to her.”
“Even through omission,” Travis added.
“Has all the guys in the family by the balls,” Reese went on nonchalantly.
