Page 48 of Bonus Daddy
Chapter 17
Brian
Upstairs, I found the usual mayhem. Sully stood at the kitchen counter with Tia cradled in one arm, using his free hand to type furiously on his laptop while Sloane played Monopoly with Greta, Murphy, and T.J. Jess smiled while chatting with Lo while Kit quietly read a book on the couch. Cal sat on the couch behind Murphy, holding that damn cat while he coached Murphy on his Monopoly real estate acquisition strategy.
“Brian,” Jess trilled, giving me the kind of smile that made my heart skip a beat. “Did you hear? The Grasshopper is having karaoke night on Saturday.”
Teeth gritted, I narrowed my eyes on Sully. He’d done this. He’d bought a machine and bribed Gunner, the owner, to put on karaoke nights in his quest to win back Sloane.
He swayed, shushing Tia, who stirred in his hold, and lifted one shoulder. “My wife needs a night out.”
Sloane beamed at him.
I was not quite so elated, and my reply was automatic. “Great idea. I’ll babysit.”
“Awesome,” T.J. said. “Will you buy us new Legos,Uncle Brian?”
“Yes,” I said with a smile. I would have bought that kid a Lego factory to get out of karaoke.
Still glaring at my friend, I scooped his daughter from his arms. “What do you think, gorgeous?” I cooed at her perfect little face. “Wanna hang out with Uncle Brian? I can’t buy you Legos yet, but when you’re old enough, how about a pony?”
Sloane hissed. “Stop offering to buy her a pony.”
“Brian,” Cal said sharply. “Don’t be a wanker. You babysat last time. Lo and I would love a night with the boys and the little princess.”
I shot him a look. The last thing I wanted was to get roped into karaoke night. I’d done my time back in law school, but back then I tolerated it for the cheap drinks and the chance to blow off steam after long study sessions. I didn’t have money or time for much else, so when Sloane dragged us, we usually went along.
But the last thing I needed was a night of bad singing and ear-splitting noise.
“Brian.” A gentle hand landed on my bicep, though quickly, the sensation was joined by that of nails digging into my skin. Lo tilted her head over to where Jess was happily chatting with Sloane. “You should go. With Jess.”
I blinked rapidly. On second thought, the thought of a night out with Jess, even as friends, made even my most hated activity palatable.
She glanced over at me, her smile wide and her eyes swimming with excitement. And suddenly, I realized I’d willingly walk over hot coals to make her happy. I’d been riding a high since our almost-kiss in my office and would take any excuse to spend time with her.
“It’s been years since I did karaoke,” Jess said.
Cal sat back on the couch, rubbing his hands together.
“We should go too,” I found myself saying. Had I been possessed? Potentially, but the prospect of a night with Jess, even with Sloane shrieking her way through Def Leppard songs, was too good to pass up.
“The girls were planning a sleepover at my friend Lana’s,” she said.
Cal clapped. “It’s a date. The lovely Lola and I will be on babysitting duty. You four get out and have fun. So much fun. Get knackered and get Brian to do his John Mayer impression.”
All the blood drained from my face. I had wiped that from my memory. And I thought we’d had a gentleman’s agreement never to speak of it again.
But Cal was already going. “He’s got that raspy voice, you know. And he never sings. But when we all went out after Sloane and Sully tied the knot, Brian got very drunk and sang ‘Your Body is a Wonderland.’ Every lass in the building was throwing their panties at him.”
Sully barked out a laugh. “I was so pissed, but even I remember. That was when your hair was floppy and you were more depressed than usual.”
“He’s got a good voice,” Sloane said. “We never knew because he refused to sing.”
Jess’s eyes widened. “Why, Brian Machon, you are full of surprises.”
“I’m not singing,” I said firmly as I broke out in a sweat.
Sully barked a rough laugh. “Sure thing, mate.”
