Page 31 of Brides and Brothers
Aiden choked on his food, but Camille didn’t bat an eyelash. “Aiden is very supportive of my work, but you can assure yourself he won’t have to sacrifice his career goals for mine.”
Evidently pleased with her diplomatic answer, Aiden slid his arm around Camille and kissed her cheek. “I should’ve warned you about the lot of them. They have little sense and less tact.”
Daegan and Cade chose that moment to enter the room, though Camille couldn’t tell which one was which.
“Little sense?” one said.
“Less tact?” The other matched his brother’s indignant tone.
Aiden nodded up and down in an exaggerated way. “Camille, you remember these two from the luncheon. Cade is the blond, and Daegan is the strawberry blond.” He motioned to the table. “Camille made you some pancakes. Make sure you thank her.”
Once breakfast was over, Camille took Aiden’s plate with her own to clean them at the sink. When Aiden glanced her way, she motioned for him to help her.
He crossed over to her side and whispered, “Are you feeling more comfortable?”
She pursed her lips. “I would feel better if Flynn came out waving a white flag. I’m not going to be around him all day, am I?” The kitchen was large enough she didn’t worry about the men at the table overhearing.
Aiden pinched his lips together, clearly holding back a laugh. He leaned closer and whispered, “He leaves by nine every day. He’s in a band, and they practice most nights. You’ll hardly know he lives here.”
A smile of relief crept across her face without her feeling a trace of guilt.
A door closed in the direction of the garage, and she turned to see who had come in.
“Hey, Benson,” Aiden called to him. He was tall and broad-chested but slim. “Is it cold out?”
Benson nodded as he trudged into the kitchen from the utility room entrance and put his heavy working coat on the back of a chair. “Freezing is more like it. We’ll be starting potato harvest tonight.” The twins groaned in response.
Easton got up from the table with his hand held out. He’d either been eating with his fingers or had managed to rest his hand in some fruit fluff. He glanced around, most likely in search of a napkin. When he didn’t see one, he grabbed a dirty sock off the stack Camille had compiled. He wiped his hand clean, then tossed the sock back onto the pile.
Grimacing, she turned to ask about the potato harvest. “Tonight? Wouldn’t it be better to start in the morning?”
“Why wait?” Aiden grinned. “That’s what headlights are for.”
Farming was a foreign concept. She was starting a mental list of all the things that would be different and new in her life now that she was sharing it with Aiden. Things like working nights and using socks as substitute napkins were going to take some getting used to.
Benson heaped his plate high with pancakes. He’d dished enough to feed three people. Was he trying to make a show of politeness? As the tallest of the Peterson men, perhaps he actually needed more substance. She took a quick inventory of the man. His arms were filled out from hours of hard labor. His eyes were a little wideset but not in any way unattractive. His large chin was clean-shaven and dimpled, and his dark hair contrasted with his light skin. There were so many different looks to the boys, but each was as handsome as the next. Well, maybe Flynn was a little wild, but overall, she had married into a handsome family.
“Why are you studying Benson like that?” Aiden whispered, his brow lowered and his jaw tight.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous. We’re married, remember?” It was the first time Camille had seen Aiden like this.
“Sorry.” His brow relaxed, but his mouth was still set.
She nudged him and gave a teasing smile. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m all yours. I was merely checking for resemblances. You’ve got a great family.”
Aiden held out his arm. “In that case, since you approve of us, let’s take the lady of the house on a royal tour.”
The laundry room was the most practical place to start, as it was located on the other side of the kitchen. Now she knew where the dirty socks belonged. The room was the size of a small bedroom, and while large in scope, it wasn’t big enough for the heaps of messy clothes that covered the floor and appliances.
“Um, should I be impressed?” Camille asked.
“I didn’t say you’d love the house—just that it’s yours.” Aiden leaned against the door, unconcerned and completely in his element.
Camille sighed. “I meant the laundry. There’s a lot. It’s hard to believe they have more clothes besides the ones in these piles.”
Aiden kicked some out of the way to make an aisle for her to pass through. “Feel free to boss them around and make them do their chores. I do it all the time.”
“Oh no,” Camille said, shaking her head. “I’m not the mother of grown men. I think we’d better hurry and marry a few of them off.”
