Page 83 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
“Don’t feel any pressure to—” Sophie said.
“Feel pressure,” Nana interrupted. “Pressure to be included in family celebrations is good! We already got one slip of the tongue.”
“What…?” Sophie’s brow wrinkled in confusion.
Brett lifted a forkful of pie to Sophie’s lips in an effort to change the subject. She took the bite, and he caught Nana chuckling.
They ate too much pie, talked about Nana and Angel’s plans for upcoming celebrations, and Lindsay made Nana promise not to bring any prospective suiters to future parties. Even knowing Nana for the short time he had, Brett had a feeling Nana was already making lists of men for Lindsay, who was probably next on her matchmaking list.
A while later, they stood on the front porch saying goodbye to Lindsay, Nana, and Poppi.
“Swing by for a brown-bag breakfast.” Nana gave Brett a hug and pinched his cheek. “My friend Cora did an online search of you. It seems you’re even more impressive than you are charming. A real catch. But so is our Sophie. I’m glad you two have found each other. Take care of her in that big city.”
“I’m not sure I’m such a catch, but I only need one woman to believe I am.” He gathered Sophie in his arms and said, “She’s my number one priority, Nana, but Sophie’s a strong, capable woman. She did fine before I came along.”
“Of course she did,” Lindsay said. “You can’t grow up here and not be a badass.” She hugged Sophie. “But unlike me, most people like knowing someone’s watching out for them.”
Brett embraced her. “I guess you want me to send a security crew to your house to shore up your windows and doors?”
“Why on earth would she want that?” Sophie asked.
He winked at Lindsay and said, “We wouldn’t want anything sneaking in while she’s trying to avoid it.”
Chapter Eighteen
AFTER RETURNING FROM Virginia Wednesday afternoon, Brett and Sophie stopped at her apartment to pick up a few things for the next couple of nights before heading over to Brett’s. Usually when she returned home she flopped on the couch and called Grace, happy to regain her footing in her own space. But this time she couldn’t wait to submerge herself in Brett’s world, although as he opened his front door, butterflies swarmed in her belly.
The scent of leather and something spicy greeted them. Sophie’s gaze swept over the rich, hardwood floors and rough brick walls, brown leather couches that sat low to the floor, and an enormous granite coffee table. Around the perimeter of the living room, several heavy floor lamps had metal casings that looked like scaffolding, interesting wooden bases, and spotlight housings. Spotlight-type sconces were placed along the far wall, where a metal staircase ran up to a second story. A black leather armchair and ottoman sat beneath a tangle of lights in a corner by one of the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows. Beside it, a wooden crate with heavy metal clasps was home to a few workout magazines.
“Why am I so nervous?” she asked as Brett dropped their bags by the door. She saw the kitchen through an archway in the brick wall, all clean lines and lighted cabinets. Several potted plants sat atop one of the expansive counters beside a bank of windows. The kitchen looked as big as her apartment.
He put his arm around her, nuzzling against her neck, and said, “Because you know I want to do dirty things to you on every surface.”
“Nope. I counted on that, though.” She pressed her lips to his, then glanced around the room. Every piece of furniture, even the walls and floors, appeared substantial and elegant, yet subdued, not showy. His home wasn’t intimidating or terribly inviting, and she wondered if that was because he had been so unsettled his whole life. She had the sense that he lived here, but he’d never put down roots and made it his home.
“Then why are you nervous, babe? You know I don’t bring women here, so it’s not like there’s anything to be jealous of.”
“Maybe because of that. Not jealousy, but this is your private space and you’re letting me in. That’s huge.”
“Not as huge as meeting your parents. Or making love to you in their barn. Or telling you I love you under their forever-kiss tree.”
