Page 40 of Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers 4)

“You’re so right,” she moaned in defeat. “I’m frickin’ huge. Having four chefs in the family isn’t helping matters.”

Only one more month until the first Madewood baby would arrive, and Veronica had taken the “eating for two” mandate literally. The woman was always starving these days, grazing on anything within reach. It was endearing and definitely a welcome characteristic, since her husband and his brothers loved to please people with their food.

He laughed. “How are you feeling?”

It took her a minute to answer. “I’m feeling all right. A little crampy, but my doctor tells me it’s normal Braxton Hicks contractions. Personally, I think it’s because I eat too much.”

He chuckled with her. “Is Finn taking good care of you? I hope you’re not working too hard.”

The questions were just flying out of his month. Mostly out of nervousness. Although, being away from home for the last few days, he was sure he’d missed a lot.

“No, no…hey”—she perked up—“how’s Hawaii? Is it beautiful? One day I’ll make it there.”

He started to answer, but she interrupted him. “Wait. What’s going on, Cole?” He heard a clang, probably a spoon hitting the side of a bowl. “You never call just to shoot the shit. It’s always with a purpose.”

She was right. She knew him too well. Which was one of the reasons she had been on the top of his list of people to call. He could have called Finn. But this time, he needed a woman’s opinion.

He was feeling things he’d never thought he’d feel. And he was confused as hell. Even thinking about making things with Penn more than a fling was a disaster waiting to happen. And what happened when they went public? Too much attention meant too many people wanting to know more about him. He couldn’t risk his past being exposed. He couldn’t risk her finding out his first experience with sex had been hearing his mother with her tricks.

These feelings had to remain in Hawaii. It was the only way to keep his past buried.

“You want to tell me something?” Veronica asked. He heard a rumpled thud. Maybe the positioning of a pillow. “Where’s Penn?”

“She’s lying down.”

Recovering from the massive orgasm he’d just given her. He hadn’t meant to take their shower to sexy town. He’d started off wanting to take care of her, to pamper her.

True, eating her out wasn’t exactly the care he’d planned on giving her. But it had worked out for everyone, hadn’t it?

“I think… I think I’m going to tell her.”

Penn wanted him to open up. But the thought of spilling his guts, telling her about all the crap from his past, made him nauseous.

Which was why he was now on the phone with Veronica, asking, without asking, if opening up to Penn was the right thing to do.

“Tell her what?” Veronica’s voice was so calm, so casual, yet determined to get an answer.

There were less than a handful of people in the world who knew about his past. Veronica was one of them. They’d grown up together. Shared a lot of the same experiences. She’d seen it all—or most of it.

She was usually so perceptive. Another reason he’d called her. He could have cryptic conversations without having to spell everything out, and she always knew exactly what he was saying.

But maybe her pregnancy hormones were messing with her Cole-receptors today. It seemed she needed things spelled out.

But suddenly she gasped, and his hidden meaning must have dawned on her.

“Is that why you called me? You want me to say it’s all right to tell her about your mom?”

He shrugged. Not that she could see it. “Maybe.”

“If you want my opinion… I think she can handle it.”

Penn was a strong, determined, independent, and successful woman, capable of many things. But processing her feelings for a man with a past like that might not be something she wanted to do, let alone would be capable of.

He had no home, no true parenting to speak of, no role models until Vivian Madewood, and all the instability and floundering that came along with that kind of life. People ended longer, deeper relationships for much less.

“Don’t you think I’m too big a mess?” he asked.

“A mess? No way.” Her response came out so fast it made him feel a little better. The fact that she hadn’t hesitated meant she truly believed it. “A huge pain in my ass? Definitely.” She laughed. “But I still love you.”

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