Page 72 of Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers 4)

It was Penn who had enabled him to see a different kind of life. And the arrival of that perfect, little baby made him want to start over.

With new life, he would bury his past.

And there was only one thing he wanted or needed in his future.

Penn.

She was the only person that fit the other half of his broken heart.

He needed to get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness. Tomorrow was registration day for the very first fall session of the Madewood Boys and Girls Club. And he knew exactly what he had to do.

Chapter Seventeen

Penn watched from her perch behind the bar with a smile, smoothing down the front of her black, satin dress.

There were at least a hundred parents and children waiting outside Bistro to sign up for the Madewood Boys and Girls Club. The line was out the door and around the block. To say her efforts in promoting the sign-up were successful was the understatement of the year.

The whole Madewood family was present today, each with a special job to do tending to parents and kids and making sure the refreshments were refilled. Cole stood at the front door, greeting the parents and children, and at one point, their gazes locked. He mouthed the words “Thank you,” and her heart swelled.

All of her work and stress about making this day a success had been worth it. With one look, he’d made it all matter. Funny how she’d been searching for that approval her entire life, something her family could never give, and with one simple look, Cole had given her everything she needed.

She loved him. Wanted him more than her next breath. But he was distant. She knew it had everything to do with her knowing his secrets. She’d done her best to put him at ease yesterday, but with all the commotion, it wasn’t the best time.

A few hours into the day and Penn snuck off into the kitchen to catch her breath. She rested her palms on the large island in the middle of the room and took a deep breath. It smelled like garlic and mint.

She jumped when Cole’s smooth voice carried over her shoulder.

“This turnout is incredible.” A tingle raced up her spine. Too many memories. Too many hot nights with that tone, that stern whisper in her ear. She’d never be able to erase those memories.

You don’t want to.

He was only a few steps away when she turned to face him, and his smoldering stare ignited her entire body. He’d set every molecule on fire with the way his eyes roamed over her, then finally settled on her lips. He licked his, like he wanted to kiss her. Like he wanted to take her into his office and ravage her just like he had in Hawaii.

He wasn’t playing fair. He couldn’t keep changing his feelings whenever the mood struck, because her heart would break every time he distanced himself again.

He reached forward and grabbed her hand in his. “Truly. Thank you.”

She blew out a nervous breath and didn’t miss the small smile that curved at the side of his lips at her discomfort.

Damn him. Damn. It. All.

Instead of giving him the satisfaction, she resorted to their old pattern of communicating. “What can I say, I’m good at my job.”

Sarcastic banter. That should do the trick.

Right. Because that never added any fuel to the fire of lust burning between your legs.

When she noticed movement behind Cole, she peeked around him and gasped when she found her entire family huddled together in the kitchen doorway.

“I invited some guests today,” he said, turning to face them. “I thought they’d appreciate your hard work.”

Her parents wore proud smiles. Her brothers and sisters-in-law were also there. Pete and Christine had been to Bistro dozens of times over the years but never in the kitchen. They looked around in wonder. Dave and B

eth looked uncomfortable, which was uncharacteristic for the boisterous couple. Ian held Cathy tightly around the waist who stared in awe as the rest of Cole’s family joined them. This was a dream come true for her—all four Madewood boys in one spot.

She smiled at her best friend. Sterling, whose hand was entwined with Jack’s. Finn was there, without Veronica, who was still recovering from giving birth. Which made his appearance even more special.

“Penn’s family,” Neil boomed in that get-everyone’s-attention tone. He had his hand clamped around Carson’s waist, holding so tightly it was as if she was his lifeline. “Perfect timing.”

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