Tempting Brooke (Big Sky 2.5)

“How do you not weigh seven thousand pounds? I’d never stop eating this.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “I taste it here and there, to make sure it’s perfect. Here, I have huckleberry.”

“I haven’t had huckleberry anything since I was a kid.” I take the cake and try to hide how damn good it is, but it’s no use. I moan and lean against the counter as if I’m dying. “Jesus, Maisey. You’re absolutely doing what you’re meant to do.”

“Thanks.” She takes the rest in the cooler for later, then comes back out.

“She’d like to rent the empty space next door,” Brooke adds, giving me a sweet smile. “We’d like to expand a bit, offer more high-end gifts, and be able to host bouquet building parties, or cake decorating parties. The possibilities are endless.”

Except I’m selling the building.

“I could definitely use the extra counter space,” Maisey adds with a vigorous nod. “I’m so sick of working in my kitchen at home.”

“You don’t have an industrial space?”

She shakes her head no. “That’s why I come here to offer cake tastings to potential brides. Plus, we can combine the appointments. I give them cake options, and Brooke can go over flowers with them, too.”

“It works well, and I think we could expand it even more if she were right next door.”

I take a final bite of cake, watching the two beautiful women as they tell me their plans, knowing full well that I’ve just been ambushed.

“You did this on purpose.”

Brooke blinks her big brown eyes. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You brought in this delicious cake, and just pitched me your business ideas, hoping to sway me from selling the building.”

“Well, we aren’t stupid, Brody,” Maisey says with a shrug. “You’re a captive audience. Of course we did.”

I laugh and toss my fork and paper plate in the garbage, then reach for a napkin to wipe my mouth.

“Pretty smart,” I agree. “Maybe whomever I sell the building to will lease it back to you.”

They look at each other and then shake their heads in defeat.

“I told you—”

“I know,” Brooke says, interrupting me. “You’re selling. Doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying, Brody.”

She offers me a sad smile, and then walks into the cooler, then back out with a huge bouquet.

“It’s time to deliver these,” she says and reaches for her keys and purse. “Come on.”

Chapter Three

~Brooke~

“Isn’t this the Cunningham place?” Brody asks twenty minutes later as we approach one of the biggest and oldest homes in town.

“Yep,” I reply with a smile that I really don’t feel. Despite Maisey’s delicious cake today, and our brilliant business plan, we didn’t seem to sway Brody on his decision to sell the building.

I know it’s only day one, but I can’t help but feel some disappointment.

“Lauren Cunningham, now Sullivan, lives here with her husband and their kids.”

“Ty Sullivan?” he asks.

“That’s the one,” I reply and feel the usual excitement I get when I know I’m going to see Ty. Don’t get me wrong, he’s married, and I’m no home wrecker, but I’ve had a tiny crush on the bad boy lawyer since I was a kid. I think most women in town do. He’s just… crushable. I climb out of my SUV and walk to the back where the flowers are secured. I reach for them, but Brody stops me.

“I’ll get them.”

“They aren’t heavy.”

“You have me here to work,” he reminds me. “So I’m working.”

“Touché.” I laugh and lead him up the steps to the front door and ring the bell. A few moments later, Ty appears, looking completely disheveled, his dark hair a riot, his face covered in stubble, and rather than his usual suit, he’s in jeans and a Metallica T-shirt.

With baby puke on the front.

“Hey, Brooke,” he says with a half smile. “Let’s keep our voices down, okay? I just got Layla down for a nap. She insists she’s too old, but with the new baby and all the chaos, she needed it.”

“We won’t be long,” I reply with a hushed voice. “I have these flowers for Lo, and I admit, I’d love to see the new little one.”

“Of course,” Ty says, his tired face transforming into the brightest smile in Montana. “They’re in the office. This way.”

He leads us into Lo’s office, where she’s sitting in her chaise lounge, smiling softly as she watches the little baby sleep in a bassinet next to her.

“Brooke,” she says with a smile and stands to give me a hug. “How are you?”

“I’m great. You look fantastic for just having had a baby two days ago.”

She glances at Ty, and then back at the baby. “I feel good. I was going to get some writing in, but I can’t stop staring at him.”

“Lo, do you remember Brody?”

She looks at Brody and grins. “Of course. Wow, I almost didn’t recognize you. Are you working for Brooke now?”