7 Months (Time for Love 8)

Still, the fact that she felt that way about me, and after everything we’d been through, was ready to share it with me, was a gift. I knew that, even if I didn’t know how to say it without saying something wrong and hurting her unintentionally.

I looked her in the eyes and kissed her with every ounce of passion and tenderness I could muster, hoping she’d understand what I was trying to convey. Then I shifted to my side, so I could cradle her against me and hold on to this moment.

It was the first time someone other than my parents or my brothers had said those words to me. It was at the same time overwhelming and wonderful, and I wasn’t sure what to do with these feelings, but I knew I wanted them … More than anything, I wanted them.

Chapter Twenty-Six ~ Ming

I stood nervously on Brady’s front stoop, taking in every inch of the outside of his house like there’d be a test later. I couldn’t believe I was actually there. Of course, I’d rather be there because he’d invited me over for a meal or something, but I’d take what I could get, even if we were forcing ourselves into his home to have Bronagh’s baby shower.

The door opened and he was there. Tall, broad, heart-stutteringly handsome, with his hair damp from a shower and a sweet smile on his face.

“Hey,” I said, lamely.

“Come on in,” he replied, stepping back to let me in.

I clutched my handbag to my chest, the papers containing the directions for the baby games secured inside, as I looked around his personal space for the first time.

The house was larger than I thought it would be. The foyer opened up into the living room, which was smartly decorated in rich, deep tones. Dark-brown leather furniture with natural wood accents, what looked like vintage instruments decorating the walls, all tied together with the drumstick chandelier I’d give him for his birthday.

I turned to Brady, please and surprised, while he looked sheepishly at the ground, his hand holding the back of his neck.

“It’s gorgeous,” I said, sure the shock was evident in my tone.

His head lifted and he admitted, “Victoria did it.”

“She’s very talented,” I said, moving through the space, my fingers touching ever surface.

“The rest of the house isn’t this put

together,” Brady said.

“I’d like to see it,” I replied, eager to get a new glimpse into his personal life.

Brady moved to me, his hand reaching out to take mine, and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he added, causing pleasure to warm my cheeks.

“Me too.”

“Would you stay … after? I can bring home something to eat and we can have dinner.”

“I’d love that,” I replied, knowing that a huge grin was splitting my face and not caring in the least.

The kitchen was neat, but outdated, and I was surprised to note all of the different appliances out on the counters. Obviously well used.

“Do you cook?”

“Not as well as Bren or anything, but we all had to pull our weight growing up, so I know how to keep myself alive.”

His dining room was pretty sparse, holding a table and chairs and that was it. No accent pieces, or decoration, and obviously rarely used, but…

“That table is gorgeous.”

“It was my parents,” Brady said, his face flush with pleasure. “Brock gave it to me after Victoria moved in and I refurbished it. Sanded it down, stained it, stuff like that.”

“I’m impressed,” I said, and I was; the work he’d done was amazing. Just another secret of Brady that I was pleased to learn.

There were three bedrooms. One filled with boxes, “Stuff from my childhood,” and another that held a desk with a computer and a bookshelf that was practically bowing, it held so many books.