Thai, please. Could you get me coconut curry?
You got it.
I was still grinning to myself when I looked up and saw both Victoria and Cass watching me.
“If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t believe it,” Cass said, looking conspiratorially at Victoria.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Victoria replied, causing me to turn my smile on her. “I love seeing you both so happy, and I really hope things work out between you two … I hope that’s not overstepping.”
“No, of course not, I know how you and Brady feel about each other, and really, it means a lot to me that you’re okay with us being together.”
“Okay? I think it’s the best that’s happened since Brendan and Bronagh got together. He deserves to have someone like you, someone who loves him and brings out the best in him.”
That last part she said softly, as if she was once again worried she was speaking out of turn, but I wasn’t embarrassed that everyone could tell the way I felt about Brady. I just hoped he’d feel the same way about me, soon.
Chapter Twenty-Nine ~ Brady
My car was filled with the smells of coconut curry and the spicy chicken I’d gotten for myself. There was this strange feeling swirling within me, something like, anticipation. I don’t know if it was about seeing Ming again, or having a meal with her in my home, possibly having her in my bed, but it was kind of … nice.
When I pulled into my driveway, Brock was walking from the house to his truck carrying an armful of presents.
“Why didn’t you wait? I would have helped you,” I called out as I pulled the food out of the car and walked toward the house.
“Don’t worry about it,” my brother answered. “I wanted to get it loaded up and over to Bren’s so I can get home for some family time.”
Brock met me on the steps after dropping the load off.
“They still in there cleaning up?” I asked.
“Nah, they’re done. Your place looks better now than it has in years,” he teased. “Tori just walked home, and I think Cass is heading out. Ming-a-ling is in there waiting for you.”
I looked toward th
e house, that anticipation growing, then looked back at Brock when he chuckled.
“You’re in deep this time, huh?” he asked with a grin.
I looked into the eyes of the man who meant the world to me, the one I could never keep anything from, and admitted, “Yeah, I think so.”
“Happy for you, bro,” Brock said, slapping me on the back, then walking past me to go inside.
I stood on the step for another minute, trying to come to terms with how fast everything was happening. At least, it seemed fast to me. Ming may say otherwise, but to me it felt like I’ve been living in a whirlwind since New Year’s.
The sound of Ming’s laughter pulled me out of my head and caused my feet to propel me forward and inside.
My house looked immaculate, and I had to admit Brock was right … I really needed to stop being such a slob.
“Hey,” Ming said, her happiness at seeing me totally unfiltered.
Warmth flooded through me at the sight of her.
She’d pulled her hair back at some point throughout the day, the long, dark tresses hanging down her back in a tail. Her face was flushed with pleasure, and her already upturned lips were slightly parted as she crossed the room to greet me.
“Hi,” I said as she walked, then stopped talking when she paused in front of me and tilted her head up, offering her lips to me. I met her lips with mine, soft yet firm, not ready to stop when she pulled back with a laugh and took the bags out of my hands.
“I’ll take these to the kitchen if you want to help your brother with the last load,” Ming offered, then she was gone.
I looked after her, then my head swung over to where Brock was standing, picking up presents and watching me with a pleased look on his face.