“Sort of,” he says as he passes the flowers to Ty, who puts them on Lo’s desk and pulls the card out of the arrangement for her before shaking Brody’s hand. “I’m helping her out this week.”
“Fun,” Lo says and sits down again, cringing a bit as she pulls her legs up and takes the card from Ty. “Aww, you got me more flowers?”
“I’m buying you flowers every day,” he says as he leans in to kiss her. “You earned them.”
“You’re sweet,” Lo says with a grin and turns to me. “Do you want to hold him?”
“I didn’t want to ask, but man, do I,” I reply with a chuckle. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
I reach in for the sleeping baby, and cradle him to me, kissing his soft head. “Oh, he has auburn hair like his mama.”
“Seems both of my kids will be gingers,” Ty says with a happy smile. “They’ll keep me on my toes.”
“Oh, Lo, he’s so beautiful. What did you name him?”
“We haven’t announced it yet, but if you can keep a secret, we’ll tell you,” Lo says.
I’m rocking the baby back and forth. I can’t take my eyes off his sweet face. His perfect lips are making little sucking motions as he dreams.
“I’m not going to tell anyone,” I reply and kiss his soft forehead again.
“Logan Jeffrey,” Ty replies as he rubs circles over his wife’s back. “For Jeffrey King.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” I reply and kiss little Logan’s cheek one more time before giving him back to his mama. “I know that you’re close to Zack and Josh.”
“Jeffrey practically raised me,” Ty replies. “He’s the only dad I know. He definitely saved me from the man who fathered me.”
Brody tenses beside me, and I glace up at him, but his face hasn’t changed a bit. Did I imagine it?
“Congratulations,” Brody says and smiles down at the baby. “He’s a sweet little guy.”
“Thank you,” Lo says. “I’m so happy that you both stopped by. Have you moved back to town, Brody?”
He shakes his head and shoves his hands in his pockets. “No. I’m just here for the week.”
“Well, enjoy your time here,” Ty says as he leads us back to the front door. When Lo’s out of ear shot, he grins down at me. “And thanks for those. They’re exactly what I wanted, just like the flowers along the fenceline.”
“And down her back,” I add with a grin. “I have tattoo envy.”
His smile grows. “You did great. I’ll see you soon.”
We hurry down to the car and climb inside, and pull away from the massive home, my windshield wipers moving swiftly in the sudden summer rain.
“So, the man looks amazing in a suit and in baby puke. Who knew?”
“What?” Brody’s head whips around, and he’s staring at me like I just said I’m an alien.
“I’ve had a crush on Ty for years. I love me a man in a sexy suit. I had no idea that he looked good in a rocker T-shirt, too.”
“He’s married,” he replies with a frown.
“Oh, please. I’m no home wrecker. But a girl can look. Especially when he fills out a suit the way that Ty does. Not to mention, he loves his wife. You should see some of the flower arrangements he’s had me make for her. He’s a total romantic.”
“I wear suits,” Brody says, rather defensively.
“You do?”
“Every damn day.”
“Hmm.” I glance his way and then back to the road. “I don’t buy it. Prove it.”
He laughs next to me, then pulls his phone out, taps it, and holds it up for me to see. There he is, on the screen, wearing a suit.
“That could have been for one occasion.”
But my God, he looks delicious in that photo. I wonder if there’s a way that I could get it from him, to have after he leaves.
“That’s how I look every day.”
“Not today.”
He’s quiet, so I look his way and giggle at the look of absolute frustration on his handsome face.
“I’m not wearing a suit to the flower shop.”
“Well, how are you going to prove it, then?”
He tucks his phone in his pocket and rubs his hand over his face, then shakes his head and laughs. “I suppose I’ll have to take you out to dinner.”
My gaze whips to his in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah. Dinner.”
“When?”
“Tonight,” he says and reaches over to brush a knuckle down my cheek. “Are you free?”
I swallow hard as I park the car. “Yeah. I’m free.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
* * * *
Dinner wasn’t in my plans. I’m beginning to think it’s a bad idea to have Brody come to the flower shop every day as it is because whenever I’m within ten feet of him, I want to lick him.
I’m pretty sure that would be considered sexual harassment in the workplace, even though he’s not on my payroll.