Autumn Night Whiskey (Tequila Rose 2)

“I can get it,” I tell her and then swallow. “I’ve got it.” I don’t know if the last bit was more for her sake or mine.

“Mommy’s friends are here,” Renee tells Bridget, and I can practically see the smile on her face although my back is to them as I open the door.

It’s not at all dark outside, although the sun will start to set soon. The warm hues of the fall sky make the perfect backdrop as I’m caught in Brody’s blue eyes.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him in a collared shirt and slacks.

“Hey,” I say to greet him and then bite down on my bottom lip as a smile takes over. It doesn’t last for long as I blush and tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear.

“Hey yourself.” His deep baritone voice is soothing and his charming smile lights something inside of me, something that’s comforting. It’s as soft as warm blankets in the morning begging me to stay nestled within them rather than start the day. “I got these for you.”

He holds out a bouquet of sunflowers, pink and yellow roses, and some sort of white flowers. The plastic around them crinkles and the pink ribbon blows in the gentle breeze that brings the blossoming scents to the tip of my nose.

“They’re beautiful.” Taking them in both hands, I thank him, shyly looking between him and the bouquet.

I don’t even notice Griffin until he asks, “You mind if we come in?”

“Oh, of course.” Feeling slightly foolish and letting out a soft laugh, I step back to let them inside. “Come on in.” It doesn’t escape my mind that Brody’s been here before, but not like this.

I catch Renee’s look and she smiles at the sight of the flowers. The kind of smug smile that speaks, “not bad.”

“Let me just put these in water,” I say, feeling all those nerves that left a moment ago come flooding back as Bridget yells out, “Hello!”

With a pounding in my chest, I get ready for the introduction, but the words don’t quite come out. It’s as if they’re just as nervous as I am.

“Oh my goodness,” Griffin says and stares at Bridget who’s got the ball raised above her head, ready to aim and fire. He looks over at Brody and me still by the door, holding on to the bouquet in my hands for dear life. With wide eyes Griffin looks between Bridget and me then says, “You didn’t tell me there was a princess here.” He nearly whispers the confession and a simper breaks out across my face.

Renee tsks and says, “I can’t believe you didn’t know royalty lives here.” Griffin’s amused expression shifts to one more charming as he takes in Renee. He doesn’t fail to notice she’s opted for a summer dress for tonight. Renee asked to borrow one from my closet, saying she should wear a dress since I was wearing one too, but I’m certain her decision had nothing at all to do with me. Before he has a chance to finish his “You look—” sentiment, Renee cuts in, a saturated shade of red climbing up her cheeks.

“Princess, meet Mr. Griffin and his friend Brody.”

My heart ticks slowly but Bridget doesn’t miss a beat, doing what I presume is a curtsy and then flailing her little arms, chucking the ball at Griffin and just barely hitting his shin after a bounce.

A beep from the stove prompts me to move from where my feet seem to have been cemented into the floorboard.

“Dinner?” Brody questions and I offer him a small smile with a nod as I close the front door and rush over to the stove. A single press to the timer button silences it as I call out, “I hope you like lasagna.” The oven door opens, revealing a not quite ready top layer of a recipe I found years ago and never stopped loving. I breathe in the aroma as I set the timer for another fifteen minutes.

“I love lasagna,” he comments and hearing that word on his lips turns my heartstrings into a fiddle.

The pot holder on the counter becomes my shield to defend against his charm as I pick it up and lean against the kitchen island. Renee has her normal seat in the living room; I can see her over the pass-through window that separates the two rooms. I can’t see Griffin, though, who’s pretending to be frightened of Kitty and hiding behind the sofa.

Renee may say there’s nothing going on, but from where I stand, the two of them are head over heels for each other.

Taking a nervous peek, I watch Brody follow Bridget’s path as she plays in the other room. My heart flutters helplessly at his smile in response to the laughter Bridget lets out when Griffin jumps up and lets her chase him around the sofa.