“Yeah, let’s go in,” he said, thinking he should’ve warned Brooklynn about Pierce being part of their lives for a few days. He pushed through the door to find the smell of something frying.
“Hey,” he called, taking a moment to lock the door behind him. “Something smells good.”
“Uncle Dave!” Pierce came darting out of the kitchen, a wide smile on his face. He ran toward Dave, who lifted him high into the air, both of them laughing.
“I get to sleep here,” Pierce said. “Two nights, Daddy said.” He held up two chubby fingers and looked at them. “But I three.”
“Yes,” Dave said. “You’re three. Did you meet Brooklynn?”
“Yeah,” Pierce said, looking toward the kitchen. “Her gave me a cookie.”
“Oh-ho,” Dave said, chuckling. She knew how to get right into the heart of a child, and Dave carried Pierce in one hand and led Tantor with the other. They all went into the kitchen together, where Brooklynn stood at the stove, a spatula in her hand.
“Hey,” she said over her shoulder. She looked back at the pan, but then her attention flew back to his. She stared at him, and he’d seen that look in her eyes before. When she’d drank him in on her front porch while he wore his officer’s uniform. Before she’d kissed him on Valentine’s Day. His mind blanked at the other times, because the same desire coursing through her expression was attacking his body too.
“I got a boxer,” he said somewhat robotically. “Until Monday morning.” He set Pierce down and unclipped the leash from the dog’s collar. “And Pierce will be here with us until then, too. Probably.”
With us.
And he’d used we outside with Charlie too. It felt nice to be part of an us and a we, and he grinned at Brooklynn as he walked closer. “Fried potatoes.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. She knew how to get into his heart too—with carbs. “And you gave Pierce a cookie, and he thinks you’re super awesome because of it.”
She laughed, nudging him away from her with her hip. “Get out the ketchup. These are done, and we’re ready to eat.”
He did as she asked and set the ketchup on the counter with the other things she’d already gotten out. Salt and pepper. Plates—she’d already adjusted to three instead of two. Silverware. Glasses, with one plastic cup for Pierce.
Dave pulled a couple of bowls from the cupboard and filled one with water and went out to his garage to get dog food. Tantor walked around and sniffed everything in sight, but at least he wasn’t cowering in the corner. And he hadn’t jumped on Pierce or Brooklynn yet.
Maybe if he and Brooklynn got married, he could get a dog. He’d have someone to take care of it when he had to sleep on the ship, and if they got a new place together, they could look for something with a big yard. After all, she came with three pups of her own, and his would be a fourth.
“This is a Magleby favorite,” she said. “It’s nothing special. Just meatballs in brown gravy.” She took the lid off the pot and the salty scent of beef hit him.
“Smells great.”
“Fried potatoes,” she said needlessly. “And my grandmother always made us eat something green.” She glowed when she spoke of her family, and Dave wondered when he’d get introduced to Hawthorne Harbor’s royal family. “So I made creamed peas.”
Dave looked at the peas swimming in thick cream. “I didn’t know you could do that. I’ve heard of it with corn.”
“Well, corn’s not green.” Brooklynn picked up a plate. “And I’m starving, so let’s get started.” She looked over to Pierce. “You hungry, Pierce? Want a meatball?” She went about talking to him, getting him every little thing he wanted, and making sure the gravy from the meatballs didn’t touch the potatoes.
Dave stood back and watched her, marveling at this female presence in his home and life. She’d completely changed everything, in the best way possible.
“Are you going to eat?” she asked, her plate full as she walked over to the table where she’d gotten Pierce all set up.
“Yes,” Dave said, grabbing the last plate. “So you met Charlie.”
“Yes,” Brooklynn said. “Briefly. He seemed a bit panicked. And surprised to see me here.”
“He knows we’re together,” Dave said, loading meatballs and potatoes on his plate. He took plenty of creamed peas too and went to the table. “Does your family know about me?” He chose to turn back to the counter for the salt and pepper instead of watching her for her reaction. After all, he didn’t want to be disappointed if she hadn’t even said anything about him yet.
Her silence told him all he needed to know anyway. “I’ll take that as a no.” He sat across from her and shook the salt over all of his food. His mother would pounce all over him for not tasting it first, but Brooklynn didn’t say anything.
“I told my mother and sister when you asked me out,” she said. “And this town is not quiet with the rumors. My aunt Mabel heard about us at Duality the day after our Sunday brunch.”
“But you didn’t tell them we’re dating.” He cut a meatball in half and stabbed it with his fork before looking at her. “You just told them I’d asked you out.” He put the food in his mouth and chose to watch her this time.
“No, I told them after we’d been out,” she said, lifting her chin. “But I suppose it’s time for you to meet them.”
Dave regretted his challenging tone. “If you think so,” he said. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I just want you to be ready.”
“We could go for Sunday dinner this weekend,” she said, squirting ketchup on her potatoes. “I’ll tell my mother, and say I have a surprise for everyone else.”
Dave swallowed. “And will they be surprised?”
“I doubt it,” she said. “You don’t spend much time in town, but I’m telling you. Our relationship is not a secret.”
“You don’t think so?” Dave scooped up some peas, noticing that Pierce had gravy all over his face and most of his food was gone already.
“I know so,” Brooklynn said with a laugh. “I had a dog today from a regular client. A single woman. She asked me all kinds of questions about you.” She popped her meatball into her mouth, a sparkle in her eyes.
Dave shook his head, a smile on his face. “I don’t believe that.”
“She wants Joey’s number.”
Dave paused before a laugh flew from his mouth. Pierce looked at him as if the child had just now realized he wasn’t alone in the room. “Joey doesn’t date,” Dave said.
“Yeah, well, neither did I,” Brooklynn said, giggling. “I’ll call my mom after dinner.”
“Bwookwynn,” Pierce said, not quite getting the name right. “More meatballs?”
“I’ll get them,” Dave said, jumping up and grabbing his nephew’s plate. He put two more meatballs on Pierce’s plate and slid it back in front of him. He sat down, thinking his job done.
Then Brooklynn reached over and started cutting the big meatballs into smaller chunks, and Dave knew—he was in love with her.
Chapter Fourteen
Brooklynn pointed to her right. “Turn up there.”
“Believe it or not, I know where your parents live,” Dave said, seemingly nonplussed about this formal meeting. “I mean, they’re Magleby’s.”
“I know,” Brooklynn said. “I’m a little nervous.”
“Yeah?” He reached over and took her hand in his. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “And don’t say you don’t believe me.” In her therapy group, it was okay to say I don’t know. The group leader might ask questions, but she could pass on answering them if she wanted to. Dave pushed her for answers, and most of the time, she did know why she felt a certain way. But tonight, she didn’t.
Absently, she reached up and fingered the diamond ring she wore on a chain around her neck.
“I wasn’t going to say that,” he said, glancing at her. “Is that a new necklace?”
“No.” She dropped her hand back to her lap, glad he had to focus on making the turn. “I
t’s….” Could she tell him, moments before they arrived for her family dinner? Would it upset him?
“It’s what?” he asked, her hesitance clearly telling him the necklace was important.
“It’s my old wedding band,” she said, the words bursting out of her mouth. “Oh, look, they’re all out on the porch.” Both of her parents stood on the porch, as did Erika and Laci.
Dave said nothing as he pulled up to the house and unbuckled his seat belt. “We’ll talk about the wedding band later.” He got out before she could respond, and dread filled her stomach like lead.
“Hey, Mom,” she said as she got out. “Dad.” She went around the front of the SUV. “I think you guys know David Reddington.”
“Of course,” her mother said, always playing the perfect part. She hugged Dave hello, and he turned on the charm. He really was magnificent and commanding, and as he followed her parents inside, Erika fanned herself.
“Dang, girl,” she said. “He is hot.”
“Erika,” Laci admonished, but Brooklynn just laughed. So maybe it was nervous laughter. Maybe all she could think about was their little talk about her wedding band.
“Well, I can’t bring John home now,” she said.
“Are you still dating him?” Brooklynn asked as she went into the house.
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“I’m not surprised,” Brooklynn said, though she was. Since her failed engagement five years ago, Erika hadn’t stayed with the same man for more than a few months. “I was just asking.”
“Scoot’s talking to him,” Laci muttered, and Brooklynn focused on the kitchen. Sure enough, her brother had Dave almost against the wall, talking to him.
She hurried over to Dave. “You met my brother Scooter.”
“Yeah,” Dave said, relief in his expression. “He was telling me about a skateboard he built.”
“Scoot,” Brooklynn warned. “He’s not investing in your skateboard.”
“Come on, Brookie,” he said with a grin.
“Did Tilly come?” she asked, looking around for her niece and knowing her question would annoy her brother.
“She’s with her mom.” Scoot glared at Brooklynn, but she didn’t care.
“Where’s Mike?”
“Late,” her mother said, interrupting them. “But the food’s ready, so let’s sit down, and he’ll join us when he gets here.”
Brooklynn didn’t want to do that. It wasn’t hard to wait, but her mother had things scheduled down to the minute. She stepped over to the table that had been set with the nice plates and silverware, as if this were Thanksgiving dinner.
Embarrassment squirreled through her, especially when her mom said, “So Dave. How are you and Brooklynn getting along?”
“Mom,” Brooklynn said. “We get along fine, otherwise he wouldn’t be here.”
“Must be serious,” her mom said, clearly not picking up on the frustrated tone in Brooklynn’s voice. “I mean, you’ve only ever brought home one man in the past, and you married him.”
A hush fell over the table, and Brooklynn glared at her mother.
“We’ve talked about marriage,” Dave said, and Brooklynn’s gaze whipped to his. She wanted to wave her arms and shake her head, anything to get him to stop right there. He looked at her, clearly confused. “But…it’s a ways off.”
“It is?” her mom asked. “Why’s that?”
Horror snaked through Brooklynn, and she realized this dinner was a very bad idea. Her mother always asked too many questions, and it was a miracle she and Scooter had managed to get spouses in the first place.
“Wilma, I think you better stop talking,” her dad said, and Brooklynn tried to convey her gratitude to him from across the table.
“Why?” She looked around and realized no one had started eating. “What are you waiting for? Eat, eat.”
All of the Magleby’s reached for the item nearest them, Brooklynn included, at the same time the front door opened. “Hey,” Mike said. “Sorry I’m—you couldn’t even wait ten minutes?”
“The pork chops were hot,” her mom said as if that explained everything. Mike ground his teeth together, and her dad got up to go talk to him. They came over to the table just a few seconds later, and Brooklynn met her brother’s eye.
“This is David Reddington,” she said. “My boyfriend.”
“They’ve talked about marriage,” her mom said, and Brooklynn’s groan wasn’t the loudest one at the table.
“Enough, Mom,” Laci said. “So Dave, Brooklynn says you work for the Coast Guard? Tell us about that.”
“Yeah,” he said, exchanging at glance with Brooklynn. “Been with them for twenty-two years. I captain the Adelie out of Port Angeles.”
She noticed the way her dad nodded, as if he approved of Dave’s job. It was certainly better than Ryker’s, who’d worked as the assistant manager of the grocery store. Brooklynn hadn’t cared much what he did, but her father had said she’d always have to work. With Dave, though, Brooklynn wouldn’t have to work. Surely he made quite a bit of money being as high up as he was.
She’d missed part of the conversation as she thought about Ryker, because Mike said, “Eighty-seven feet long? That’s huge.”
“We’re a law enforcement and rescue ship,” he said. “Helicopters can land on the stern.”
“Do you carry a gun?” he asked next, and Brooklynn’s gaze flew to Dave’s. She hadn’t realized he was law enforcement.
“Yeah,” Dave said. “We’re the country’s maritime law enforcement.”
“You have a gun?” Brooklynn asked, her anxiety tripling.
“Yes,” he said calmly, glancing around the table and coming back to her. “We’re part of Homeland Security. We deal with illegal immigrants, smugglers, terrorist threats—” He cut off, his eyes going wide. “I mean, they do in some parts of the ocean. Up here, we mostly deal with fisheries and environmental issues.” He gave a light laugh that Brooklynn saw right through.
“That’s so cool,” Mike said, and Brooklynn wanted to punch him. At least she didn’t feel like crying. Just hitting something really hard and then running away.
The conversation moved to the Spring Fling, but Brooklynn ignored any attempt to draw her into the discussion. She gave one-word answers and ate as fast as she could.
Oh, yes. This dinner was a huge mistake.
By the time they finally escaped, Brooklynn felt like she’d been through World War III. Maybe without all the shooting, but definitely parts of her had died.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as he drove away from the house.
“It was fine,” he said, but Brooklynn knew in this instance, fine even from a man was not okay.
“My mom can be a little intense.”
“I don’t care about your mom,” he said, almost in a bark.
Brooklynn flinched. “Well…okay.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He sighed, the fight leaving those boxy shoulders, and pulled to a stop at the end of the lane where it met the highway. “I just—you wear your wedding band around your neck? All the time?” He looked at her with desperation in those beautiful eyes, and so much hurt her heart wailed.
She didn’t want to hurt him. “It’s just like a memento.”
“No, it’s like a keepsake,” he said. “Something that means so much to you that you need it with you always.” His gaze fell to her collarbone and rebounded to her eyes. “I just feel stupid.” He turned, pressing on the accelerator a little too roughly.
“Why do you feel stupid?”
“I don’t want to name all the reasons,” he said darkly.
Anger flared in Brooklynn too. “Well, you didn’t tell me you were basically a cop on a boat.”
“I work for the Coast Guard,” he said. “I didn’t realize I had to be so specific.”
“Smugglers? Terrorists? Yeah, you should’ve been more specific.” She hated how out of control she felt, but she couldn’t imagine marrying this man and sending
him off to work—armed! With a gun—each morning and expecting him to come home whole.
And he wanted kids. A family. What if he died?
And she absolutely could not plan another funeral for her husband. She wouldn’t.
She shook her head, her emotions teeming against the back of her tongue. She didn’t have to defend the way she felt. Not to him. Not to anyone. Maybe her group therapist would want her to be concise in what she articulated, but right now, she wasn’t in her group.
She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Darcy. Dave carries a gun on his ship. I don’t know what to do. I can’t get involved with another man who’ll die on me.
She wasn’t sure if she was being irrational or not. All she knew was something had broken inside her the day Ryker had died. She’d developed irrational fears and anxiety.
Her therapy had been helping. Encouraging her to move past an irrational dislike of the ocean and boats and the beach. Everything surrounding the ocean, from sailing to wake boarding, to parasailing—which was what had killed Ryker.
No, she told herself. Ryker killed Ryker.
That was something she’d learned. Parasailing hadn’t done anything. The ocean hadn’t done anything. The mountain hadn’t killed Darcy’s brother.
Accidents happen. Mistakes are made. Decisions too. And sometimes things go wrong.
Dave pulled into her driveway and got out to walk her to the door, their usual routine. In fact, she’d expected him to come in and they’d have a long chat about her family and how things had gone.
He opened her door, and she looked at him. “I hate that you’re not happy.” But what she really hated was that she was the cause of his turmoil.
“And I hate that you’re not,” he said, reaching for her hand and helping her out of the SUV. He didn’t hold onto her hand as they walked up the sidewalk.
“I’m so much better,” she said.
“Yeah,” he agreed as they climbed the steps. “But Brooklynn.” He blew his breath out and looked away, out over her front lawn, his jaw tight and the muscle jumping.
When he finally looked at her, his expression was made of marble. “I don’t think you’re ready.”
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