"I'd love to see that movie. I made a big dinner. I hope you're hungry."
Becca nodded. "I like to eat a lot of things but not brussels sprouts. You're not cooking those, are you?" she asked in a worried tone.
"Becca," Sydney warned. "We'll eat whatever Morgan cooked for us."
Morgan laughed and offered her hand to the little girl. "No brussels sprouts. I don't like them, either."
Brady tugged on the girl's curls and tickled the back of her neck. "Neither does Uncle Brady. Yuck!"
Becca giggled, and they made their way into the kitchen. Dalton greeted them in his usual relaxed way, but Tristan seemed more formal. His gaze studied her with a bold curiosity, and he nodded quickly to Sydney, obviously uncomfortable in her presence.
Interesting.
"Watch out-the hounds are coming!" Cal called out.
Balin and Gandalf had been tucked in the back room while they prepped dinner, and now the scrambling of paws on the floor hit her ears. They came whirling around the corner, lost footing, and skidded right in front of Becca and Sydney. Morgan went to grab them in case the gentle giants scared Becca, but the little girl opened her arms in sheer joy and hugged them both at once.
They could have easily knocked her over with their tails or greeting, but instead they plopped themselves down in front of her, as if recognizing she was a child and they needed to be gentle. Balin moaned in ecstasy as Becca rubbed his fur, and Gandalf bumped his nose against her leg, urging her to do the same to him.
Sydney laughed and rubbed Gandalf's belly. "You guys are getting better," she said. "Did you finally graduate obedience school?"
Cal snorted. "Heck, no. I tried getting them re-registered and was told the class is full for the next year. I think they're lying."
Brady shook his head and handed off a bakery box with a bottle of wine. "I told you, Cal, they need a firm hand. Animals respond to discipline. Same thing in relationships."
Sydney and Morgan stared at him. "What did you just say?" they asked in unison.
Brady held up his hands in defense. "Let's be honest, ladies. A weak-willed, waffling man is not attractive."
Becca looked up from the dogs, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I like nice men," she announced. "They're the best."
Cal laughed. "Argument settled. Becca wins. Now let's go eat before Sydney and Morgan gang up on you, Brady."
They drank cocktails, nibbled on appetizers, and watched Becca run around with the dogs. By the time they sat down for dinner, everyone was laughing amid the brothers' bantering and teasing of Brady about his archaic views on women. Seemed the architect liked the old-fashioned Latin ways, where final decisions were made by men, and women's job was support. Morgan mentally hoped he'd find someone to challenge those views and teach him a few things. With his dark good looks and quiet intensity, she doubted he lacked for many women dying for the opportunity to tame him.
"Uncle Cal, I'm still waiting for my tree house. You said you'd build one for me. Sally Peters has a big one, and she has tea parties in there for special guests like Disney princesses." Her pout was pure genius and adorable. "I wish I had
one."
"Becca, Uncle Cal is very busy," Sydney interrupted. "He has to build a lot of houses first before he can work on your tree house."
Cal faced the little girl with a serious expression. "I'm sorry, Becca, you're right. I did promise. Tell you what. I'm going to order the wood and supplies, and on the weekend we'll build it together."
Her eyes bugged out in shock. "Me? I get to build it with you?"
Cal nodded. "Yes. I need an assistant, and you need to learn the business. We need more women in our employment."
Becca clapped her hands. "Thanks, Uncle Cal. I'll do a great job!"
"I know you will, sweetheart."
Morgan smiled at the exchange. Sydney seemed choked up, but instead of gazing at her daughter or Cal, she stared straight at Tristan. A mingle of sadness and longing gleamed from her green eyes, but Tristan had ducked his head and missed the look. Suddenly he pushed his chair back. "Excuse me," he said roughly. "We need more wine."
Sydney turned away.
Dalton laughed, unaware of the sudden tension. "Always knew you'd make the best father out of us, Cal. Seemed to always attract animals and children like the Pied Piper."
"Do you have any children, Uncle Cal?" Becca asked innocently.
Cal grinned. "Not yet. But one day, I plan to have at least six."
Sydney winced. "Back off, buddy. Your woman may have a problem with that."
"Fine. I'll settle for five. There's something about a big, chaotic household that intrigues me. I think it would be fun."
Sydney gave a snort. "Sure. Not sleeping for a year due to colic or teething is fun. Worrying about every step you take until you're a nervous wreck is fun. Balancing work with day care and household tasks and watching Barney or SpongeBob instead of CNN is fun."
"We love to watch SpongeBob together," Becca said seriously.
"Yes, we do, sweetheart," Sydney said. "The reality is sometimes not what you think it is."
"But you got her," Cal said. "That's worth it all, right?"
Sydney suddenly blinked away tears. "Yeah. It is. You're right, Cal, it is fun."
Becca smiled sweetly, not caring that the conversation didn't make sense.
And right then and there, Morgan's heart sunk.
Cal wanted a big family. Somehow she suspected it, but she'd been holding out hope that maybe he wouldn't want children. The image of Elias leaving her after finding out what she couldn't give him slammed into her mind. Her fingers trembled around her fork. She had to tell him. Things were getting too serious, and she fell harder for him every day.
Brady interrupted her thoughts and dragged her back to the present. "So, Morgan, when is the Hollywood power couple flying in to see their house?" he asked. "We're still on schedule?"
She forced herself to focus. "We're nearing the end. The next few weeks are design oriented and final finishes. Each room has to be completed and decorated. Dalton's cabinetry turned out exquisite, and the exterior and landscaping are almost done. I have various tapestries and rugs arriving, along with the furniture. We're in excellent shape."
"What's your next job, Morgan?" Dalton asked. "Going somewhere more exotic than Harrington?"
Morgan shifted in her seat. Usually she lined up her next gig way before the one she was working on ended. She had a vast supply of contacts and a potential client list that would keep her busy for a long time. This time, though, she hadn't committed to her next job. She told herself she liked keeping her options open, especially since a lot hinged on the Rosenthals' opinion of the house she created for them. But deep down she knew the real reason.
It was Cal.
She hated the thought of leaving him behind.
Morgan felt his gaze probing, but she kept her attention on her plate. "Not sure," she said lightly. "I have many options. Right now I just want to concentrate on delivery."
"I hear you," Sydney said. "I'm sure they'll be pleased. The last time I visited I couldn't believe how gorgeous it is. They'd be crazy not to love it."
Tristan returned and refilled his wineglass. "I've cleared my schedule to help you with the decor. Managed to snag a few pieces in SoHo you'll go crazy for," he said. "Oh, and we do have something to celebrate." His eyes sparkled with triumph. "Pierce Brothers is now the new owner of two properties."
"The farmhouse on Balance Street I told you about?" Morgan asked.
He nodded. "That was an amazing tip. I also scooped up the other one on the block they were renting out to tenants. I'm going to convert it into a two-family house."
"So, you solved your issue with Sandy Harper?" Dalton's eyes glinted with mischief. "Thought her father hated my work on the deck."
Tristan sighed. "You were right. He loved the red maple and sang your praises."
"A little louder, please?"
"That's all you're getting, bro."
Dalton laughed and raised his glass. "Well done. Here's to making buckets of money and taking on the Property Brothers."
Tristan rolled his eyes and picked up his glass, then swung his gaze to Cal.
Morgan held her breath. Cal kept his face expressionless but slowly raised his glass. "To Pierce Brothers," he said quietly.
They shared a small smile, and Morgan finished her dinner with a goofy grin of satisfaction on her face.
A few hours later, the dishes were piled up to the cabinets, the garbage cans were full, and company had left. Tristan and Dalton snuck out before Cal could ream them about helping clean up, then sniped about his cleaning woman wanting to quit since his brothers moved in.