“She’s not a model, Treat, and she’s not a fan either.” If it had been any of his other brothers, he’d have joked his way out of a serious conversation, but Treat had never steered him wrong and he was less judgmental than the others. He called Hugh on his shit, but he offered advice instead of just judgment. Right then, Hugh could use a little advice. In his brother’s silence he read disbelief.
“It’s the truth, Treat. She’s a single mom, and I like her. A lot.” Hugh sat down on the weight bench and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“A single mom.”
Maybe Hugh had given up his hand too early. He detected something akin to judgment in Treat’s voice.
“Yeah, a single mom.” Hugh sat up straighter.
“Hugh, what are you thinking? Single moms have responsibilities. They can’t be out until two in the morning drinking, and I doubt she’ll want her daughter around a guy who dates a different woman every night.”
Hugh pushed to his feet. “You don’t know me that well, Treat.” Anger crept into his voice. “I haven’t dated like that in months.”
“Months?”
“Yes, months. I know how it seems to all of you. I’m the irresponsible youngest Braden, the one who you all laugh about when I leave family gatherings early because you know it’s just who I am. I get it, man. I created that image, but it’s not me any longer, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
“Months,” Treat repeated.
“Yes, months.”
“Really? Months? Well, I thought you meant, you know, a few weeks. How could I not have known that?”
“Despite what you think, you don’t know everything about all of us, Treat. Even with your ability to make a phone call and learn all the dirty details of people’s lives.”
“Hugh, I’m looking at an Enquirer from two months ago with my brother on the front, on the arm of a leggy model.”
He heard the smirk in Treat’s voice. “You believe those bullshit magazines?”
“Not usually, but this sort of fits your rep, bro.”
“Yeah, it fit the rep I had. Look carefully, Treat. Do you see where it says 2012 Parade on the sign behind the blue car? The motherfuckers didn’t Photoshop very well, did they?”
He heard paper crumbling.
“Why are you reading that shit anyway?” Hugh asked. “Don’t you have better things to do with your time?”
“I’m at a doctor’s office, and it was here on the table. Now it’s in their trash can.”
“Doctor? Is everything okay?” Hugh sat back down. His father had a heart issue a little over a year ago, and now Hugh’s chest tightened at the thought.
“Yeah. Max wasn’t feeling well. We’re waiting to see the doctor.”
“Oh, thank God.” Hugh let out a loud breath. “I don’t mean that. I thought it was Dad. I hope Max feels better.”
“She will. It’s not Dad; don’t worry. I’d have led with that if it were. So tell me about the woman you met.”
He heard Max in the background. “Hugh met a woman?” He pictured her pulling out her cell phone and blasting a text to his entire family and their significant others: Alert! Hugh met a woman he actually likes! There were no secrets in the Braden family. Their grapevine ran strong and often.
“Bree.” Hugh paced again. “She’s…I don’t know, Treat. She’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. She’s more real. She’s responsible, sweet, careful. She’s very careful.” He paused, and when Treat didn’t fill in the gap, he knew he was waiting for more, but he couldn’t define what it was about Brianna that tweaked his heart. He just knew that she had.
“Where’s the hot, sexy, awesome in bed stuff you always spout off?”
“Jesus, Treat. She’s not like that. We haven’t even done that stuff. I mean, she’s beautiful, and she’s beyond sexy in a wholesome, natural way.” He paused again, thinking about Brianna’s smile and the way it lit up her eyes. “She’s nothing like the women I’ve dated. She’s better in every way.”
“Hugh, I’m sorry, man. I didn’t realize you were serious. What about her daughter?”
“I haven’t met her yet. I actually could use some advice on this, Treat, and I really don’t have anyone else to turn to. I really like Bree, and yes, it surprises me, but I can’t turn away from the way I feel. I haven’t known her that long, but when I took her to her apartment, I didn’t like the feeling I got. Some scuzzy guy was eyeing her, and I wanted to protect her. I mean, scuzzy guys look at women all the time, but I’ve never felt like I wanted to threaten one for looking at a woman I was with until I met Bree. And it worries me a little.”
“What part of it?”
“It’s fast. It’s a strong feeling. We both think I shouldn’t meet Layla—her daughter—until we’re sure about us. It all worries me. I’m not exactly the most patient man on earth.”
Treat laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that made Hugh smile. “You could say that again. Well, what’s your plan right now?”
Hugh headed for the stairs. “For the first time in my life, I don’t have a plan. I’m here until next Friday night; then I’m in Daytona. I want to come back Saturday night. Layla’s birthday is Sunday, and even if I haven’t met her by then, I want to be nearby in case Bree needs anything.” He laughed. “That’s weird as shit, right?”
“No, Hugh. That’s growing up.”
“Right. Whatever. Then we have Savannah’s party the next weekend, and I already don’t want to be away from Bree again for that.”
“All I can tell you is that when fate steps in, you have no choice. You do whatever it takes to follow it.”
He heard Treat kiss Max, and it made him long for Brianna. He’d been waiting to call her, not wanting to smother her. And now, hearing her voice was all he wanted to do. His phone beeped with another call coming through.
“Hey, Treat. I have another call. Wanna hold on a sec?”
“I can’t. The nurse just called us in. I gotta run, but we’ll touch base before next weekend. Love you, Hugh. And don’t worry. You’ll figure it out, and I’m here if you need to bounce something off of me.”
“Love you too, Treat. Thanks.”
He clicked over without looking at the screen. “Hello?”
“Hugh?”
Hugh froze; then a smile crept across his lips. “Bree?”
“Yeah, hi.”
“Are you okay? Why are you being so quiet?” He went into the living room and eyed the couch where they’d made out. He had to turn away. Just thinking about it gave him a hard-on.
“I’m at my mom’s, and I’m out on the porch. I just didn’t want Layla to hear me.”
“Is she okay? How did she like the play?”
“She’s great, and she loved it. I’m actually calling because my mom offered to keep Layla again tonight, and I wondered if you were free. I know you’re probably busy, but—”
“Bree, I’m free. I’m definitely free, and I want to see you. But I thought you couldn’t make time.” He headed for the bedroom, already thinking about where to take her.
“Well, let’s just say that my mom convinced me that a twelve-year plan might not be the smartest thing for me to do.”
“I love your mom already.”
She laughed, and Hugh felt like the luckiest man on earth.
“Is there anything specific you want to do? When can I pick you up? Should I pick you up at your mom’s?” Words fell fast from his lips. He pulled his shirt over his head and turned on the shower.
“I need to shower and change. I don’t have anything specific I want to do. I just wanted to spend time with you,” she said.
“Okay.” Hugh’s mind raced. He had a great idea for their first date, but it would require pulling some major strings, and it was a weekend, which meant he needed to also collect on most of the favors owed to him—and then some. “How about I pick you up at seven thirty? What time do you need to be back?”
She didn’t answer.
“Bree?”
He read her answer in her silence. “Oh. Okay, then. I’ll see you at seven thirty. Hey?”
“Yeah?” Her voice was tentative, and Hugh imagined her tucking her hair behind her ear, looking away with her gorgeous eyes.
“No pressure here. Just because we can doesn’t mean we have to.” Hugh never imagined he’d be the kind of guy who would say anything even remotely similar to that. His feelings for Brianna were peeling away layers of his old self, and he liked the man who was emerging.
BRIANNA STARED INTO her closet. “Come on. Come on. Come on,” she said as she sifted through her clothes. She pulled open her dresser drawers and stared at the jeans she’d been wearing for three years. The same sweaters, the same blouses. She finally threw her hands up in the air and called Kat.
“What do girls wear on dates nowadays?” She paced the bedroom floor.
“You’re going out with Patrick—Hugh?”
“Uh-huh.”
Kat squealed so loud that Brianna had to pull the phone away from her ear.