“We should get together for dinner sometime with the kids,” Kelly, a short, stout brunette suggested.
Hugh put his arm around Brianna and pulled her in close. “I do have a house here, and I was lucky enough to meet Bree at her work.” He kissed the side of her forehead. “Babe, I promised to help Jean with a few things. Do you mind?”
Brianna could have stayed in his arms forever, but the vultures were eye raping him. She didn’t blame Hugh for wanting to escape. Of course they all watched him walk away. Brianna had to admit, he did have a hot ass. Thankfully, the parents from Layla’s class never stayed at birthday parties. They always had an errand to run or another child to care for, so she held the door open for them to leave.
“The party is over at seven thirty.” She watched as the women followed Hugh toward the kitchen. Brianna groaned. She picked up her new camera—relishing in the weight of it, the contoured lines, and the way it fit so perfectly in her hands—and then she went to watch The Devouring of Hugh Braden.
She found Hugh in the backyard with the children. He’d tied the piñata to a branch of the big oak tree. Layla was beneath the tree holding a plastic bat. Her eyes were clenched shut, and Hugh began spinning her in slow circles. Brianna brought the camera to her eye and focused on the two of them. A calm that she hadn’t realized she’d missed washed over her. She took several pictures, then zoomed in on Hugh’s profile, feeling her heart swell as she cataloged his features through the safety of the lens, capturing them in her heart—and on film.
“Okay, Princess Layla, swing,” he coaxed.
Layla swung the bat and missed.
“Again,” Hugh encouraged her.
She swung again and tapped the piñata. This time he set her in just the right position and she smacked it hard. She opened her eyes and Brianna caught the awed expression, and then she caught the embrace between the two people who owned equal parts of her heart.
Sarah, a quiet blond girl, was up next. Hugh crouched beside her. What Brianna saw through her lens was the way his eyes watched the little girl’s eyes as they drifted around the backyard and how he reacted to her shyness with perfect grace, not too strong, not too soft, a sweet curl to his lips, a glint in his eye, and a moment later, Sarah’s eyes followed Hugh as he settled the piñata for her turn.
When it was time for the cake, the hyenas surrounded Hugh once again. Cheryl stood behind him and put her hand on his shoulder, pretending to look around him, when, in fact, there was plenty of room for her to take a step or two to the side. Through the lens of the camera, Brianna caught Hugh’s shoulders as they inched up toward his ears and the pleading look in his eyes when he turned toward her. She lowered it and watched as he twisted, disengaging from Cheryl’s trap, his eyes trained on Brianna.
“You okay?” Hugh touched her cheek.
If you call wanting to claw Cheryl’s eyes out okay. “Yeah.”
“I’m trying to be nice to your friends, but—”
“They aren’t my friends, Hugh. They’re the parents of Layla’s friends. Don’t worry. I don’t blame you for them being all over you.” The women watched them as Jean handed out plates and forks.
“I can put a stop to that woman with one sentence. But I need your okay to do it.”
She tilted her head, wondering what the mischievous gleam in his eyes meant.
“One sentence. That’s all it takes. Something simple like, You’re really sweet, but I don’t like to be touched by anyone other than Brianna.”
Brianna laughed. “You’re a goof.”
“How about, Only in your dreams, and then I take you in a passionate kiss and press your beautiful body against mine until you can’t think and I can’t breathe?”
She couldn’t think, and from the looks of it, he could hardly breathe. She licked her lips.
He stepped closer. “I will have to kiss you if you do that again, and I’m pretty sure that when I start I won’t be able to stop.”
He had a hungry look in his eyes, and when she put her hand on his stomach, she felt him shudder, which sent a pulse of heat right through her.
“Bree, Hugh, we’re ready for cake,” Jean said.
For a moment they just stared at each other, unable to break away from the electricity that bound them. Hugh’s hand found hers, and Brianna begged her legs to remain strong.
“Hold up.” Hugh held up one finger. “I have something for the birthday girl before we get started.” He ran into the house and came back out with his hands behind his back.
He stood behind Layla, and Brianna focused her camera once again as Hugh settled the tiara on Layla’s head.
“Happy birthday, Princess Layla.”
Brianna caught on film every smile, every excited moment as Layla stood on her chair and jumped into Hugh’s arms and the loving look on Hugh’s face as Layla pressed her cheek against his. She lowered the camera to unveil the scene in real time. She’d never imagined that anyone could love Layla as much as she did, and there was Hugh, with a heart as big as the sun and enough love to share with both of them.
The other mothers awwed, and Brianna knew that it would never matter if women pawed at or fought for Hugh. She and Layla had already staked claim to his heart, and they hadn’t even actively tried. Maybe some things really are meant to be.
Chapter Forty
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THE tavern was crazy busy, which made Brianna’s workday go by quickly. By the time she met her mother and Layla at the apartment, she was too nervous to be tired. Hugh’s brother Treat and his wife, Max, were going to pick them up, and she had no idea what to expect. Hugh had said that she’d love them both, but that didn’t stop the butterflies in her belly from multiplying.
“Are you sure you have Piglet?” she asked Layla.
“Yes.” Layla and Jean were in the middle of a game of Drama Queen.
Brianna checked her bags one more time. Clothes, shoes, makeup, birth control pills. At exactly six o’clock, there was a knock at the door.
“Okay, princess. Let’s go. Mom, are you ready?” Brianna asked.
“Of course. This will be an adventure.” Jean reached for Layla’s hand.
Brianna opened the door and was greeted by one of the tallest men she’d ever seen up close. He wore what looked to be a very expensive dark suit and white button-down shirt. She noted the similarities between Treat and Hugh; they had the same dark hair, though Treat’s was cut a little shorter, the same olive skin, and the same warm, friendly eyes.
“Hi. Brianna?” His voice was as deep as Hugh’s.
“Yes, hi.” Brianna held out her hand, and when he shook it, his giant hand engulfed hers. “This is Jean, my mother, and my daughter, Layla.”
“Treat Braden. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve got a car waiting to take us to the airport.” He reached into his jacket and withdrew an activity book, which he handed to Layla. “I thought you might like this for the trip,” he said.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Brianna said. “Thank you.”
Treat gathered their bags, and Brianna carried Layla’s backpack. A black limousine waited for them out front.
Layla squealed, “Look! Look!”
Jean mouthed, Wow, to Brianna.
Brianna looked down at her jeans, boots, and sweater, then back at Treat’s suit and cringed. Was she going to need a whole new wardrobe?
Treat opened the door, and Layla climbed into the booster seat that was already in place.
“Hi!” Layla said.
Brianna peered into the car and smiled at Max, a pretty brunette she recognized from the photograph at Hugh’s house. She was relieved to see that she, too, was wearing jeans. She breathed a little easier as she climbed into the limo.
“Hi, I’m Bree, and this is Layla.” Her mother climbed in behind her. “And this is Jean, my mom.”
Max smiled warmly. “Hi. I’m excited to meet you. I’m Max.”
Treat climbed in next to Max and put his arm around her. “My very beautiful wife.” He kissed the side of her forehead.
“Oh, stop.” Max laughed. “This is going to be fun.”
They were on the road a few minutes later, and Max filled the quiet with easy conversation. Brianna loved her outgoing personality, and watching Treat with her reminded her of Hugh. He was just as attentive, and when Max teased him, he teased her right back. She wondered if the entire family was as openly affectionate as they were.
“Brianna, tell me how you met Hugh,” Treat asked.
“It’s sort of embarrassing. We met in the tavern where I work. He had a blind date, and I guess it didn’t go so well.” Brianna shrugged, dropping her gaze when she felt her cheeks heat up.
“That’s not embarrassing. Thank God for dates gone bad,” Max said.
“Have you ever been to the races, Layla?” Treat asked.
She shook her head.
“You’ll enjoy it, but it’s really loud, so we’ll give you really cool earplugs if you want them.” Max pulled a small box out of her leather bag. “See?” She handed them to Layla.
Layla looked at the box and crinkled her nose. “Do I have to wear them?”
Max laughed. “No, but if you want to, we’ll have them.”