Recipe for Satisfacton(39)

“It’s a little weird to see the house empty.” He gestured out into the hall, where all of the picture frames were now missing from the wall.

“Everything’s still here. Just packed away.” She ached for him. She could only imagine what it would be like to lose a parent. She didn’t even want to think about losing her own. But these boys, these men, had not only lost their real parents, but had now lost the one woman in their life who gave a damn.

She held out her hand. “Come with me.”

Cole hesitated but took her hand and followed her out of the room.

She led him into the spare bedroom where she had piled the framed pictures on the bed alongside three banker’s boxes of loose photos. Admittedly, she was a little nosy and did look through them for a minute…or thirty.

“The photos are all here.” She motioned to the bed. “I’m going to organize everything properly. Eventually.”

Cole approached the bed and studied the tabs, a weak smile curving at the side of his mouth.

“Nothing is being thrown away,” she reassured him. “Unless one of you tells me to.”

He flipped through the pictures in the top box while he spoke. “Jack told us he was doing this, but to be honest, I didn’t believe it.”

Her heart hurt for Jack. Despite achieving his own success, he was still questioned at every turn. “Jack’s been working really hard.”

Cole nodded.

Seeing the soft side of Cole, she could see why Penn would be attracted to him.

“Thanks, Sterling, for doing this. We’re all just…” He blew out a harsh breath. “Busy.”

She knew it wasn’t time that kept them from completing this job. The pain was still so fresh. So devastating.

Cole sat on the edge of the bed and moved the photos around. “He’s going to leave again and I’m afraid that without Mom here, he’ll have no reason to come back.”

Jack loved his brothers. She didn’t believe that for a minute.

“But maybe…” Cole gave her a curious look. “That might change.”

Did he think she was going to keep him here? Oh, he had it all wrong. Not only did Jack make it very clear he was leaving, but she had no intention of getting wrapped up in a man for a very long time.

You’re already wrapped up.

“Hey, brother.” Jack sauntered inside the bedroom just in time to save her. But the concerned look on his face made her forget her own trouble. “So you’ve seen what we’re doing with the house?”

Cole nodded.

“And you’re cool with it?” he asked.

“It has to be done.” He shrugged. “I was just surprised. This is a good thing.”

Jack didn’t acknowledge Cole’s praise. Instead he looked in her direction. “Sterling, you’ve made great progress.” He slid his gaze over her body. Like the touch of his hands, she felt his eyes on her, intense and scorching.

“At this rate I’ll be out of your hair in no time.” Making light of things was the only way she could keep her reality in check.

And sometimes being too efficient was a bad thing. She needed to slow down. She had to admit to herself that she didn’t want to be out of this house, out of Jack’s life, so quickly. This job would probably come back to bite her in the ass. But she was too intrigued with his proposition of helping her have fun to care.

“I guess I should get out of your hair, too,” Cole said as he backed away.

“What did you want, anyway?” Jack asked.

Cole’s face lit up. “I came to raid the garden.”

“Take whatever you need.” Jack approached the bed and paged through the pictures. “There are bags in the kitchen pantry.”

“Thanks. See you soon, Sterling.” Cole smiled and walked out with a small wave.

“What are you doing with all these photos?” he asked.

“Oh, I was going to sort them all and then figured I could purchase some photo boxes so they can be preserved.”

So many memories. So many good times. These pictures were irreplaceable. Plus, she had a surprise in mind for each of them.

“I wasn’t expecting you back so early,” she commented. “I don’t see any bags.” Sterling peeked into the hall to confirm.

“Not today.” He smiled, a mysterious grin that foretold of his intentions. Did he have something up his sleeve? “You did as I asked? You brought a change of clothes?”

She nodded.

“Good.” He pointed his thumb in the direction of the doorway. “We’re leaving in forty-five minutes.”

“But…” She had too much work to do. “I’m not done.”