“Hey, you two, why don’t you come with me?” Emmy waddled over to the twins and took their hands. “The guys are in the backyard. We have some surprises for you.”
I watched with a smile on my face as Cam and Callie jumped up and down as the followed Emmy out.
Grabbing my hand, Brett led me away from the back door. “Come on. I want you to see this.”
I blindly followed him down the hall, reveling in the feel of his palm against mine as memories of our one and only night together flashed back through my head. Arousal flowed over me the closer we got to his bedroom door. I couldn’t help but remember exactly how he’d manipulated my body in the very best ways in that room.
Pausing outside a door one room down from his own, Brett turned to look at me. I could tell the moment he realized what I was thinking about. His lids lowered half-mast as he took me in, his gaze trailing down my neck and chest before returning to my own.
“You’re remembering it, too, aren’t you, beauty?” he asked in a low, deep voice as he stepped in closer to me, crowding me against the doorframe. He leaned in and ran his nose along the bend of my neck to my ear. “I can’t stop thinking about that night, Kenzie. It’s burned into my fucking brain.”
“Brett,” I panted.
“You still feel it, don’t you?”
I reached up and placed my palms on his hard chest to push him back, but he only moved just enough to look at me.
“Please, Brett. Don’t do this. Especially right now.”
A growl rumbled deep in his chest before he dropped his forehead to mine and let out a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step back. “It’s just do fuckin’ hard not to touch you, Kenz.”
Trying to push down the feeling of just how badly I missed his warmth or how much his words penetrated my heart, I attempted a smile and cleared my throat. “It’s okay. What did you want to show me?”
At my question, his face lit up, making him look like a little boy and endearing me to him that much more.
Following him into the room we were standing in front of, he walked over to something covered in a sheet, and whipped it off. My breathing stalled and tears instantly filled my eyes as I took in the sight of the most beautiful toy chest I’d ever seen. It was made of solid wood with a hinged lid. The craftsmanship was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The wood was stained a beautiful cherry with hand carved toys, everything from trains to teddy bears. On the lid, in the most beautiful carved scrolling letters I’d ever seen, were my children’s names. If not for that detail, I would have taken the toy chest for an expensive antique. It was nothing less than stunning.
“Oh, Brett,” I cried before I covered my mouth with both hands, tears breaking free and running down my cheeks.
His brow furrowed with worry as he took in my tear-stained face. “Ah, Christ, beauty. Don’t cry.” He rushed to me and scooped me into a tight hug. “I won’t give it to them if it upsets you. It was a stupid idea. I shouldn’t have built it without talking to you first.”
I pulled back, stunned. “You made this?”
“Well, yeah.” He let me go and reached back to rub his neck, an adorable blush creeping up his neck. “I saw the small bins you were using when I watched the kids for you. I just figured you could really use something to keep their toys in so they weren’t spilling out all over the place. I didn’t think—”
“Brett,” I interrupted, placing my palms on his cheeks so he’d look at me. “I love it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. This is, by far, the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given my kids.” I let him go and walked over to the chest, running my finger along the intricate carvings. “It’s so beautiful. I can’t believe you made this. It’s almost too much.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. It was charming how embarrassed he appeared at my compliments of his work.
“I just wanted them to have something special. You think I should have gone with a Toy’s R Us gift card instead? What if they don’t like it?”
At the look on Brett’s face, I wanted nothing more than to erase all the concern that marred his expression, but just as I opened my mouth to speak, Cameron and Callie came rushing into the room.
“Mommy! Mommy! Brett got us a bouncy castle!”
“What?” My head shot back in Brett’s direction, my eyes the size of salad plates. “Now, that’s too much.”
He shrugged casually and shot me a wink that made my stomach flutter. “What can I say, I love spoiling them.