Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(2)

“That baby in her belly is making her awful sick.”

“Yes.”

“Maybe we should get the baby out.”

“No, we can’t do that.”

“But if it’s making her sick…”

I sat down at the kitchen table and pulled Donny onto my lap, placing a kiss on his sweet-smelling head. “She and your dad want the baby very much. So even if it makes her sick, she’s going to stick it out until it’s time for the baby to be born so you and Dale will have a little sister or brother.”

“I hope it’s a boy,” Donny said, smiling. “What do you want it to be, Auntie Marj?”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as it’s healthy.”

“I suppose.” Donny hopped off my lap. “Can I have a drink of water?”

“Sure thing.” I rose and got him a cup out of the cupboard.

He filled it at the refrigerator. “I’m going to go play with the doggies.” He trotted out through the sliding glass doors onto the deck, where Roger, Bo, and Beauty were napping.

Not for long. Donny would have those dogs up and running and fetching in no time. The kid was full of energy.

I sighed. Being here was good for me. With all the commotion, I barely had time to think those horrible thoughts.

Except that now I was thinking them again.

I walked over to the refrigerator, but before I opened it, a knock sounded on the front door.

I quickly wiped my hands on a dish towel, walked through the kitchen and foyer to the door, and peered through the peephole.

My heart jumped.

Bryce Simpson.

Bryce was my brother Joe’s best friend. I’d known him ever since I could remember. Both he and Joe were thirteen years my senior, and I’d never thought of him as anything but Joe’s buddy…until he and I had almost shared a kiss after I’d babysat his young son, Henry, one time.

I’d followed him to check on the sleeping baby, and we’d smiled down at his angelic face. Then we’d turned to one another. My heart had stampeded as he leaned toward me, his gaze meeting mine and making me melt. I lifted my face to meet his lips.

We got closer…

Closer…

Had I stopped it? Or had he? I couldn’t quite recall. At any rate, a million things had happened since then, and I hadn’t seen him or Henry since Ryan and Ruby’s wedding a couple of months ago.

I knew one thing, though. Bryce Simpson was no longer just Joe’s best friend. Now he was the tall and muscular man with sandy-blond hair and blue eyes that made my heart beat a little faster.

Many times, I’d imagined the kiss that hadn’t happened.

Many times, I’d wished it had.

My skin prickled.

I wanted to see Bryce.

I wanted to see him badly.

I opened the door.





Chapter Two





Bryce





“Hi, Bryce.”

Marjorie Steel.

Damn.

I remembered when she was born. I remembered a pink-faced baby, a cute toddler, a gawky preteen.

I remembered a hot eighteen-year-old going off to college.

I remembered telling myself she was no longer jailbait.

Then I remembered thinking my best friend would pummel me for even having that thought.

That particular thought was tame compared to what I was thinking now.

She was five feet ten, model gorgeous, and those deep brown eyes could melt me with just a look.

Plus, she was great with my son. What a plus.

Damn again.

I wanted her.

But I was a fucking mess. I couldn’t even take care of my own son. He was with my mom, and though I was living with them, I’d hardly been hands-on lately. Thank God for my mom. And thank God for Henry. Henry had saved my mom after she’d found out the truth about my father.

Henry had given her a reason to stay sane.

He’d given me a reason as well, but with Mom taking care of him—needing to take care of him—I’d been free to wallow in the mess that had become my life.

Marjorie widened those gorgeous baby browns. “Bryce?”

Oh, yeah. I hadn’t said anything yet. I cleared my throat. “Is Tal around?”

“He should be here any minute. You want to come in?”

“Yeah. Sure.” I stepped into the foyer. “I went to Joe’s first. No one answered.”

“He and Melanie went into town for dinner.”

“Oh.” I cleared my throat again.

“We’re going to eat soon. I’m making pepper steak and twice-baked potatoes. There’s plenty. Would you like to stay?”

As if on cue, my stomach let out a roar.

Marjorie smiled. “Is that a yes?”

“I can’t. I just need to talk to Talon. It’s important.”

“Tal’s been working all day. I can guarantee you he won’t be in any mood for talking until his belly is full. Come on.” She walked toward the kitchen of the large ranch house.

I had no choice but to follow. My appetite hadn’t been great lately, but I couldn’t deny my hunger as I inhaled the rich beefy scent.

The kitchen table was already set, a clear vase filled with yellow flowers resting in its center. She removed the vase and set it on a nearby counter.