The Lemon Sisters (Wildstone #3)(85)

“I do,” she said. “That’s why I freaked out about the shop. I want more time with you, not less. And with the shop in my name, I’d be as busy as . . . well, you.”

He leaned in and kissed her softly, his hands going to her hips to hold her close. “I’m sorry, Mindy. Can we get past this?”

“I want to,” she said earnestly, “but . . .”

“But you’re still unsure,” he said as if he understood. “You’ve got built-up resentment. I’ve been a bad boy.” He rolled to his back, bring her along with him so that now she was straddling him. “Do you want to play reverse Fifty Shades on my ass? Would that help?”

This had her bursting out laughing, because one thing Linc wasn’t—now or ever—was submissive. Smug bastard, smiling up at her. Confident. Sexy. “You know what?” she said. “Yes, I do. I want to tie you up.”

“Yeah?” His voice was pure sex. “And then what?” His hands slid up and cupped her breasts, teasing them the way only he knew how. “Tell me. Tell me slowly and in great detail.”

ACROSS THE YARD, Brooke fell asleep in Garrett’s arms and didn’t move from that spot until a phone went off. She felt him reach past her for the cell on his nightstand. She lifted her head in a stupor and realized it was dawn. “What is it?” she asked. “Your dad?”

“No. A group text from Linc, sent to all of us. It says: Everyone get your asses in the kitchen.”

“What the hell?”

When she and Garrett rushed into Linc and Mindy’s kitchen a few minutes later, it was to find breakfast made and waiting.

“Okay,” Brooke said, confused. “Did I die and go to heaven, or did you guys make up? Because Mindy hasn’t cooked breakfast since she got back, and—”

“We made up!” Mindy said.

Brooke stared at her. There was most definitely a glow.

“Hold up,” Linc said. He was wearing the same telltale glow as Mindy, but his head was cocked as he first studied Brooke, then Garrett.

Brooke instantly realized their mistake. In their rush to find out what was wrong, they’d run out of Garrett’s house without a care. Meaning she was no doubt also wearing the “glow.” She took a quick peek at Garrett, and yep. His hair was finger-tousled, by her fingers. His T-shirt was on inside out, and she realized she was wearing one of his shirts. “Oh, shit. We’re screwed,” she said beneath her breath.

“Yeah,” Linc said, apparently possessing superhuman hearing. “You both definitely look . . . screwed.”

Mindy took a good look and gasped. “Oh my God. You’re . . . together again?”

That she’d asked this with such obvious joy and sincere hope made it a whole lot easier for Brooke to swallow that their secret was out.

The last secret.

At least, Brooke hoped to God it was the last secret.

Mindy gave up on getting an answer out of Brooke and turned to Garrett. “Yes?”

“Yes,” he said. “But don’t overreact—”

Mindy threw herself at him, hugging him tight. “I’ve been trying to find the perfect woman for you for so long and you were so annoying about it, not being helpful or interested. I had no idea why, but now I know. You were waiting for the right one, the only one.” She snagged Brooke and dragged her into the hug as well. “Don’t you dare hurt him,” she said, and then eyed Garrett. “And don’t you dare mess this up!”

Brooke managed to pull free. “So much for not overreacting. It was one night, Min. Don’t get excited. So what did you drag us out of bed for?”

“To let you know that we got our shit together,” Linc said. “Which calls for a celebration in the form of an overnight camping trip, like the good old days. I even managed to arrange foisting all the children off on friends tonight. Let’s go get drunk, burn s’mores, dance to sappy country songs, and maybe Mindy’ll even go skinny-dipping in the hidden falls with me.”

“Ew,” Brooke said, even though that was exactly what they’d done in the “old days.”

“Sorry, but skinny-dipping is off the table,” Mindy said. “My skinny-dipping days are over.”

“But everything else sounds good, right?” Linc asked.

Mindy nodded.

“Perfect,” he said. “I’ll pack us up.”

Mindy blinked at him. “Did you just trick me into going camping, where there’s no electricity for my straightener or flush toilets?”

Linc shrugged unapologetically. “Negotiating is a skill.” He looked at all of them. “Be here by three this afternoon, ready and packed.”

“Two or four,” Brooke said. “Not three.”

“Two it is,” Linc said easily.

“You’re all batshit crazy,” Garrett said.

“That’s a yes, right?” Linc asked.

Garrett snatched a piece of perfectly crisped bacon, bit into it, and moaned. “If Mindy’s going to cook.”

“And you?” Linc asked Brooke.

Yeah, since she was just as crazy as the rest of them, if not more so, because suddenly she wanted much more than an overnight. “As long as there are s’mores.”