Only You (Adair Family #5)(61)

Determined not to be swayed by flattery, I stared stonily at him. “You look squashed. So does Walker.”

Walker grunted in the affirmative.

“I’m definitely not squashed.” He pressed his leg against mine under the table. “I’m just right.”

“You’re no’ right in the head, more like it,” I replied.

“I think I am for the first time in years.”

I sighed. “What are you doing here?”

“Joining you for brunch.”

“No one invited you.”

“I did.”

“That doesn’t count.”

He smirked. “I just assumed you were too shy to invite me.”

“I have never been shy around you, Brodan Adair.”

“Oh, don’t I know it.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I was going to kill him. “So … this is the way you’ve chosen to die?”

He smiled so big it almost broke me. “I’d prefer to be under you in that moment, but a man takes what he can get.”

“Brodan!” I shoved him, glancing around to make sure no one beyond our table heard him.

Sloane choked on her laughter as Brodan threw his head back and let his go. It drew stares, and I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. “You’re making a scene.”

His laughter quietened as he searched my face. “I’ll make you laugh again someday, Sunset.”

Pain lashed through me, and his eyes darkened as if he saw it.

Sloane cleared her throat as she pushed back from the table. “Actually, I just remembered I have things to do, so I really should be going. Walker.” She looked down at him. “Would you walk me out? I baked some cupcakes for Regan and Thane since they’ve been so welcoming, and I have extra. They’re yours if you want them.”

If Walker was a man that pounced on an excuse to leave a situation, I think he would have. Instead, he nodded casually and stood slowly, stepping back to allow Sloane past him.

“Sloane—” I gave her a pleading look.

She smiled apologetically. “We’ll catch up later. I’ll call you.”

I nodded, trying to not be sullen about her departure.

“Walk.” Brodan said his friend’s name as a goodbye.

“Brodan.” Walker smacked him so hard on the shoulder, Brodan flinched. I decided I really liked Walker Ironside. “Monroe.”

“Bye.” I gave him a weary wave.

Then they were gone.

And everyone in the café was trying not to look at us … and failing.

“You can go too,” I said under my breath to Brodan.

But Flora approached with a tray of food. “I take it this is for you two now?”

“We can’t waste Flora’s efforts,” Brodan answered with faux innocence.

I smiled sweetly. “I hope you choke on a sandwich.”

Flora choked on a snort as she laid the plates out. She winked at me. “Enjoy.”

Staring at Brodan, I huffed, “If you’re staying to eat, you can move.”

He smirked. “Is my proximity too much of a temptation?”

“To stick this butter knife in your thigh? Aye. Far too tempting.”

“I walked into that one,” he murmured congenially, but he got up to take Sloane’s empty chair.

I could breathe a little now that I wasn’t enveloped in his heat and aftershave. “What are you really doing here, Brodan?”

His expression turned serious. “I wanted to spend time with you, and I knew that you wouldn’t agree to it.”

“So, you forced it?”

“I … I’m … fuck.” He sank back in his chair, scrubbing his hands down his face. “I’m sorry.” He pushed up from the table. “I’ll leave.”

“Sit down.” I sighed in exasperation. I shouldn’t have capitulated, but he looked so much like that lost wee boy I still held in my affections.

He sat down so quickly it was almost comical. “I promise I won’t do it again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Brodan Adair.”

“I love when you second name me,” he teased. “It does things to me.”

“Don’t flirt with me either.” I pointed my fork at him in warning.

Brodan shook his head. “No, can’t promise that.”

I rolled my eyes and dug into a sandwich so I didn’t have to deal with him for a few seconds. Then, still feeling as if we had an audience, it reminded me to ask, “No calls from Hollywood, then? No film sets awaiting your arrival?”

He swallowed his bite of pastry. “I think I’m done with acting.”

My breath caught, but I didn’t let him see this news affected me. “Think?”

He shrugged. “I used to see this therapist.”

“You mentioned that.” It still shocked me, but I admired him for it. “I’m glad.”

“Aye, well, we talked about how acting was my escape. I wanted to get lost in other people’s lives because it was easier to deal with than my own. Especially after my dad died.”

I’d heard from my mum about Stuart Adair’s death. At the time, I grieved him, and I grieved for his children, for Brodan. I’d wanted to go to Brodan. To stand at his side for the funeral, but I’d believed then that I wouldn’t be welcome. Now I knew differently.