“We all know how you feel about tall men.” Myrna laughed.
“You wouldn’t have to train him. Mikey, that is,” Inez said. “A definite improvement over Audy Briscoe.”
“I still think you are shortchanging Audy.” Myrna flipped through the appointment book, made a note, closed it and put it away. “Maybe he just hasn’t met the right woman yet. Maybe Brooke is the right woman.”
“Brooke doesn’t want that sort of responsibility. Who would?” Inez shook her head. “I have a hard time believing Audy will ever be fully domesticated.”
“He’s not a cat.” Myrna had them all laughing. “From what I’ve seen, he’s already gotten pretty domesticated. He’s terrific with Joy.”
That had Brooke smiling. It was true. She never expected Audy to become so...so fatherly. But seeing the two of them together left little doubt that he sincerely adored Joy. Audy and Joy’s adorableness aside, this conversation had gone on entirely too long. “You do realize that none of you have asked me how I feel about either one of them. It’s possible I’m not interested in them, you know?”
“Then you’re a fool.” Inez threw the used paper towels in the trash can and frowned at Brooke. “You do realize how shallow the pool of single men is in these parts, don’t you?”
“Inez, be nice.” Portia pulled out a fingernail file and started buffing her nails. “I get where Brooke is coming from. You can’t force these things.”
“Thank you.” Brooke turned back to tallying the boxes of foil, applicator brushes and conditioners. “And then there’s the whole thing about time?” She wrote down the numbers and closed the cabinet. “Between Joy, Tess, running this place and the Save The First Tree thing the Ladies Guild is kicking off, I don’t have...any.”
“Well, if it’s the right guy you make the time.” Myrna shrugged. “And I’m just saying, but you should make time for Audy.”
The first thing Myrna had said, Brooke agreed with. The second? Audy was getting plenty of time with her as it was. Too much. So much so that, even when he wasn’t around, she found herself thinking about him. More time with Audy is the last thing I need.
“Nah, Mikey. All the way.” Inez put her hands on her hips. “He is the only option.”
“Are we voting now?” Portia giggled. “You better make it fast because he’s here.”
Brooke didn’t have time to ask who was here because the door opened and Audy came in, with Joy on his hip. He stepped inside and Brooke struggled to keep the air in her lungs. No man should be this good-looking. He wore a perfectly starched blue button-up and snug-fit creased jeans. There was a high shine on his boots and his hat sat, just right, on his head. All in all, he was probably the most handsome man Brooke had ever laid eyes on.
“Evening, ladies. You closing up shop for the weekend?” he asked, heading straight for Brooke. “We were hoping you were about done.” His gaze swept over her face.
“You were?” Brooke asked, setting the clipboard aside to take Joy—who was leaning forward for her. “Hi, baby.”
Joy patted her. “Ha.”
Brooke kissed her on the cheek, making a loud smack so Joy would smile. “What are you two up to?”
“We thought we’d invite you to dinner.” Audy leaned against the counter, watching the two of them.
Brooke blinked. “Dinner?” This was a first. And not a good one. What did he mean, dinner? Not a date? Surely not. Like it or not, her heart picked up.
“Mabel’s come home so we’re having a late family dinner and I thought you and Tess might—should be there.” He winked at Joy. “Don’t you think?”
Not a date. What is wrong with me? Why was she...disappointed? The girls were partly to blame, carrying on about Audy and her as if there was an Audy and her. There is not. Which was good.
“When did she get home?” Mabel Briscoe was the only female Briscoe. She was soft-spoken and sweet and had the biggest heart of anyone.
“Today.” He chuckled. “Uncle Felix had talked her into staying put when she heard about Joy but he mentioned the whole thing with The First Tree last time they talked and she was on the next flight.”
“I’m glad she’s home. I can’t wait to hear all about the work she’s been doing.” Brooke gave Joy a bunny-nose rub. “You’ll love her, Joy. She’s smart and sweet and pretty and I know she will love you.”
“That she will,” Audy agreed, his blue eyes meeting hers.
“You go on,” Myrna said. “Everything’s done, anyway.”
“She doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to.” Inez gave Audy a look that left no doubt about how she felt about him.
Audy grinned and tipped his hat her way.
Inez rolled her eyes.
“Ma ma, ba ma,” Joy babbled, animated.
Brooke listened intently as Joy carried on, her little face reflecting so many familiar expressions. A little Tess, a little Brooke and some Audy, too. “You don’t say?” Brooke smoothed the curl on her head. “I bet.”
Joy smiled, patting Brooke.
“There you go, speaking your secret language. I need a translator.” Audy chuckled, walking toward them. “You two.”
“Two of the prettiest girls in Colton County, if you ask me,” Portia said. “Especially this one.” She bopped Joy on the nose. “Oh, when are you going to let me babysit?”
“Soon, I bet. Brooke’ll need a babysitter for her date with Mikey.” Inez flipped off the lights over her station. “Have a good Sunday, ladies.”
If she was going to get a babysitter, it would be for a long soak in a bathtub or to binge-watch some rom-coms, not go on a date with Mikey. It struck her as odd that not five minutes had passed since she’d been all twisted up in the hopes that Audy’s dinner invitation was a date... Brooke swallowed, the difference in her reaction was...concerning. More like alarming. “’Night, Inez.”
“Ba ba.” Joy waved, her bright smile impossible to refuse.
“’Night, sugar.” Inez waved back, smiling for the first time.
“You made Inez smile, Joy. You’re special. She doesn’t just smile for anyone.” She gave Joy another bunny-nose rub.
Joy clasped Brooke’s face between her hands and pressed a kiss to her lips.
“Oh, sweet girl, I needed that.” Brooke hugged her close, giving Joy’s neck a raspberry that caused Joy to burst into laughter. “You ready?” she asked, reaching for her purse—and she caught sight of Audy’s reflection in her mirror. He was frowning, staring at the floor. But it was the way his jaw clenched tight that told her he was angry.
Why? He’d been all dashing smiles and blue eyes when they’d arrived. She scrambled to think of anything that would anger him.
Because of what Inez said? It was unlikely. Everyone knew she had no filter. Ever. She said what she thought, no excuses. Audy knew Inez, he knew she was prickly. Besides, Audy was known to speak his mind, so it was hard to believe he’d gotten riled over Inez’s picking.
But what else could it be?
Audy chose that moment to look up. Those blue eyes bore into her own—blazing with such force Brooke took a step back.
Just as quickly, he’d turned his attention to Joy. “Want me to take her?” he asked.
Her heart was hammering and her lungs were scrambling to kick in but she managed a “Sure.” What was that? Brooke wasn’t sure what he was thinking but she wasn’t going to ask him here. She loved Portia and Myrna but she had no illusions that anything they witnessed or heard wouldn’t be repeated elsewhere. Whatever was bothering him would have to wait. “Thank you.”
It took another ten minutes to pack up. Myrna and Portia left, Brooke locked the back door, then followed Audy and Joy out the front. She locked up, dropped her keys into her purse and turned to find Audy watching her.
“Audy, I know Inez can be...snippy.” She stepped forward, straightening t
he wide collar of Joy’s dress. “It’s just the way she is. Don’t let it get to you.”
“She didn’t.” He took a long look left, then right, before he asked, “When is this date happening with you and Mikey?”
Brooke blinked. “I—”
“Because we agreed to no dates when we have Joy.” His voice was low and gruff. “Remember?”
“I remember.” It had been her rule—one she’d put in place to keep Audy on his best behavior around Joy. He was the one with the reputation. She was the one with no life.
He nodded, the muscle in his jaw rolling. “Making sure.”
She studied him, wishing she could get inside that thick head of his so she knew what this was really about. He wasn’t upset over Inez. And there was no reason for him to be upset over Mikey. He’d been the first one to mention Mikey to her. Not that he’d been all that thrilled about it... But he’d had his shoulder dislocated a few hours before that, so she’d chalked up his reaction to discomfort—not Mikey Woodard’s supposed interest in her. Was that it? Audy was upset over this date, that wasn’t happening, with Mikey? No. That made no sense whatsoever.
“I’ll see you at the house?” Audy stalked to his truck, carrying Joy with him.
She was at a loss over the cause of his anger. But, boy, was he angry. “Mine?”
“Yours.” He buckled Joy into her car seat. “If that’s all right?”
“Of course it is.” Now she was getting irritated. “You’re angry but I’m not sure why. Did I do something? What’s wrong?”
Audy closed the passenger door. “Nothing, Brooke.”
Nothing? “Then why do you sound like that?” Why was he making this so difficult?
“Like what?” he growled.
“Like that.” She stared up at the blue sky overhead. “Angry. You sound angry, Audy.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “We have got to get better at this.”
“At what?” he snapped.
“At talking.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “We’re adults. Adults talk—work things out. We need to learn to do that.”
“Fine.” He flipped his key ring around his finger. “Sure.”
That was it? That was his answer? “Great.” Don’t fight. Don’t do it. But she didn’t manage to swallow the sound of frustration that slipped out as she walked to her car.
Audy’s truck roared to life, backed up, then straightened out and headed down the street.
Brooke took a deep breath. If Mabel wasn’t her friend—and Myrna and Portia and Inez didn’t know about dinner—she’d have backed out of tonight. The idea of sitting next to a brooding Audy, while Tess and Beau exchanged doe-eyed looks, sounded about as fun as a root canal without sedation. But, if she didn’t go, it wouldn’t help diffuse Audy’s temper tantrum. She took another deep breath. Mabel is my friend. And, right now, she could use a friend.
* * *
“I KNOW,” AUDY SIGHED. “I’m sorry.”
“Ma ma?” Joy held on to the straps of her car seat, her big eyes fixed on his face.
“She’s coming, Miss Muffet, don’t you fret.” He’d lost his head and made a fool out of himself. After thinking about her most of the day, he’d been so happy to see Brooke. Watching her with Joy sort of filled him up and made his heart whole. But then Inez had blurted out Brooke was going on a date with—“Mikey?” he asked. “I get it, he’s a nice guy, but...”
“Fa gi ma?” Joy’s babble was definitely a question.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.” If he could go back, he’d have kept his cool. Well, he’d have tried, anyway. The idea of Brooke, dating... “I don’t have a right to get my nose out of joint over this and I know it.” He ran a hand along the back of his neck and rolled to a stop at the stop sign. “But it doesn’t sit right, Joy.”
“No?” Joy shook her head, her little curl bouncing.
“No.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Not one bit.”
Joy smiled and patted his hand in return. “Dee.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Dee,” she said, patting his hand again.
“I don’t know that one.” But she looked so pleased he added, “But I’m sure it means something. Good job, Miss Muffet.”
“Dee.” She nodded. “Dee. Ba ba wa la?” Another question.
“I wish I knew what to do here. What do you think, Miss Muffet? Do I tell Brooke I don’t want her dating Mikey?” He paused. This wasn’t about Mikey. “I’m fooling myself, you know that?”
“No?” Joy asked again.
“No is right.” He turned onto Brooke’s street. “As in, I have no business telling Brooke she can’t date.” He swallowed. “If she wants to date him, she should. All I want is... I want her happy, Miss Muffet.” It’d be a punch to the throat every time he saw Brooke and Mikey together but... “If it makes her happy, so be it.”
“Gee gee Teh.” Joy clapped, her little feet bouncing as she spied Brooke’s house through the windshield.
“Yep. Going to see Tess.” He pulled up in front of the house and parked. “I bet she’ll be excited to see you, too.” He came around, unbuckled Joy and carried her to the door. “Tess?” he called out while opening the door. “You here?”
“Hey, Audy.” Tess came jogging down the hall to meet them. “Hi, Joy.”
“Teh.” Joy clapped, kicking her legs.
“You look all dressed up.” Tess took Joy and pointed at his outfit. “Doesn’t he, Joy? Audy is all fancy.”
“Dee.” Joy waved at him.
“About that. Mabel’s coming home.” He explained, “I was hoping you and Brooke’d come out and have dinner at the ranch? Welcome her home?”
Tess ran a hand over her curls. “Um...well...”
He’d never been the best at reading people, but he had no problem figuring out what Tess was thinking. Or feeling. “Beau will be there.” He didn’t see any point in beating around the bush.
Tess froze, staring at him. The sheer horror on her face made him wish he’d never opened his mouth. “I—I mean...”
The door opened and Brooke came inside. She took one look at Tess and turned to him. “What now?”
Now? But he didn’t bite. “I might have been a bit forthright about—”
“Nothing.” Tess held up her hands. “Nothing at all. Okay? Okay. Please. Like, let’s drop it.” She nodded, looking at each of them. “I’m going to change. And you are not going to talk about me when I leave this room, right?” She looked at Audy.
“Right.” He didn’t know what was happening but he was fine not talking about it. More than fine. That’s the way he’d preferred it.
“Right?” Tess faced Brooke now.
“Right,” Brooke agreed, but she wasn’t happy about it.
“Good. Okay.” Tess smiled at Joy. “Okay. Let’s go get dressed up like Audy.”
“Dee.” Joy waved at him. “Dee.”
Brooke glanced at him. “Joy? Are you saying ‘Audy’?” Brooke stepped closer and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Who is this? Is this Audy?”
“Dee.” Joy nodded.
Audy’s heart thumped, strong and hard. She’d been saying his name? “Me?” He nodded his thanks at Tess as they shifted Joy into his arms. “Is that what you were saying, Miss Muffet?” Who knew hearing this baby girl say his name would make him feel on top of the world?
Joy grinned up at him. “Ma Dee.”
Yep. That smile clinched it. On top of the world. “Sorry I was slow on the uptake, Joy.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m your Audy, all right.” It was true. She might be little and he might still have a lot to learn, but one thing he knew for certain was that he loved Joy more than he’d ever imagined possible.
She giggled.
He chuckled. “Proud of yourself, aren’
t you? And you should be.” He pressed another kiss to her temple. “You just made my week, Miss Muffet. Month, even.”
From the looks of it, Brooke was almost as happy as he was. One of her hands rested on Joy’s back while the other had slid from his shoulder to his chest. “Every time I think I’m getting the hang of this, she does something amazing. You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Joy? The best kind, too.” Brooke’s brown eyes met his...and held.
The tug in his chest wasn’t a surprise this time. His heart, called by hers. Whether she knows it or not. Between Joy and Brooke, his heart wasn’t his own anymore. He was oddly okay with that.
There was a flash, causing all three of them to blink.
“Sorry,” Tess laughed. “I was trying to capture the moment.” She waved them together. “Y’all smile so I can take a picture. This is the day Audy became Dee.”
“Dee,” Joy repeated, patting him on the chest. “Ma Dee.”
“Yes, ma’am, Miss Muffet. I like the sound of that.” He did. So much so that he was grinning like a fool.
“Brooke.” Tess waved her in. “Closer.”
Brooke shot her sister a look. “If I get any closer, I’ll have to climb onto Audy’s back.”
“Here.” Audy lifted his arm, half expecting her to roll her eyes and turn him down. Instead, she stepped in, tight against his side, so he could drape his arm around her shoulders.
“Perfect. Thanks, Dee.” Tess held up her phone and took several pics. “I’ll send them to you.” She scrolled through the pictures, her focus on her phone. “I guess I’ll go change? So, we can go to Audy’s for dinner?”
Good idea. Had he said that out loud? He wasn’t sure. Audy was in no hurry to move. Joy had rested her head against his chest and Brooke... Brooke was staring up at him, which was just about the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. In her eyes, he saw the promise of things he’d never dared hope for. A family. A partner. Someone he could always count on—no matter what. It wouldn’t be easy between them, but it would be worth it. If... That word was far too powerful. If she’d give them a chance?
The Rebel Cowboy's Baby--A Clean Romance Page 18