“You weren’t kidding when you said you and Melissa were close.”
“It’s not like we sat around and talked about sex. Not really.” He stares at me like he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. I blow out a breath. “Fine. We talked about sex, but in general terms because it’s not like I wanted details about her and Cal. Eww. Besides, I knew everything was good in the hood.”
“Good in the hood?” His lips lift up in a smirk.
“Yes, they got along muy bien.” My eyes widen meaningfully.
“But you guys didn’t talk about it?”
“We didn’t have to. Because when they went to pound town, the neighbors a mile away knew exactly how well they got along.”
Brady shakes his head, looking a little grossed out and… dare I say proud of his bro? I sit up, still laughing.
“I’m totally mortified that I’m telling you these things, but think of it this way. I was usually already up because of the dirty noises coming from their room. With my bedroom right next to theirs, it was dang near impossible to sleep through it. So I’d go to Izzy’s room, turn up the sound machine and catnap on the couch in there. If the baby woke up, she and I would snuggle. So therein lies the mystery of how Mel got pregnant again. I admit I aided and abetted.”
He leans over and kisses me. “You should have charged them more for your services.”
I laugh and play with the buttons on his Henley. “No way. I’m a hopeless romantic, and those two were definitely in love. Even after they had Izzy.” It’s how I want to be some day with my husband.
Glancing up, I see Brady’s dark green eyes searching mine.
He clears his throat. “In case I haven’t told you lately, I’m really grateful for everything you do around here.”
I reach up and push my hand into his thick, black hair. “Staring at you these last several weeks has been a real hardship. I’m not sure how I’ve survived.”
He laughs and snakes his hand into my shirt, and I hold back a giggle because I’m pretty sure he’s trying to tickle me. But then his rough fingers stroke the side of my breast, and my breathing quickens.
As he brushes his lips against mine, he rasps, “Remember what I said earlier about being too tired to have sex?”
“But can you handle sustainable fucking?” I blush when I say the words, but I don’t look away.
His eyes darken. “We should probably test that theory. You know, for the sake of science.”
“As long as it’s for scientific research,” I whisper as I pull him down to me, “challenge accepted.”
43
Brady
I’m not sure what I was expecting today at the farmers’ fair. Maybe something akin to a garage sale where people stop by to nose around half-heartedly in your belongings before they head off to do what they’d really planned for the day.
But that’s not what’s happening here. Because the whole town has shown up.
A line of cars is parked up and down our driveway, all the way from the house to the main road over the hill. People meander from table to table, sampling food from The Lone Star Station and other snacks the neighboring farms have set out. Kat invited a local band from Austin to play today, and their country covers of holiday songs are making this feel like a county fair, especially since Mr. Mac strung holiday lights around the stands.
I rub the stubble on my chin, realizing I’d damn near forgotten it’s almost Christmas. The Scrooge in me is tallying up how much larger our electrical bill is going to be with all of those holiday lights, but it’s hard to be thinking about finances when everyone is so cheery.
Rubbing my eyes, I try to wake up while I balance Izzy on my hip. It’s been a long week, and as much as I love tattooing, I’m glad I have a break this weekend to hang out with the girls.
I can’t help but smile as Kat corrals a half dozen kids to pet Stella and Stanley, who hop around excitedly.
She’s been running back and forth between the animals and our table where she has all of our products set up. Even with dozens of people everywhere, my eyes follow Kat.
“She’s one of a kind, isn’t she?”
I turn to find Mrs. Mac.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve known that girl since she was seven. Hardest little worker I’ve ever seen. Never complains. Always smiling.”
“I never would’ve been able to handle things without her help.”
“Katherine is the kind of woman who puts her whole heart and soul into whatever she does. Just look at your table over there.”
I know what it looks like, but I turn anyway. About a dozen farms in the area have little stands with products and produce, but our table is the busiest. Kat’s sold most of the lotions and soaps she’d made, and that’s saying something as the table was overflowing this morning.