Page 19 of Seal the Deal

Ryan nudges me, laughing. “You look like you’re in love with a baked good.”

“You’d think he’d found the Holy Grail the way he’s eyeing that brownie,” chuckles Eli from across the table.

“Guess we’ve just found Brooks’ weak spot,” Chase adds with a smirk. “Who knew it’d be brownies?”

I roll my eyes, but they’re not wrong. The taste of this damn thing is unlocking memories I thought I’d buried years ago. The crackle of a campfire flashes across my mind—smoke, marshmallows, a soft laugh.

Zoe just shakes her head, tapping the whiteboard with her marker. “Sorry, Brooks. My lips are sealed. And we have some work to do.”

The meeting drags on, and Zoe’s doing her best to keep our attention, but analytics and marketing stats just don’t do it for me. I’m here to play hockey, not be a poster boy. Leave that to Chase. He’s good at it, and he adores the attention.

My mind—and my eyes—keep drifting back to those damn brownies. Every time I take another bite, I’m more convinced I need to know where they came from. It’s driving me nuts.

Eli leans toward me and whispers, “Can you make it through this meeting without eye-fucking the brownie?”

I ignore him and try again a bit later when there’s a pause in the presentation. “So, Zoe, thissecret bakery… is it downtown? Maybe somewhere close by?”

She clamps her lips together, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Nice try, but no dice.”

Chase chuckles from a few seats over. “Dude, let it go. It’s just a brownie.”

But I can’t. It’s not just a brownie, it’sthebrownie. As I chew, something clicks. Another distant memory hits me—and there’s only one person I know who could make themthisgood, who’d care enough to rework a recipe to perfection.

Charlie.

By the time the meeting wraps up, I’m two brownies deep, with a third one in hand. I can’t leave without knowing. As everyone starts gathering their things, I lean in close to Zoe, lowering my voice so only she can hear.

“Zoe, level with me. Didshemake these?”

She shuffles her notes, giving me a calculated look, like she’s debating whether I’m worth her time. I hold her gaze, pouring every ounce of charm into what I hope looks like my best puppy dog expression.

Finally, she sighs and leans in conspiratorially. “Fine, Sherlock freakin' Holmes. Yes, Charlie made them. She just didn’t want anyone to know.”

A slow smile spreads across my face. Of course they’re hers. It’s just like Charlie to make something this good and then duck out of the spotlight. That’s the girl Iremember, the one who could outshine anyone but never cared about the attention.

“She’s incredible. How is she?”

Zoe folds her arms. “Brooks, is this about the brownies or the girl?”

“Can’t it be both?” I take another bite, letting the rich chocolate melt in my mouth, wondering what else of Charlie’s would taste incredible on my tongue. But I rein it in—she deserves more than my perverted thoughts. For now.

“Has she mentioned me?” I ask before I can stop myself.Because I’ve sure as shit been thinking about her.

I want to know everything. Where she’s been, if she’s thought about me, if she’s still the same girl who used to laugh by the campfire, who made me feel like I mattered.

Zoe tilts her head, studying me. “You’re such a goner. Yeah, she's mentioned you. She didn’t expect to see you either, you know.”

Something warm floods through me. Knowing my name has been on her lips matters more than it probably should.

“Is she… happy?” The question comes out quieter and more serious than I intend, but I need to know.

Zoe’s expression softens. “She’s making it work, Jake. She’s got two amazing kids, a good job, but yeah, she’s handling a lot. Moving across the world, raising kids on her own. She’s tough. But you already know that.”

Two kids. Charlie, a mom. It’s still sinking in that this is her life now. And hell, I like kids. I’ve always loved working with them through my foundation, but it’s different when you're someone's whole world like that.

“Right, the kids.” I clear my throat. “How old are they?”

“Noah’s six,” Zoe says proudly. “Sweetest kid you’ll ever meet. And Meadow’s three—she’s a firecracker. Definitely takes after her Auntie Zoe.”

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