Page 5 of Baby for My Best Friend's Brother

“Look, I know we’d both rather come up against a bear in a forest than make small talk with anyone in there. But it means a lot to Winter.”

I sigh. “Hell. Why do you have to put it like that?”

“I’m just speaking the truth.”

“You’re speaking like a man in love.”

“You have me there.” His lips curve into a wry grin. “Just wait till it’s your turn to fall in love.”

“Oh, no.” I shake my head. “Just because you’re drinking the until-death-do-we-part Kool-Aid doesn’t mean I’m lining up to take a swig.”

“Famous last words.” He scoffs. “Who knows? Maybe the future missus is tapping the keg in there as we speak.”

“Right. My future wife is inside tapping a keg. And I’m going to have a blast being forced to make small talk.”

“You never know. Winter says saying what you want out loud is one way to make it come true.”

My eyes narrow. “Don’t tell me she has you buying into that manifesting bullshit.”

“Why not?” He slings an arm around my shoulders and ushers me inside through the side door to the kitchen. “It worked for me.”

Before I can tell him that’s the sappiest shit I’ve ever heard, we’ve breached the door and stepped into the fray.

“Cliff!” My sister exclaims, abandoning the women huddled around her. “You came.”

“Bearing gifts.”

Her eyes widen. “Best. Brother. Ever.”

“I try.” I shift my hold on the ice. “Where should I park these?”

She fights me for one of the bags and then leads me toward a row of coolers and a baby pool filled with ice. I’m all too happy to let her chat away about the last-minute wedding plans as I help her replenish the ice.

She’s talking about the arrival of her best friend from Seattle when a curvy brunette catches my eye.

Her chestnut hair is lightly curled, framing one of the sweetest faces I’ve ever seen. Her dark blue eyes and even darker eyelashes stand out as she carefully watches the party.

Watches rather than participates. A woman after my own heart.

I don’t think she’s from around here. Then again, I haven’t exactly spent much time reacquainting myself with the locals since I retired from the service and moved back. But considering she’s wrapped up in a jacket on what would pass for a warm evening, I suspect she’s from the lower forty-eight.

Besides, I’m sure I’d remember seeing a woman like her around.

“Ahem.” Winter clears her throat. “Earth to Cliff. Earth to Cliff, do you copy.”

I blink in surprise and tear my stare away from the buxom brunette. “Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?”

She arches an eyebrow. “I asked if you’d like an introduction.”

I groan. Oh, man. So it begins. “With who?”

“With Sophie. The woman you’ve been staring at for the past few minutes.” An amused grin plays on her lips. “You know our grandma always said it was rude to stare.”

“I wasn’t staring.”

“Sure you weren’t.” She takes me by the arm and pulls me away.

When I realize she’s leading me to the woman I wasnotstaring at, I quit dragging my feet.

---