Page 40 of Clear Blue Sky

“Are you sure Nelson won’t care that we’re all here?” Tonya asked.

“I sent him a text, letting him know. He responded with a thumbs-up.” Brandi felt bad she was the only one drinking alcohol. But Tiki and her sisters, Tonya and Tayla, had all had babies within a week of each other.

“Thank him for us,” Tiki said. “I haven’t been out of my house since Maddie was born.” She rested her hand on the stroller next to her and gently rocked it.

“The only thing I’ve done is make a run to the store for diapers.” Tayla grabbed her boobs. “I forgot to wear those pad things under my bra and some kid started crying and next thing I knew, I was leaking breast milk everywhere.”

Tiki and Tonya burst out laughing.

“I hate it when that happens,” Tonya managed.

Brandi couldn’t relate, but ever since her sister-in-law had given birth, her biological desire for children had been tickling the back of her brain. Having a family had been something she’d always wanted. She just wasn’t in much of a hurry. Her goal had been to prove to her father she could run the company so her brother could follow his dreams.

Then she’d figure out her love life.

Well, Lake had published one book and was on his way to a collaboration with his wife and a second solo book. And he had a daughter. His life was exactly where he wanted it.

Now it was her turn.

Only, she’d managed to fall for a guy who was as emotionally unavailable as a turnip.

“Do you want children?” Tonya asked as she lifted her fussy baby into her arms and stood.

“Someday.” Brandi nibbled on some cheese and poured herself a large glass of wine.

“I take it since we’re here at Nelson’s place, you and he are somewhat of an item.” Tayla had a warm, inviting smile. Much like both of her sisters.

Ever since Lake had fallen in love with and married Tiki, Brandi had gotten to know Tiki’s sisters. Most of the time when she’d come to visit, they would all get together. Tiki was tight with her family and they welcomed all the Grants with open arms.

“We are,” Brandi admitted. “But with all that’s going on with my mom’s movie premiere, I don’t want that public.”

“My sisters won’t breathe a word. They’ve seen firsthand what the media can do.” Tiki reached out and squeezed Brandi’s forearm. “But we have to know, what’s he really like?”

“Yeah. I mean, he’s always so sweet,” Tayla said. “He’s got a killer smile and greets almost everyone when they come into the restaurant. He’s kind and charismatic. But outside of that, no one ever sees him.”

“Lake has had a beer with him a few times.” Brandi didn’t want to sit around a fire and gossip about her boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

It felt strange to think that about Nelson.

When she’d walked away from him and tried to rekindle things with Ethan, all she could think about was what Nelson might be doing and who he was doing it with. Flashes of jealousy would fill her heart. That’s when she knew she had to see him again.

The moment she’d laid eyes on Nelson, her pulse soared.

“That’s not the same as male bonding,” Tiki said. “Nelson has gotten friendly with a lot of people, but he hasn’t become friends with anyone. If you’re going to be dating Nelson, Lake wants to get to know him better. Have him over for dinner. Maybe double date.”

So much had happened in a short period of time. Her relationship with Nelson had gone from zero to sixty in days and she didn’t trust that it was because he wanted the same thing as she did. She worried that the stress of having Marcus around, and worrying about if Marcus wanted to hurt Nelson, pushed him into protection mode.

If that was the case, as soon as the threat was over, things would cool down and he might find himself pushing her away.

A reality she needed to face now.

“Lake doesn’t need me to make a new friend,” Brandi said.

“What my sister is trying to ask, but failing miserably, is she wants to know what’s really going on with you and Nelson.” Tonya set her little one back in the stroller and patted its back. “Tiki has never been a gossip and it’s been like pulling teeth on why here when we got the invite to come over. We get you want your privacy protected. We’ve all experienced breaches in trust. If you don’t want to talk about it, we get it, but you look like you’ve swallowed an entire bushel of lemons. Something is bothering you. This is a safe place.”

“I’m under a lot of stress.” She followed the stern light of a boat as it buzzed up the shoreline. “I don’t want Lake to worry about anything with the business. I’m dealing with my mother and her movie premiere. It’s just a lot.”

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