Don't Let Go (7 page)

He looked over at Carter. “I guess so.”

“You ever want to talk about it, you know I'm right here.”

“Thanks.” That was the problem. He never wanted to talk about it. Because talking about it, or even thinking about it, made him remember Kurt. And even if they were good memories, they inevitably led down the road to the bad ones.

“Food is ready,” Logan said. “Let's take it inside.”

Brady's stomach grumbled, and he had to admit he was more than eager to eat, especially if it meant no more conversation about his brother.

They all gathered inside and scooped up piles of barbecued chicken and more side dishes than Brady could count. He had potato salad, beans, corn on the cob, and coleslaw, along with garlic bread—at least to start. There was seating inside and outside, so he found Megan and they decided on a spot at one of the large picnic tables outside with several of the other couples.

“When Bash and I have kids, we're having all girls,” Chelsea said.

Bash rolled his eyes. “First, honey, let's get through the wedding. And second, I intend to have all sons.”

Chelsea let out a snort. “We'll see who wins.”

“What about you and Carter, Molly?”

She shrugged. “I don't care. We're really in no hurry for the baby thing.”

Carter leaned over and nuzzled her neck, giving her a kiss. “Right now we're too busy practicing.”

Molly laughed. “Carter.”

Megan adored seeing her friends so in love.

She turned to Brady. “And how about you, Brady? Boys or girls for you?”

“I don't intend to have kids.”

“Ever?”

“No.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not really.”

She could tell he wasn't in the mood for an in-depth discussion on children. “Well, you know, your opinion on that might change. Maybe you haven't found the right person yet. And when you do, you might want to have ten babies with her.”

He shot her a look she couldn't define, then asked, “Is that how you'll feel when you find the right guy?”

“Absolutely. Once you find that right person, it's all about biology. Right now kids aren't on my radar, but I've seen it happen with quite a few of my friends who thought they'd never get married or they'd never have or want children. Then suddenly they're in love and they're getting married and they're having a baby. It's the love mind-set.”

He cocked his head to the side. “The love mind-set.”

She slanted a smile at him. “Yes. You fall in love, and you can see yourself with that person for the rest of your life, and suddenly you want something that's a part of both of you.”

Brady took a bite of chicken, chewed, and swallowed. “My mind-set won't change. This world is hard, and I won't bring kids into it.”

That sounded rather definite. Megan sighed. “Then I guess you and I can never be, because I want a whole lot of kids.”

Again he gave her that look she couldn't define—a mix of curiosity and maybe a little sadness?

“I guess not,” he said.

“Oh, come on, you two,” Chelsea said. “I never in a million years thought Bash and I would end up together and have plans to get married in less than a year. Let alone talking about someday having babies.”

“Someday very soon,” Bash added.

Chelsea grinned, then smoothed her hand down his face. “Yes. Someday soon. It just goes to show you that what you think right this moment could change by tomorrow.”

“This is true,” Megan said.

But Brady shook his head. “Yeah, my mind won't change.”

Okay. So there was a finality to that, which Megan found unsettling.

He got up from his spot. “Excuse me. I'm going to refill my plate.”

Megan watched him walk toward the house.

Chelsea grasped her hand. “Men. Pay no attention to them. They're as fickle as our weather.”

“Hey,” Bash said.

Chelsea looked over at Bash and made a kissy face at him. “All men except you, babe.”

“You're totally placating me right now, aren't you?” Bash asked.

“Totally,” Chelsea said.

Megan laughed. “I don't know what to make of Brady. He's so enigmatic. And I just can't seem to break through that wall of utter . . . stoniness.”

“Oh, but it's a sexy wall, Megan,” Chelsea said. “Hang in there.”

She breathed in a sigh, then dug into her coleslaw. “I will. For now.”

OKAY, SO MAYBE
Brady was a total downer at this party. Which was why he didn't socialize much. He didn't bring much to the table.

But he had to admit, these cakes and cupcakes were damn good, and he sure wouldn't have wanted to miss them.

They had all gathered to celebrate and offer congratulations to Des and Emma, who, in his opinion, looked ready to give birth any second. Then again, what the hell did he know about pregnant women? Admittedly, nothing. But they were moving around just fine and seemed content and healthy. Both of them had taken the time to seek him out to tell him they were happy he'd come. They were all currently gathered in the dining room eating and laughing and talking baby names, since both were still trying to decide on names. Everyone was currently trying to suggest names.

“Beauregard,” Carter said to Logan, who gave him a frown.

“Beauregard McCormack?” Logan said. “What? You wanna test my kid's spelling skills?”

Des laughed. “I kind of like it. We could shorten it to Beau.”

Logan shot Des a look. “No.”

“I like Felicia if it's a girl,” Megan said.

Brady grimaced and leaned over to whisper to her, “Really? Felicia?”

She turned to him. “What's wrong with Felicia?”

He shrugged. “Nothing.”

“It's a cute name,” Emma said with a smile. “I like it.”

“Good,” Brady said. “You can have it.”

Megan lifted her chin. “Well, since you and I are clearly never having babies together, then you don't have to worry about Felicia.”

Brady laughed, and that earned him a glare from Megan.

“Ralph,” Carter said.

“You do not ever get to name our future children, Carter,” Molly said.

Carter looked over at Brady and winked. Brady tried not to grin, since Molly was shooting visual daggers at Carter.

Then it became a free-for-all of names.

“Steven.”

“Lane.”

“Kathleen.”

“Martha.”

“Awww,” Des said, grasping Martha's hand after someone had shouted out her name. “Wouldn't that be sweet?”

“Don't you dare name one of your babies after me,” Martha said, but Brady noticed her eyes looked a little misty.

Brady knew that after the McCormack brothers' mother up and left them when they were younger, Martha had taken over as pseudomother for all of them. He knew how much she meant to the entire McCormack family.

“Uh-oh,” Emma said from her spot on her comfortable cushioned rocking chair. She followed that up by laying her hand across her stomach.

Luke looked over at her and frowned. “Uh-oh. What does ‘uh-oh' mean?”

Emma looked over at Luke. “It means my water just broke.”

Martha stood. “I need you all to excuse us for a minute. Can we clear the room?”

Megan got up and Brady followed her outside. Torches were lit and there was a fire pit to keep everyone warm by the picnic tables. Everyone piled out there, with the exception of the McCormack family, who'd stayed inside, along with Emma's sister, Molly.

“Is Emma going to be all right?” Brady asked.

Megan grinned. “She's going into labor, and this party is likely over.”

“So, we should leave then?”

“Not just yet.”

Sure enough, about ten minutes later Martha came outside.

“Sorry everyone, but as I'm sure you've guessed, Emma's labor is starting and they have a long drive to the hospital in Tulsa. I'm pleased to tell you the party's over, and I don't think I've ever felt that way before.”

Megan laughed. Emma and Luke came down the stairs. Emma had changed clothes, and Logan carried her bag while Luke helped her into the car.

“Wish me luck, everyone,” Emma said, a big grin on her face. “We're off to have a baby. And whoa, baby, my contractions have already started, so hopefully I won't be at this long.”

“We'll take care of your dogs here, honey,” Ben said. “Don't you worry about a thing.”

“I'm so excited,” Molly said to Megan. “I wish I could be there with her. We all do. But she doesn't need an entourage to give birth.”

“No, she doesn't,” Georgia Burnett said. “Even though she's my daughter and I'd give anything to be there with her, all she needs right now is her husband. And he'll call us when she has the baby.”

“It's so exciting,” Megan said. “Will someone call me after she delivers?”

“I've been officially put in charge of spreading the news, so you'll hear from me, Megan,” Molly said.

The group trooped inside and helped Martha clean up and put stuff away. Megan doled out the rest of the cupcakes, because she certainly had enough sweets, between her place and the bakery. She turned to Brady.

“You want some cake and cupcakes, right?” she asked.

Brady shrugged, trying to look uninterested. “If you insist.”

“Oh, please. Your tongue is practically hanging out. I'll put a few in a container for you.”

Everyone ended up hanging out at the ranch after the cleanup was done. Des rubbed her stomach, as though she could stimulate contractions.

“Wouldn't it be great if Emma and I gave birth on the same day?” Des said. “The cousins could share birth dates.”

Logan put his arms around her. “You just want that baby out of you and you're jealous Emma got to go first.”

Des laughed. “Okay, that's true.”

“Your time will come soon enough,” Georgia said. “And those cousins will be so close in age that they'll be best friends for life.”

Des grinned. “I can't wait. Especially if we both have boys—or two girls.”

“I don't think it'll matter either way,” Logan said. “They're going to be McCormacks.”

After lingering for a couple of hours longer than they had intended, Megan and Brady said their good-byes, and Megan noticed that Brady made sure to thank Martha and Ben as well as Logan and Des for having him. Then he whistled for Roxie, who came running.

“Training her, huh?” Megan asked.

He shrugged. “That part, at least, is working.”

They climbed into Megan's car and drove off the ranch property.

“All in all, that wasn't too bad,” Brady said.

Megan gave him a glance. “And you were expecting what? Baby shower games?”

“Kind of.”

She laughed. “I told you it wasn't that kind of party.”

“Well, it was a good party. Thanks for asking me.”

“You're welcome. I'm glad you came along. You should do it more often.”

“What? Go to baby showers?”

“No. Come hang out with us.”

He studied her, and she felt his gaze roaming over her.

“Maybe.”

When they reached the outskirts of town and she hit a red light, she turned to him. “Would you like to come to my place for some coffee?”

He looked at his phone. “I don't know.”

“It's Friday night, Brady. And it's only eleven. Do you turn into a gargoyle at midnight or something?”

His lips curved. “No.”

“Then come over. Have some coffee with me. Maybe I can entice you with something sweet.”

He arched a brow. “Are you talking about another dessert?”

Her lips curved. “What else would I be talking about?”

His gaze bore down on her, intense and hot, making her quiver with sexual anticipation.

“Sure. I'll take some coffee and . . . dessert.”

She pressed a little too hard on the gas pedal when the light turned green.

Okay, calm down, Megan
. Just coffee and dessert.

“You should stop by my place so I can grab my bike,” Brady said. “It's on the way, and then you won't have to drive me home.”

“It's not a big deal for me to take you home.”

“But it's already late and I'll feel better about you not having to go out again. Plus, I think Roxie is beat. I'm sure she wants to go to sleep.”

She liked that he thought about things like that. “Sure.”

She parked outside the auto shop, and he grabbed the box of desserts out of the backseat. “I'll just take these up with me now so I don't forget later.”

“Yes, you wouldn't want to forget those.”

He had Roxie on the leash and the desserts in his other hand. “I'll be right back.”

He was only gone a few minutes, then she heard the rumble of a motorcycle, and Brady appeared behind her car on his bike. She had to admit, even in the dark, there was something dark, imposing, and utterly magnetic about the way he rode his bike. Plus, he looked sexy as hell wearing his leather jacket.

She had to remind herself to keep her eyes on the road ahead of her and not on her rearview mirror all the way home.

She pulled into her garage, and Brady parked in the driveway. He helped her carry the leftovers into the house.

“You can just set those on the island,” she said, then went over to the coffeemaker. “Regular or decaf for you?” she asked.

“Regular.”

She brewed him a cup from her Keurig, which was easier for her to make on the go in the early mornings. She then made decaf for herself. “I'd be up all night if I drank caffeine this late.”

“I can take it. Not much keeps me up at night.”

“Must be nice.”

She pulled out a cheesecake she'd made earlier in the day and set it on the table.

He arched a brow. “You make that for me?”

“Would it make you feel special if I said yes?”

“Kind of.”

“Then yes.” She got out plates and forks and cut into the cheesecake, giving Brady a large slice and taking only a sliver for herself.

“That's not a very big piece,” he said, eyeing her portion.

“I had more than enough dessert already today.”

He took a seat at the island and dug in, his eyes closing as he chewed and swallowed. “Mmm. This is damn good, Megan.”

“Thanks.” She took a taste, satisfied it had turned out well.

He finished off the cheesecake, and she made him another cup of coffee.

“You're not going to eat that?” he asked, pointing to the sliver on her plate.

“No, I just wanted to taste it.”

“Mind if I eat it?”

“Go right ahead.”

So he ate hers as well while she sipped her coffee and watched him.

“This is a little weird, ya know,” he said.

“What's weird?”

“You watching me eat.”

“Oh, I like watching you eat. It gives me great pleasure seeing you enjoy something I've baked.”

He finished and pushed his plate to the side, then took a sip of coffee. “So is this what you do? You spend all day baking at work, then you come home and bake some more?”

She laughed. “Pretty much, yes.”

He looked around. “I mean it's a great kitchen and all, Megan, but shouldn't you be doing . . . other things?”

“Such as?”

“I don't know. Going out. Dating. Having a life beyond baking.”

“Says the guy who spends all of his time holed up above the auto shop and does nothing but work on motorcycles on nights and weekends.”

He frowned. “That's different.”

“Really. And how is it different?”

“Because I love painting bikes. It's my passion.”

“And baking is mine.”

He stared at her for a few seconds, before nodding. “Okay, you got me.”

“Thanks. And yes, I'd rather be out dating some hot guy than in the kitchen baking every night, but my love life lately has been stalled.”

“What guy would be dumb enough to overlook you?”

She laid her palms on the counter and gave him a pointed look. “I don't know, Brady. What guy would?”

He arched a brow, and if smoldering eyes could give a woman a scorching-hot orgasm, her kitchen would be up in flames right now—and so would she.

He laid his cup down and slid off the kitchen barstool. He walked around to her side and pulled her against him.

He studied her face. “Yeah, pretty stupid of me, huh?”

She barely had time to catch her breath before his lips descended on hers.

Hot. Incendiary. His lips were demanding, taking what he wanted, what she needed. It was just what she expected from him after that first short kiss he'd given her. She responded by tangling her fingers in the soft thickness of his hair. When he groaned against her mouth, everything within her quivered in response.

She wanted this man. Naked. In her bed. Right now.

His hands roamed over her back, drifting ever lower to grip her butt and pull her against his very impressive erection.

Now it was her turn to let out a moan. He pulled his lips from hers and looked down at her. His eyes were half-lidded and loaded with passion.

“How do you feel about your bedroom?”

She licked her lips. “I feel very good about it, if you're in it with me.”

Her phone buzzed. She thought about ignoring it. After all, Brady had uttered the word
bedroom
. He had an erection, and his hands were currently roaming over her butt. She was primed and ready to go, and if he got her naked and touched her, she would go off in seconds.

But her gaze drifted to her phone, and she saw Molly's name.

With a great amount of reluctance, she said, “I need to get that.”

He took a step back and nodded.

She grabbed her phone. “Hey, Molly.”

“It's a boy,” Molly said in a very excited voice. “Eight pounds, three ounces, twenty-one inches long. He's perfect and pink and gorgeous. I've seen pics and I'm going to head up to the hospital now. Emma's doing great.”

Megan took a deep breath, then looked over at Brady, who was raking his fingers through all that glorious hair of his.

“That's so awesome, Molly. Give Emma and Luke my love.”

“I will. Gotta go and call a million other people. Love you.”