Page 18 of Broken Pieces
“Wow. That’s all I can say.”
“Harper was the one who helped design it. It’s nice to have when we have guests here, but half the time I don’t know what to do with myself in this thing.”
“It’s absolutely beautiful.” I turn around and blink a few times. “Is that a blast freezer?”
“Well, like I said, weddings. We figured it would be useful.”
“Oh my gosh, the possibilities are endless with this kitchen.”
Summer bites her thumb, smiling. “So does that mean you’ll bake for us?”
“Oh my gosh, yes! How could I not?” I exclaim, giddy with excitement.
Summer runs up to me and hugs me, her belly smashing between us, “Best news ever! Oh my, you haven’t even seen the backyard yet!”
She pulls back to the dining room where a pair of French doors leads out to a massive raised porch with a pool off to the right side. More magnolia trees line the back yard that lead off to a large pond in the back.
Easton and Harper come out to join us, letting us know he brought in my bag. I stare off into the distance at the farmland and understand even more why they bought this property.
My family may never have been into farming, but I had plenty of friends whose families were and the lushness of the fields makes everything click into place. I know Brett is a friend of Easton’s and that his family has a successful farm closer to White Creek.
It’s then that I notice a set of washboard abs just next to the barn that I could never mistake for anyone else. What the hell was Brooks doing here?
Easton clears his throat next to me. “No boys.”
“What?”
“I said no boys.”
“That wasn’t one of your rules before.”
“No boys.”
“I think you should see a doctor. You seem to have lost your speaking ability,” I laugh.
Easton gives me a stern look. “I mean it Rae, no boys. Especially not that one.”
“What’s he even doing here?”
“That is Brett’s brother and he helps out from time to time. His name is…”
“Brooks. Yeah, I know.”
He gives me a quizzical look, “And how do you know him?”
“I-I ugh.” Shit, Easton would be pissed if he found out about the time that Ivy had him drive me home, not to mention the time that Brooks rescued me from the creeps at Sawyer’s. “He came into the diner once to get something for Summer. Seemed like a douche.”
Easton calms a bit at my response, “Well he ain’t the best tool in the toolbox. Stay away from him when he is here. And remember, no boys.”
“Aye, aye Captain.”
Easton glares at me. I just smirk and turn around to Summer, “So where is my room?”
* * *
“I thought I was going to hate it here, but it’s really not that bad,” I say into the phone to my sister, Tacoma. “I mean my room is like five times bigger than the closet I was living in at Mom and Dad’s house and this one has a pool!”
“Your room at home is not the size of a closet. I swear Mom and Dad gave you everything you wanted because you are the baby. Your room was bigger than mine.”