Page 20 of Nothing to This

“My daughter will never understand that expression.I’m having a tower built for her.”

Grinning, she rested some of her weight on her palm.“Will there be a dragon on the stairs to kill any suitors who get too close?”

“Dragons?Try a security team, lethal laser nets and motion activated automatic weapons.”Something about her smile in the silence that followed intrigued him enough to tilt his head in question.“What?”

“I’ve never seen you play protective daddy before.”

The swagger that brought him closer was stopped by her backing up to press the button for the elevator.

Or, at least, it should’ve stopped him.

JD said what he wanted to say anyway, “It’s a turn on, isn’t it?”

“Shh,” she said, unable to stop a whisper of a laugh seeping out.“Jeez, JD.”The elevator doors opened.“Go back to work before the babies see you.”

“Be back by two,” he said, taking his swagger into the elevator.

“Sure,” she said.“And if the babies get upset, I’ll make sure they know who to blame.”

The doors began to close; JD winked just before they met.A moment later, her children came running around the corner with their aunt on their heels.The kids ran a circle around her and then headed for the door, giggling and joyously amped.

Brenna came to loop their arms together and they followed in the kids’ path.“So…” her friend said.“What’s going on with you and my brother?”

SEVEN

Lunch was good, the food anyway.Brenna had dozens of questions, most of which couldn’t be answered while the kids shared their table.Though the topic wasn’t completely embargoed.The little ones filled in a lot of details for their aunt, talking about having Daddy at the apartment.

The twins spoke about dinner, about him staying over, and about him moving in, which raised Brenna’s brow.

Normally, Brenna didn’t walk her all the way back to work or return the kids to daycare with her.On that day, she did.

“You’re coming back to work with me?”she asked en route to the elevator.

Brenna linked their arms again.“Let’s go get a coffee.Tell your boss there was a family emergency or something.It is Friday after all.”

She pressed the elevator call button.“Because we all know there’s more chance of having emergencies on a Friday.”

Brenna shrugged.“Sure.”

“I can’t,” she said, watching the numbers descend.“My only family is our children.If I tell JD there’s a family emergency, he’ll buy a hospital and maybe… a police department or something.”

Brenna laughed.“Sounds like my brother.”

“And that’s another reason.My new boss is your brother.We’re trying to hide our association.If he lets me cut out early, people will ask questions.”

“He’s like your top floor boss.I don’t think top floor bosses know what goes on in marketing.”

True.“They don’t,” she said, dreading the reveal of that day’s development.“But your brother usurped me.”

“Sounds kinky.”

“I’m working as his executive assistant now.So, it’s to his desk I go, not marketing.”

The doors opened.As always, she kissed her friend.Instead of accepting the kiss, Brenna bundled her forward into the elevator and selected the top floor.

“What are you doing?”

“You know my brother hasn’t really had a home all his adult life.You’re lucky if he makes half of his visitations with the kids.”