Page 7

Chapter six

Is this about the brownies or the girl?

Jake

Z oe’s marketing updates are barely cutting through my thoughts as I replay the game on Saturday and the unexpected shock of seeing Charlotte again. The girl who kept my head in the clouds that summer. The girl who’s been haunting my thoughts ever since we locked eyes across the rink.

God, she looked good. I’d tried to be respectful and not look, but my eyes had scanned her body on their own accord, and this woman was fire to all my senses. Curves for days, those little golden rings in the middle of her green eyes, that quiet air of strength she’s always had.

Zoe’s been droning on about fan engagement and some new social media ideas, and I’m trying to keep up, but all I keep seeing is Charlie's smile. Just as I’m thinking this meeting can’t get any less interesting, Zoe tosses a white bakery box onto the conference table, snapping me out of my trance.

“Alright, boys,” she says, sliding the lid off to reveal squares of thick, chocolate brownies. “A little treat to keep you going. Don’t say I never give you anything.”

Chase is already halfway into the box before Zoe can finish, his hand darting for the biggest piece. “Damn, Carlson, you’ve been holding out on us,” he says, taking a bite. “Oh God, they’re still warm .”

I r each for one, letting the rich chocolate scent fill my nose. They smell good. I’ve tried brownies from just about every bakery in Denver, always on the lookout for the best, trying to find a decent replica for the ones my Gran used to make. I'm a brownie snob and proud of it.

As soon as I take a bite, I freeze. The chocolate melts on my tongue, the perfect balance of sweet and bitter, with a hint of espresso. I can feel the familiarity and nostalgia in every bite as I chew. It’s like a little piece of heaven in my mouth, and I need to know where Zoe got them.

“Holy shit,” I mutter, earning a chuckle from the guys around me. “Where did you get these?”

Zoe just grins and shrugs. “A secret bakery.” She eyes me with a look that’s more than a little smug.

I narrow my eyes at her. Zoe knows damn well how much I love brownies. “Secret, huh? C’mon Carlson, you can tell your favorite client.”

“Not a chance,” she says, tapping her pen against her notes. “Consider it a trade secret.”

I blow out a low laugh and lean across the table, trying my damndest to not reach out for another slice. “Don’t hold out on me. You know I’m good for it.”

Ryan nudges me, laughing. “You look like you’re in love with a baked good.”

“You’d think he’d found the Holy Grail the way he’s eyeing that brownie,” chuckles Eli from across the table.

“Guess we’ve just found Brooks’ weak spot,” Chase adds with a smirk. “Who knew it’d be brownies?”

I roll my eyes, but they’re not wrong. The taste of this damn thing is unlocking memories I thought I’d buried years ago. The crackle of a campfire flashes across my mind—smoke, marshmallows, a soft laugh.

Zoe just shakes her head, tapping the whiteboard with her marker. “Sorry, Brooks. My lips are sealed. And we have some work to do.”

The meeting drags on, and Zoe’s doing her best to keep our attention, but analytics and marketing stats just don’t do it for me. I’m here to play hockey, not be a poster boy. Leave that to Chase. He’s good at it, and he adores the at tention.

My mind—and my eyes—keep drifting back to those damn brownies. Every time I take another bite, I’m more convinced I need to know where they came from. It’s driving me nuts.

Eli leans toward me and whispers, “Can you make it through this meeting without eye-fucking the brownie?”

I ignore him and try again a bit later when there’s a pause in the presentation. “So, Zoe, this secret bakery … is it downtown? Maybe somewhere close by?”

She clamps her lips together, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Nice try, but no dice.”

Chase chuckles from a few seats over. “Dude, let it go. It’s just a brownie.”

But I can’t. It’s not just a brownie, it’s the brownie. As I chew, something clicks. Another distant memory hits me—and there’s only one person I know who could make them this good, who’d care enough to rework a recipe to perfection.

Charlie.

By the time the meeting wraps up, I’m two brownies deep, with a third one in hand. I can’t leave without knowing. As everyone starts gathering their things, I lean in close to Zoe, lowering my voice so only she can hear.

“Zoe, level with me. Did she make these?”

She shuffles her notes, giving me a calculated look, like she’s debating whether I’m worth her time. I hold her gaze, pouring every ounce of charm into what I hope looks like my best puppy dog expression.

Finally, she sighs and leans in conspiratorially. “Fine, Sherlock freakin' Holmes. Yes, Charlie made them. She just didn’t want anyone to know.”

A slow smile spreads across my face. Of course they’re hers. It’s just like Charlie to make something this good and then duck out of the spotlight. That’s the girl I remember, the one who could outshine anyone but never cared about the attention.

“She’s incredible. How is she?”

Zoe folds her arms. “Brooks, is this about the brownies or the girl?”

“Can’t it be both?” I take another bite, letting the rich chocolate melt in my mouth, wondering what else of Charlie’s would taste incredible on my tongue. But I rein it in—she deserves more than my perverted thoughts. For now.

“Has she mentioned me?” I ask before I can stop myself. Because I’ve sure as shit been thinking about her.

I want to know everything. Where she’s been, if she’s thought about me, if she’s still the same girl who used to laugh by the campfire, who made me feel like I mattered.

Zoe tilts her head, studying me. “You’re such a goner. Yeah, she's mentioned you. She didn’t expect to see you either, you know.”

Something warm floods through me. Knowing my name has been on her lips matters more than it probably should.

“Is she… happy?” The question comes out quieter and more serious than I intend, but I need to know.

Zoe’s expression softens. “She’s making it work, Jake. She’s got two amazing kids, a good job, but yeah, she’s handling a lot. Moving across the world, raising kids on her own. She’s tough. But you already know that.”

Two kids. Charlie, a mom. It’s still sinking in that this is her life now. And hell, I like kids. I’ve always loved working with them through my foundation, but it’s different when you're someone's whole world like that.

“Right, the kids.” I clear my throat. “How old are they?”

“Noah’s six,” Zoe says proudly. “Sweetest kid you’ll ever meet. And Meadow’s three—she’s a firecracker. Definitely takes after her Auntie Zoe.”

I nod, trying to picture it. Charlie with two little ones, each carrying a piece of her spirit. It feels right somehow, like she’s exactly where she’s meant to be, even if it’s a long way from that summer. I bet she’s the best mom in the world.

“And their dad?” I ask cautiously, unsure if I want to hear t he answer.

Zoe’s face hardens. “He’s in New Zealand, barely in the picture. She doesn’t talk about him much, but what I do know is that he’s a giant cock waffle.”

Something protective stirs in me. Zoe’s a sharp judge of character, and if she hates him, he’s earned it. There’s a history there, a past that’s left its mark on Charlie. I already feel the urge to throttle him if he’s the reason she’s not happy.

“Sounds like a lot to handle,” I say carefully.

“It is.” Zoe nods, her tone growing serious. “But she’s not one to complain. Charlie’s been through a lot, but she’s here to build something new for her and her kids. So, if you’re thinking of anything more than just getting your hands on her brownies , you’d better be ready to step up.”

I nod, feeling the weight behind Zoe’s words. Charlie’s always had that quiet strength, the kind that draws people in without them realizing it. But the way Zoe talks, it sounds like she’s carrying too much. And even though we’ve only just reconnected, the pull between us hasn’t faded. I still feel tied to her, like if she asked me to jump, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask how high. That look she gave me Saturday night keeps replaying in my mind—like she remembered how much we meant to each other, too.

“I’m just… interested, that’s all,” I say, trying to downplay the burn in my chest. “She’s good people.”

Zoe smirks, clearly seeing right through me. “She is. And I’ve got her back, just so you know.”

“Noted,” I say with a grin, but inside my thoughts are already spinning with possibilities. She’s single. She’s here in Denver, with a new life ahead. For the first time in a long time, I’m not just thinking about the next game or the next win. I’m thinking about her.

A thought flickers through my mind, and I seize it before I can second-guess myself. My upcoming charity event is the highlight of the year, a day filled with games and activities for the community’s kids. It’s personal to me—giving kids the support I wish I’d had growing up.

“Got a proposition for her,” I say casually. “That charity event I mentioned, the one for the kids? We could use some baking for the spread. Might be a g ood way for her to meet some folk around here, you know. Get the kids involved, too.”

“Oh, you sly bastard.” Zoe's eyes sparkle. “I like it.”

I can already see it. Charlie’s baking front and center, her kids laughing and running around, and a chance for me to see her again. Sure it’s an excuse, but it’s one I’d bet would mean something to her, too.

Zoe dips her head to catch my eye. “I’ll let her know you’re interested. In, you know, the brownies .”

I laugh, shaking my head as I stand up. “Thanks, but could I just grab her number instead?”

She lets out a dramatic sigh as she holds out her hand for my phone. “Fine,” she says as I eagerly pass it to her, watching her type the number in. “But don’t fuck with her, Brooks. I mean it.”

I nod as she hands my phone back to me. As I head out of the board room with Charlie’s number burning a hole in my pocket, Zoe’s words echo in my mind.

I’m not going to mess this up. This is just the beginning, and for the first time in years, I feel certain that whatever this is, I’m all in.