Are You Ready? (Everlasting Ink #3)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER

EIGHT

Briar

“That was delicious,” Forrest says, dropping his napkin to the table. His eyes are locked on mine. “Thank you, Briar.”

“You’re welcome.” I smile, hoping to hide the effect of his deep voice saying my name does to me. Who am I kidding? It’s more than just him saying my name. It’s the man. I think back to his office earlier when I hugged him. I don’t know why I did it. I don’t make it a habit to hug men I don’t know. Hell, any man, not since I lost my dad.

“I ate mine. All gone,” Rayne tells him.

“Me too,” River adds.

“I can see that. You ladies did a great job,” Forrest compliments them.

I watch my daughters preen under his praise, proud as peacocks to have his attention. They’re all smiles and nods, being on their best behavior cleaning their plates. This is their favorite meal, but there was no encouragement needed on my end for them to finish their dinners tonight.

“Will you play with us?” Rayne asks .

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell them Forrest has things he needs to do at home, but he beats me to a reply.

“You bet. Let me help your momma clean up, and then we can play.” He stands and picks up our plates before he heads toward the sink.

“Forrest, you’re a guest. You don’t have to do that.” I scramble to pick up cups and water bottles and rush after him.

“That’s not how this works, Briar. You cooked. I can clean up. It’s the least that I can do.” He places the plates in the sink and begins rinsing them off.

“The dishwasher,” I mumble.

“That I can do.” He smiles as he continues washing up from dinner.

“You know, you don’t have to stay and play with them. I know that’s probably not high on your list of things you want to do on a Thursday night.”

He stops rinsing and turns to look at me. “You’d be wrong, Briar. Your daughters are a breath of fresh air, and all I have waiting for me at home is silence. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep my word and stay.”

“Yes. Of course,” I squeak. I don’t know what his motive is, but I’m going to remain on guard. The last thing I need is for my daughters to get attached to him, only for him to disappear from their lives. I know I can’t project my trust issues on them, but they’re four-year-old little girls. They don’t know who to depend on. That’s my job as their mother.

I don’t give my trust freely, but my gut tells me we can believe him. I just don’t know how long he’ll be willing to spend this kind of time with my daughters. They’re far too young to have their hearts broken.

“What about the leftovers?” he asks, placing the last dish into the dishwasher.

“Oh, I’ll take care of that.”

“Briar.” His tone is a playful warning.

“Forrest,” I parrot. I smile up at him. “Go on in and play with the twins. I’ll be right behind you. ”

He studies me for several long heartbeats, until he leans in and places a kiss on the top of my head. He doesn’t say a word. Not one syllable is muttered as he saunters off to the living room. I can hear the girls talking at once and his deep chuckle, but it sounds as if I’m in a tunnel.

He kissed me.

Me.

I mean, not really, but a kiss to the top of my head counts. It’s been—never. Never has a man made me feel like this. Like my heart is going to pound right out of my chest. I realize I’m holding on to the counter and shake my head. That man has literally made my knees go weak.

This can’t happen.

He’s getting too close.

Pulling myself out of my Forrest trance, I rush to get the leftovers put away so I can join them just as I said I would. I’m certain he won’t stay long, and then I can tear apart every second of my day from the time I stepped into Everlasting Ink earlier this evening.

When I walk into the living room, I’m not sure what I expected to find. What I do know is that I didn’t expect to find Forrest with his back against the couch while he sits on the floor and lets my daughters put bows in his hair.

He looks up when he hears me and grins. “What do you think, Momma? Looks good, right?” he asks.

“We’re making Forrest pretty, Mommy,” Rayne tells me.

“I can see that.” What I don’t say is that he was just fine without the pink and purple bows. I also don’t tell them the word they’re looking for is sexy. That would be inappropriate to teach my four-year-old daughters.

“He’s our patient,” River explains.

“Sweetheart, patients are for doctors. If you’re doing his hair, he would be your client or your customer.”

“Do you want to be that, Forty?” River asks him.

“Forty?” I question.

“That’s what Emerson used to call me. She still does sometimes. ”

“We get to call him Forty cause hims our friend,” Rayne says proudly.

“He,” I correct her.

“We making you beautiful, Forty,” River says.

“Nails next,” Rayne tells him.

“Girls, I don’t think Forrest wants you to paint his nails. You can paint Mommy’s nails.”

“It’s fine,” Forrest tells me. “Let them have their fun. What color are you ladies thinking?” he asks the girls. He holds his hands out for them to inspect.

“Let’s go get the polish, sissy,” Rayne tells her sister. They climb off the couch and rush down the hall to their room.

“I’m so sorry. You can leave and I’ll tell them something came up,” I tell Forrest.

“What?” He looks horrified at the thought. “I’m not leaving. They’re looking forward to this. I could never disappoint them like that.”

Something happens inside me. Something I can’t explain. My belly twists, and my heart, it feels like it’s melting at his words and confession. “They’ve never been around men,” I confess. My voice is gravelly as I let my admission slip free. “They like you.”

“I like them. They’re great girls, Briar. You’ve done an incredible job with them.”

That melting sensation intensifies, and I feel it everywhere. What is this man doing to me?

Forrest is watching me. His gaze is intense, and I can’t help but smile at him. Here is this man who is tall with broad shoulders and covered in tattoos sitting on my living room floor letting my four-year-old daughters do whatever they want to him, and from the looks of it, he wants to be here.

How is that possible?

I need to ask him… to protect not only their heart but mine if the way it’s raging against my rib cage is any indication. However, before I can form the words, the girls are racing back into the room. Forrest holds his arms out, spreading his fingers out for the girls .

“What did you decide on?” he asks them.

“I got purple sparkles.” River holds up the bottle of sparkling purple fingernail polish to show him.

“Excellent choice.” He smiles at her. I can see her stand a little taller at his approval. “What about you, Rayne?”

“I got pink sparkles. See.” She shoves the bottle close to his face, and he chuckles.

“Perfect. Razzle dazzle me, ladies.” He’s relaxed as the girls each move a hand to the hardwood floor and flip to their bellies to paint his nails. When they struggle to open the bottles, he helps them with ease, handing them back and placing his palms flat against the floor.

“Forrest.” He turns his head to look at me as I ask, “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” The smile he gives me is genuine.

Curling up in the chair, I listen as my daughters talk to him, and he engages in their conversation. The three of them are lost in their own little world. I wish I could record this moment because my girls, they’re smiling and happy, and the tattooed sex god in my home is the one to thank for that.

I hear the front door open, and I know it’s Brogan coming home. “Hey,” she says cautiously.

“Hi, Aunt Brogan!” the girls call loudly.

“Hey, girls. Whatcha doing there?”

“Oh, we’re making Forty beautiful,” River explains.

“Razzle”—Forrest nods to River—“and Dazzle”—and nods toward Rayne—“are doing their thing. Good to see you, Brogan,” Forrest greets her.

“We’re not razzle dazzle.” Rayne giggles. “I’m Rayne.” She points to her chest, almost tipping the bottle of nail polish over.

“I’m River, silly,” River adds.

“Well, you’re calling me Forty, just like my sister does. It’s only right I have a nickname for the two of you.”

“I’m Razzle.” River points to her chest.

“That’s right.” Forrest grins at her .

“And I’m Dazzle.” Rayne nods as if she accepts the new nickname.

“What about Mommy?” River asks.

“She’s momma. She’ll always be your momma.”

“But she’s not your momma,” River points out.

“No, but being your momma is her most important job ever, so the name fits.”

The girls nod, seeming to accept that answer.

“What about Aunt Brogan?”

“She’s always going to be Aunt Brogan. She’s equally as important as your momma, so Aunt Brogan sticks.”

“So, you just have names for us?” Rayne asks with awe in her voice.

“My niece, Lilly. Do you remember Lilly?”

“She’s a baby,” the girls answer at the same time.

“That’s right. She’s my Lilly Bug.”

“So just babies and girls, not mommies or aunts. Right, Forty?” River asks, always inquisitive.

“That’s right.”

“I left a plate for you in the microwave,” I tell Brogan.

Brogan nods before motioning for me to follow her. “Girls, are you okay for a few minutes while I go talk to Aunt Brogan?”

“We have our Forty,” Rayne tells me.

Just like that, my twin girls have become possessive of the sexy man, and I don’t know how I feel about that, but there is nothing I can do at the moment. Besides, I need to talk to my sister. After standing from the chair, I make my way to the kitchen, knowing my sister is going to have questions.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” I say when I enter the kitchen.

“I didn’t know we were having company.”

“I didn’t either. Not really. I mean, I knew he was stopping by, but I didn’t expect him to stay for dinner, and that”—I point behind me toward the living room—“I did not expect that.”

“What is that exactly? ”

I sigh, knowing she won’t let up until I tell her. “I went to Everlasting Ink to get on the books for my tattoo. Forrest was there. He had a cancellation and took me back to his room to discuss what I wanted. He wanted to see Dad’s pocket watch and said he could stop by on his way home to take a few pictures and look at it.”

“When you told me you stopped to get on the books before I left for my hair appointment, you left that out.” She’s grinning, so I know she’s not pissed at me for not telling her.

“Yeah, I was going to tell you when you got home. Anyway, he shows up and the girls think he’s here for them and invite him for dinner. He said if it was okay with me, he would stay, and I couldn’t say no. So we had dinner.”

“And?”

“And he helped with the girls and helped clean up. They asked him to stay and play, and I gave him an out, but he didn’t take it.”

“What do you mean, you gave him an out? Details, Briar. I need details.” The microwave beeps and she pulls her plate out, sits at the island, and digs into her dinner.

“I just told them that I’m sure he had more important things to do.”

“What did he say?” She’s eating, but her eyes are glued to mine.

“Something about nothing waiting at home for him but an empty house or something like that.” I know exactly what he said and could recite it word for word, but I’m not going to. Paraphrasing is all she needs. His words are mine, and I groan inwardly at my possession of a conversation. It must be something in the air.

“And he just let the girls put bows in his hair and paint his nails?”

“He did. I tried to give him an out for the nails too. I told him he could go while the girls were in their room picking out colors and he looked horrified at the mere thought of disappointing them. He said as much too.”

Brogan grins. “I like him. ”

“He’s a nice guy. However, I don’t want the girls getting attached to him.”

Brogan sets her fork down on the corner of her plate and wipes her mouth. “That night was different for you than it was for me. I know that. However, I want you to be happy, Briar. You can’t keep living pushing everyone away.”

“I’m not,” I counter. “We’ve had two girls' nights. The ladies are great.”

She rolls her eyes. “You know exactly what I mean. They’re not all bad.”

“They’re not all good either.”

She stares at me for so long that I shift my stance under her gaze.

“You like him. I know you do. He wouldn’t have been invited into our home with the girls if you didn’t. He wouldn’t be in the living room alone with the girls if you didn’t.”

“He’s Emerson’s brother.” I shrug.

“Stop it. Just stop, Briar. At least think about it. Don’t push him away. You can keep giving him choices. Let him decide if he wants to be around you and the girls.”

“Maybe he’s trying to get to you.”

She laughs. Not just a “ha ha, you’re funny” laugh. No, this one of those “tosses her head back, eyes closed, body shaking” kind of laughs.

“What’s so funny?”

“That man is not here for me. I walked through the door, and he barely glanced at me when he said hello.”

“That’s because he was giving his attention to the girls.”

“Sure, we’ll go with that.”

“I need to get back in there.” I point over my shoulder.

“Sure. I’m going to finish up, and then I’ll make myself scarce.”

“No. This is your home.” I don’t want her to feel as though she’s not welcome here because we have a guest.

“I know that,” she says gently, realizing she’s hit a nerve with me. “I’ll say hello, and I have a book I’ve been dying to start. Tonight sounds like the perfect night to do that. ”

For the—hell, I’ve lost count how many times this man has taken me by surprise tonight. What I do know is I didn’t expect to find him sitting on the couch with my girls on either side of him, reading them a story. I stop and stare as I listen to him change his voice to fit the book. The girls are enthralled and not moving a muscle as he reads to them. I stand here, lost in the sight before me.

“Briar,” Brogan whispers. She rests her head on my shoulder, wrapping her arms around me. “That’s—I think my ovaries just exploded.”

I nod. I can’t admit… okay, I won’t admit that I feel as though mine did too. I’ve never met a man like Forrest. Not that there have been a lot of men in my life. Not since the night I got pregnant. I’ve been too busy being a single mom, grieving the loss of my father, and just living one day at a time.

When Forrest closes the book, Brogan steps away from me, and I move into the room. “Girls, it’s time for bed,” I tell them.

“Forrest, can you tuck us in?” River asks.

“If it’s okay with your momma, I’d love to.”

“Please, Mommy?” the girls beg.

I glance at Forrest, and he gives me a subtle nod. “Okay, go get in your jammies and brush your teeth.”

“I’ll help,” Brogan says. “Forrest, it was good to see you.”

“You too,” he replies, and this time I see it. He barely glances at her. His eyes are all for me. Heat coats my cheeks. I’m not used to having a man’s attention. Not like this. One look has me feeling as though I could combust.

“They’re great,” he says, breaking the ice.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for that.” I point to his hair and to his nails.

He shrugs. “Their smiles were worth it.”

“Are you always this… charming?” I ask him.

A slow, sexy grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. “You think I’m charming?”

I wave him off, hoping like hell I appear to be unaffected. “You know what I mean. ”

“I’m just me, Briar. I’m a man who hasn’t been able to stop thinking about you since the twins' birthday party. I heard your voice today, and I knew it was you. I had to see you. Then tonight—this—it was perfect.”

I scoff. “Spending your evening with my four-year-old daughters doing your hair in bows and painting your nails was perfect?” I’m being a bitch for no reason, but I can’t seem to help myself. His confession softened my heart, and I can feel the bricks around it starting to crack. I’m not ready for that.

“Yes. Great food, and even better company.”

“What do you want, Forrest?”

“I want to get to know you. I’ve never had a woman consume my thoughts like this. Tell me you feel this?”

“I’m a single mom.”

“I know that.”

“What happens when they get attached to you and you decide you don’t want to be around anymore? I know heartbreak is inevitable, but I’d like for them to live a little longer without it.”

He stands from his seat on the couch. It takes him a few strides of those long-ass legs of his to be standing in front of me. He bends his knees so we are eye to eye. “I’m not here to hurt you or them. I’m here because I want to be. I feel a connection to you, and I can’t stop thinking about you. Let me show you.”

“I—I don’t know how. I don’t know if I can.”

“Baby steps,” he assures me. “We’ll take baby steps and when you know, when you’re ready, you tell me.”

“Forty!” the twins yell down the hall. “We’re ready!” they call out.

A smile breaks out across his face. “Hold that thought.” He stands, and this time when he leans in, he presses his lips to my forehead. He saunters off down the hallway as if he’s been here a thousand times. It takes a few seconds, but my legs finally start to work, and I follow after him.

“Did you ladies brush your teeth like your momma asked?” he asks them.

I stand in the doorway watching .

“Yes.”

“Perfect.” He walks over to River’s bed. He leans down and tucks the blanket around her body, making her look like a tiny human burrito. “Night, Razzle.” He moves and repeats the same process with Rayne. “Night, Dazzle.”

“Night, Forty,” they say together.

He stands and walks toward me. I go in and kiss the girls goodnight before meeting him in the hallway. Forrest places his hand on the small of my back and leads me back toward the living room.

“I won’t push you, Briar. But this”—he waves his free hand between us—“whatever it is, we deserve to see if it can be more.”

“This is… out of left field.”

“Not really. I would have worn my sister or Monroe down for your number, eventually. You coming into the shop today was meant to be.”

I open my mouth to speak, but the words won’t come. My brain is too busy trying to process what’s happening. He wants me.

“Sleep on it. I left my card that has my cell phone number on the coffee table.” With his hand still locked with mine, he leads us to the front door. “Goodnight.” His lips press to my cheek, and then he’s gone. I stand in the doorway watching as he leaves until I can no longer see his taillights.

It’s not until I’m in the house, sitting on the couch, trying to wrap my head around today’s turn of events that I realize I didn’t show him the pocket watch. Picking up his business card, I contemplate texting him pictures but ultimately decide not to. Maybe I can have Brogan stop by the shop and let him take his pictures? Then again, maybe having Forrest do my tattoo isn’t the best idea.

My head is a mess, and nothing needs to be decided tonight. I lock up the house, turn off the lights, and head to my room. I contemplate knocking on Brogan’s door, but I don’t even know what I would say. I need to process before I talk about it.