I look through the peep hole. Nope, better. It’s Annie—the only woman I ever want Ben to view as his mother.
“Here’s the morning sun,” I say swinging the door wide open. Baya and Roxy stand behind her. “An estrogen ambush before eight a.m.? Get in here, girls.”
Annie plants a kiss on my lips and gives my ass a discrete tweak before filing in. I do a double take as she strides on by. Hot damn. This girl is smoking with her black leather jacket—tight as all hell jeans.
“What’s going on ladies?” Annie doesn’t need to dress to impress. I’m already hers in every single way. But leather before breakfast has my suspicions aroused.
“Where’s my boy?” Roxy gravels it out, as she heads straight to the bedroom. It’s an odd friendship we’ve developed—Cole, too, although I can relate to him a little better.
Annie wraps her arms around my neck. “I have a surprise for you.” Her bright red lips press together as she holds back a smile. Annie doesn’t normally wear lipstick, so already I’m intrigued.
“Can we pause for a minute so I can tell you how drop dead gorgeous you look today? What’s the surprise? You in a beauty pageant this afternoon?”
“Ha, ha.” Annie’s voice has smoothed out, even and seamless. You would never know that she’s only been using it on a regular basis for the last few weeks. “I am doing something beautiful this afternoon—withyou.”
“That’s right!” Baya sings. Baya is always a little overloaded with energy. Roxy balances her out nicely. “Now go on and get.” She motions for us to shuffle out the door. “I’ve got a baby to snuggle with.”
Roxy comes out of the bedroom with a freshly changed, and bright-eyed Benji. “Look who’s awake!” Baya and Annie flock to him like he’s a lead singer on a full house night. Annie is determined to teach him how to sign, and I’m all for it. It’s about time I became proficient in it as well. Annie says it’s ingrained in who she is. She still does it with her mother and brothers.
“I remember when all the girls in the room used to flock to me.”
Annie rolls her eyes. “I’d better get this guy out of here before his ego blows off the ceiling. Bye sweetie.” She pecks a kiss to Ben’s cheek, and my heart melts. Annie guts me each time she loves all over Ben. I can get used to this. For the first time since losing my brother, I’m starting to feel whole again—hell, I do.
“By the way”—Roxy hands him off to Baya as she makes her way to the kitchen and plucks a bottle out of the fridge—“I’ll be watching him tonight while you play at the Black Bear.”
“Sounds good, but I don’t play at the Black Bear anymore.” Haven’t in months.
Annie slings her arm around my waist. “Yes, you do.”
“Says who?” I’m hoping she’ll say her brothers because I wouldn’t want them hitting me over the head with my guitar when I show up.
“Says me.” Her brows hike. “And Bryson and Holt may have agreed to it. They also may have groveled a bit. It turns out nothing sold more beer and bourbon than your singing.” She wrinkles her nose. “What do you say? You think the band has it in them to do another run?”
“I know they do.” I trap her bottom lip between mine and pull back. “Thank you. That’s a great surprise.”
“You’re welcome, but that wasn’t the surprise. Now get ready before I change my mind.”
Ishower anddress before Annie and I jump in my truck and hit the road.
“You know I was just thinking, I could teach you to drive sometime.”
“Really?” Her face lights up. “I would love that. I think I’m ready.” She bounces in her seat. I love to see her excited, happy, squealing with pleasure, usually when she’s naked and wrapped around my body like a vine.
Annie gives me vague instructions, eventually navigating us to the doorstep of Joe’s Automotive.
“Am I pulling a Saturday shift?” God knows if the old man sees me, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities.
“Let’s find out.” Annie lures me out of the truck with a curl of her finger. She’s wearing boots that cover her knees, and, holy hell, she just gets hotter by the minute.
Annie takes me by the hand and walks me to the back of the garage until we’re both staring at a steel horse I swore I’d never get on again. Same make and model that Benji was on when he died. Shit. I back away like it’s a snake.
“I can’t do this.”
“Yes”—she pulls me back by the fingers—“you can, and you should.” Annie presses a warm kiss against my neck. “You’re my hero, Blake.” Those doe eyes of hers blink up at me, and the pressure is on. I know what I need to do. But can I? “I don’t want you to fear anything. I don’t think your brother would either.”
That’s all I need to hear. Joe comes over and hands me the keys.
“You have quite the persuasive girlfriend here.” He winks at Annie. “She’s a looker, too.”
