Small steps,Lani. Remember, that’s how you’ve lived your life for the last four years. Exhaling slowly again, she walked back down the stairs and took down an apron that had a snowman on it. Soon she forgot about everything but doing what she loved.
Chapter Six
“So, champagne, then, is my guess, seeing as it’s Rosie’s birthday.” Noah looked at the McBrides as they approached the bar.
“Perfect, and we should be celebrating parenting a child to the age of five,” Jake said. “Because while it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, it’s the most challenging.”
He and Jake had run together as children and hadn’t really stopped. Tall, dark and his sister Faith said, handsome, he’d married his wife, Branna, a few years back and they had a sweet little girl called Rose, who Noah and pretty much everyone she met loved.
“I’ll just take a juice thanks, Noah.”
Branna was Irish, and if her name hadn’t given her away, then her accent would. She was dark haired too, but a lot prettier than her man.
“Juice? You love champagne.”
“Sure, but tonight I want juice.”
“Just tell him, he’ll find out soon enough,” Jake said from his place leaning on the bar.
“Tell me what?”
“She’s having another baby in about five months.”
“No way… really? Cool.” Noah ignored the little stab to his heart and hugged Branna gently, then chest bumped his friend. “What’s in the water around here at the moment? That’s three of you in the space of a year.”
“Weird, right?” Jake added.
“Where is Rose?” Noah looked around him. “I mean, isn’t this her celebration?”
“Here!”
Noah caught the little girl as she ran at him and threw her into the air.
“Seriously, man, she makes me do that constantly. You need to stop. You and her other uncles all catching her like that, she thinks it’s a daily thing. It’s killing my back,” Jake said.
“How’s my best girl?” Noah ignored him. “I got you a present, because someone told me it was your birthday and you’re going to be five.”
“I am!” She squeezed her arms around his neck. Rose gave the best hugs.
“No way. Surely you can’t be that old?”
Something made him look over Rose’s head, and he found Lani standing there. She looked nervous.
“Hi.” He lowered Rose to the floor and took her hand in his. “Rose, this is Lani.” He walked to where she stood.
“I’m five tomorrow.”
“Congratulations. You get cake and presents, right?” Lani’s face changed suddenly. Gone was the tension as she talked to Rose. She wore the same jeans, but the shirt was the one he’d taken off her that night in Brook. The thought did nothing to ease the awareness he already felt around this woman.
“And a party. You can come if you want.”
Lani’s eyes shot to Jake and Branna, who had followed him and Rose. They now stood a little back, waiting for an introduction.
“Lani Sullivan, this is Jake and Branna McBride. They own this brat.” Rose smiled at his words. “Lani is new in town.”
“Hello.” She nodded, the tension now back in her face. “Mrs. C wanted me to return this to you.” She thrust an envelope at him that was likely a bill for the last cake he ordered two weeks ago.
“You working at the Howlery now?”
