CHAPTER 19
Brynn had only been talking to her mother for two minutes and she was ready to throw her phone out her office window. She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly in an effort to maintain the last shred of patience that she could muster as she leaned back in the desk chair that had seen better days. It squeaked loudly in protest as her mom droned on about how many news outlets her father had appeared on that morning.
She was only half-listening in an attempt to salvage whatever shred of sanity she had left. She opened her eyes and gazed outside. Her timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. Axel was exiting the theater wearing a white T-shirt, faded blue jeans, work boots, and a hat that was turned backwards. His signature tool belt was hanging on his hips, thus completing the mom-porn fantasy.
If someone had asked Brynn what were the qualities in her perfect mate B.A. (before Axel) her list would’ve included honesty, a sense of humor, empathy, intelligence, great smile, good laugh, and a good hugger. It would not have included being able to fix things, build things, or refurbish things. But A.A. (after Axel) she wasn’t sure she could settle for anything less.
Watching Axel fix, build, and restore things around her house and at the school had ignited an entirely new appreciation for a man that was good with his hands…and Axel was definitely good with his hands.
Flashes of how gently, and how roughly, he’d touched her sprang to her mind. Other men she’d been with had to be told where to touch her, which had never bothered her. It’s not like she expected anyone to be a mind reader. And it was her body, she took full responsibility for the pleasure that she did and didn’t receive. But somehow, Axel had instinctively known exactly where and how to touch her. It was as if her body was an orchestra and he was a master conductor, playing her into a pleasure crescendo.
Her mouth watered at the memories of their night together and she absentmindedly reached up and touched the corner of her mouth to make sure that no drool had collected there.
“Brynn?” Her mom’s voice worked like a rubber band and snapped her brain back to the conversation. “Are you there?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“So? Do you?”
She’d completely zoned out. “Do I what?”
“Know how to make it so your phone tells you whenever your dad is mentioned in a news story?”
“Yes, I know how to set a Google alert.” She didn’t say that she’d be doing it.
“Oh good, because there’s more news coming out all the time about your father.”
Hoping to dissuade any delusions her mom might be operating in, she restated calmly, “Mom, I’ve told you before that man is nothing to me. I have no interest in his life.”
“Don’t worry about setting your phone. I know you’re busy. I’ll keep you posted.”
Please don’t.
For being so “in tune” with people’s energy, Shea Daniels was clueless when it came to her only daughter. It had always seemed like her mom had tried to use the power of positive thinking to will Brynn into being the daughter that she wanted her to be. But she never actually cared about the person that Brynn was.
“How is that handsome grandson of mine?”
Brynn grinned at the mention of Ryder. What Shea lacked in parenting she more than made up for in grandparenting. She’d always supported Ryder’s interests, listened to him when he spoke, and respected his wishes. The sun rose and set on that boy in her mom’s eyes. He could do no wrong. If she had to choose between Shea being a good mom or a good grandmother, she’d go grandma every time. The more people that loved Ryder unconditionally in this world, the better.
“He’s good.”
“And the play? How is the play going?”
“It’s coming along.” They were still two months away from opening night, and all the kids were basically off-book, including the understudies, thanks in no small part to Izzy.
That girl was truly impressive. In the one week she’d been in town she’d made herself invaluable to Brynn. As it stood now, she could honestly say that she wasn’t sure who she’d miss more when Axel was done with the project: him or his little sister.
Izzy was at rehearsals after school because Axel didn’t want her going home to an empty house. He was extremely protective of his little sister, and just like everything else Axel did, it was all kinds of sexy.
The first day, Izzy sat in the back of the theater and watched. She was quiet. Observant. Brynn had wondered if she was just shy or if she was irritated about being stuck there. But she was wrong on both points. The following day, Izzy showed up and told Brynn that she would be her assistant. It had taken Brynn completely by surprise, but that was nothing compared to how shocked she was at all the ways Izzy had made her life easier.
Izzy created a timeline for all departments: set design, costume design, talent, sound, and lights. Brynn truly hadn’t realized what an undertaking a high school production was and though she’d been doing her best, it seemed her best still required her to put out fires every day. It was a very reactive style of directing. But Izzy was proactive. She addressed problems before they arose.
“And what about Fiona? Is young love still in the air?”
“Yep.”
Ryder and Fiona were officially together. KJ and Presley were still going strong, and she was pretty sure Ricky and Izzy were going to be the next couple in Whisper Lake. The two of them were huddled together talking and laughing every chance they got.
“And what about you? Have you fallen susceptible to the love in the air?”
Yes.
She’d thought that she’d been preoccupied with Axel before the night they’d spent together, but now he was all she thought about. Day and night. Whether sleeping or awake. He dominated her mind, body, and soul.
A loud shrill blared from the speaker in the wall.
Saved by the bell.
“I gotta go, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, love you, Sunflower.”
“Love you, Mom.”
Brynn hung up the phone and grabbed her bag to head to the theater. This had quickly become her favorite part of the day, easily replacing her morning walks around the lake. She still enjoyed those, but the three hours she got to spend in the same building with Axel had taken the top spot.
She exited the double doors of the administration building and was accosted by her son and the twins.
“Hey guys!” She smiled.
“We figured it out,” Ryder said excitedly.
“Awesome!” Brynn exclaimed in support before asking, “You figured what out?”
“Halloween,” Ricky offered.
Out of the three boys, Ricky was the calmest and most mature. He and KJ were exact opposites. KJ was loud, rebellious, and impulsive. Ricky was reserved, levelheaded, and deliberate. And Ryder fell right in the middle of them. Which was probably why they all got along so well.
“We’re going as Game of Thrones,” Ryder rushed out.
“Oh, okay.” Brynn still didn’t feel great about the fact that her son had seen the show considering the content, but he’d binged watched it on a rare weekend with his dad.
KJ smiled. “I’m going to be Jaime Lannister and Presley’s going to be Cersei. I’m going to have a steel hand.”
“And I’m gonna be Jon Snow and Fiona’s going as Ygritte,” Ryder chimed in.
Brynn naturally turned to Ricky.
“I’m going as Khal Drogo and Izzy’s going to be Khaleesi.”
More kids started flooding out of the school and Brynn saw the girls coming their way. Before they were within earshot Ryder said, “Oh, and I told the girls that you’d make their costumes, too.”
Of course you did.
Brynn’s mind started racing, thinking of the timeline for the costumes. There were three weeks until Halloween. And she’d have to make six costumes. It was doable, but she wasn’t going to get much sleep. She started to mentally map out what each of the costumes might look like and when she got to Ricky and Izzy, she felt herself smiling.
She’d been wondering if something was going on, but she hadn’t wanted to ask Ryder. He’d told her that he felt like she was “way too involved with his life” since she worked at the school and was directing the play. She reminded him that he’d had no interest in the play when she’d thrown her name in for the job.
In front of her, she watched as Izzy, Fiona, and Presley arrived at the theater. Her heart swelled when she saw Ryder step up and open the door for Fiona, her little gentleman. And it filled with more joy when Ricky took over from him, so he could be the one holding the door for Izzy.
They really were adorable. Even Axel was fine with it. Or at least, he seemed to be.
She’d caught him watching them a few times and he hadn’t looked like he wanted to put his fist through a wall, so she figured if that wasn’t a stamp of approval she didn’t know what was. He’d even let her go on a group date with the rest of them to Stone Castle over the weekend.
So, his actions definitely indicated he was okay with it, but since the two of them hadn’t talked, alone, since the night they’d spent together, she could only guess what he was thinking, about a lot of things…