Worth the Wait (Picking up the Pieces #4) by Jessica Prince

like crazy is just screaming, ‘hey, evict me! Evict me!’”
    “We’ll have it at my place.” Brett’s gravelly voice jerked my attention his way.
    “What?”
    “That’s perfect!” Emmy cried. “Brett has the best backyard EVER! It’s huge and backs up right to the woods behind his house. Great idea, Brett.”
    “You guys, I can’t—”
    Brett leaned in so close I could smell the strong sent of laundry detergent and fresh air that came off him. “Yes you can, beauty,” his tone soft yet commanding. It was a tone that garnered instant attention.
    “We’re offering because we want to. That’s all. I want to help give Callie and Cam a great party any way I can. Just let us help, babe. Those kids mean something to us. They mean something to me .”
    There was no way I could stare into those rich brown eyes after hearing him say such wonderful things about my children and deny allowing them to help in any way.
    “Okay, fine.” Stacia and Emmy let out squeals of delight. “But let’s not go overboard, okay? I know it’s a big birthday, but they’re still just five. No need to get crazy.”
    I got the distinct impression that the girls chose to stop listening as soon as I agreed. They leaned in together and scribbled frantically in my notebook, saying words like “petting zoo” and “pony”, and the scariest of all “Elmo performers.”
    When I looked away from them, Brett’s eyes were still on me and that smile that made my insides melt was at full wattage.
    There was no fighting my smile in return.

Brett: Where are you?
    I’d exchanged numbers with everyone so we could all stay in contact while planning the kids’ birthday party, and for the past week, I’d been getting at least one text from Brett a day. Some were sweet, wishing me a good day, some were teasing, some asked about the kids, and some were flirty and playful—those were my favorite.
    Me: At the park with the kids.
    When we woke up, the sun was shining brightly in the sky. The temperature was just perfect, humidity low, with a nice fall breeze; it was the perfect day to get the twins out for their daily dose of vitamin D.
    Brett: Awesome. On my way.
    Me: I don’t recall inviting you.
    Brett: Didn’t have to. I can read your mind. You want me there, admit it, beauty.
    Me: You’re an ass. Also, don’t you ever work?
    Brett: I could ask you the same thing.
    Me: Ha! Day off, asshole.
    Brett: See you in 5. Try to hold your enthusiasm in.
    “Mommy, watch!” Callie called out as I laughed off Brett’s last text and dropped my phone back into my purse. I spent the next few minutes watching Callie and Cam take turns going down the slide. So far, the trip to the park had been successful with only one wrestling match breaking out between the two over who got to slide first.
    “Cameron Michael. Don’t pull your sister’s hair!”
    “But she’s bein’ a poop face!”
    “No name calling or I’m taking away your Spiderman toy when we get home.”
    Good Lord, where did kids come up with these insults?
    “Got to give the kid an A for creativity. Don’t think I’ve ever heard the name ‘poop face’ before.”
    I let out a started yelp and spun around at the deep rumble of Brett’s voice in my ear. Only an inch or two separated his body from mine, and the close proximity was doing crazy things to my head.
    “Don’t sneak up on me like that,” I grumbled, trying my best to ignore my body’s desire to lean in closer to him. “You scared the crap out of me.”
    His gravelly laugh was like music to my ears. “Sorry, beauty. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
    He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from my face and it took everything in me to suppress the shiver his touch caused.
    I tried my hardest not to notice how sexy he looked in just a plain white t-shirt and jeans, the perfect amount of scruff that covered his cheeks and chin, those gorgeous brown eyes of his hidden beneath the brim of a tattered ball cap, but I just