Mystery Of You (Pub 5)

31 - Family

Brooke snuggled in between Ian and Ainsley on the sofa. Ainsley looked over at Ian. He looked bored by the movie about a pesky girl. He caught her eye and winked. Smiling back, she felt content. Borrowing Brooke was nice, but it didn't mean she was maternal just because she liked the girl. Violet would say Ainsley was immature enough to be ten. It was her secret, but she liked teen movies. Too bad Brooke wasn't quite a teen.

They had ordered Thai takeout rather than cook for their guest. Planning together, they felt like a real couple. One moment the thought brought Ainsley contentment, but the next she felt a tightening. Eventually it would end. They set the rules which would lead to failure. One would want more or less than the other.

After meeting Ian's uncle, Ainsley had decided the next time Ian asked she would meet his father. She wanted to know if the man who had a hand in raising Ian was as kind as his brother. There was a warmth and affection between uncle and nephew that didn't exist in her family. She had it with her father, but he worked too much. Her mother was too full of expectations to be maternal.

Ian mouthed, "You okay?" She nodded, but he frowned. Occasionally, she worried about him when he looked stressed. Maybe the acne boys were still a problem, or he needed space. He didn't need space when he brought her back to bed.

"Thanks, dad." Brooke took a napkin from Ian.

Ainsley looked from one to another. "What's with the dad business?"

"A weird lady thought I was his daughter."

"So you went with it." Ainsley liked the girl's spunk. "Weird lady?" Her eyes were on Ian.

He shrugged. "I'm not ten. She works there."

"She stood too close, but it's okay. She knows I have a mom."

"Sounds familiar." Her eyes narrowed.

Ian held up his hands. "You are more than enough woman for me."

Brooke added, "She's out of his league."

Ian frowned. "Why do you say that?"

Brooke shrugged. "She tries too hard to look good. You don't have to try to look pretty."

"She's right." Ian's gaze did things to her.

"I'm a puddle." She fanned herself.

Ian's gaze grew darker and slightly pained as Brooke talk about climbing. With her around, they didn't have to speak. If his lust meant anything, she had no reason to be jealous. It was a good thing because she loathed jealous, clingy women.

While they put the leftover food away and cleaned up, he nuzzled her neck. "Puddle. You are dirty."

"Let's play a game." Brooke interrupted.

Ian chuckled. "I don't have any games."

"I do. Come with me. You can pick one while I feed my cat." Ainsley motioned to the girl.

Brooke jumped up. "You have a cat too? I want one but my parents won't let me."

"I couldn't as a girl, so I waited until I was an adult." A spinster cat lady, except she didn't feel single.

To her surprise, Brooke picked a deck of cards. "I know Ian can play rummy."

"You know him better than me."

"We play cards with my grandparents at Christmas time. They come back from Florida between Thanksgiving and New Year's."

"Where do they stay?" Ian hadn't mentioned grandparents.

"With Uncle Andrew. Hmm. I wonder how that will work with Margot?"

Ainsley smiled. She was definitely ten going on twenty. They were three games in when the buzzer sounded. Brooke jumped up to release the lock.