Legends

Going Home: Part II

Liz's POV

I pulled a pan out of the double oven as I noticed a familiar black truck ease down the street out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't help the wide smirk that came across my lips as I looked down at the batch of hand size chocolate chip cookies on the pan in front of me. Yep, could almost set my watch by that man's sweet tooth. I was just keeping my fingers crossed that he wasn't alone. From what Allie had vaguely told me, they were working things out. Becky hadn't gotten too much more information out of Brantley and no matter what we bribed Kolby with he wasn't spilling the beans.

Dammit, I just needed Ben to come by if he was in. I could always weasel good info out of him. Eric hadn't had too much more to say other than he'd given B hell. But that was nothing new. He'd had the cocky little shit Brantley had been at twenty shaking in his boots the first time he had met him. I cut a glance over at Kassidy, my high school girl that helped in the afternoons, and sighed. She had the biggest crush on Brantley and tripped over her own two feet any time he came in. I heard the back door open and footsteps a second later as I transferred cookies to the cooling rack intent on my task.

"Don't even think about it Brantley Keith," I murmured knowing he had a long finger poised to swipe some of the chocolate icing I had set aside for the cupcakes that were cooling. I shifted my shoulder to toss the fishtail braid my hair was in out of my way. Could get hotter than hell in this kitchen at times.

"Shit Liz," he whined. "I swear you have eyes in the back of your head. Here it was I brought you a surprise."

"If you behave," I said with a laugh. "I might give you a cookie."

"Pretty please," he begged stepping closer to look at me pouting like he was twelve again. I swear that boy when he wanted to could charm the pants off a nun. Was no wonder that Allie fell for him all those years ago though he'd had to work for it. I had been mad at her for a while as well after she'd left him. I knew things hadn't been okay but I also knew that Allie wasn't a quitter. And when Brantley had shown up on my doorstep the next morning thinking maybe she was there had almost broke my heart. I had never seen him look so heart broken. Even the few times they had split up before getting married. Hadn't been unusual for Allie to come storming in my house madder than hell their first year of marriage to spend the night with me and Brantley showing up at some point the next day full of apologies.

"Maybe," I said giving him a wink. "What did you bring me? Been telling you for years to kidnap KC for me. But alas, every time you drag your tail home, I am disappointed again. Guess I will have to settle for a visit from my favorite nephew. Just don't tell Kolby I said that."

"Still haven't given that crush up huh?" I heard asked and turned to see my darling niece smirking at me. I raised an eyebrow at her as she walked to my side kissing my cheek then as per her habit hopped up on the counter beside me. "Might have some good photos for you then. Took a trip to the Bahamas a few weeks back to shoot some tour promos for him."

"Ooohhh do tell darlin," I said shaking my spatula at her. "I see you finally decided to drag your ass home. Been a few months. Staying with me?"

"No,'' Allie said quietly as Brantley walked over leaning his back against her knees as she propped her chin on his shoulder. "Staying at the house."

"Good," I said giving her a knowing look. "Bout damn time for that too."

"What I have been telling her," Brantley muttered crossing his arms over his grey Dawgs t-shirt and jerked when Allie tickled his side rolling her eyes. Now there, there was the Allie and BG I remembered. Two halves of a whole. Not the people they had been the last few years. This is what I had prayed would happen when she fessed up she had taken a job as his tour photographer this year.