Scarlett Crawford, a widowed mother with a young daughter depending on her, struggling to keep her life and emotions in check, but with the help of her best friend and her big brother she does what she can. But will a chance encounter with an attrac...
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Scarlett
"Whoa, sorry to interrupt."
Noah and I quickly pulled away from each other as my brothers booming voice rumbled through the house.
"Uncle Dean!" Quinn came running out from the hallway straight into Dean's outstretched arms, picking her up and swinging her around in a big bear hug.
"Munchkin! How was day-care?" Dean was talking to Quinn but glaring at me. We'd talked about Noah, but they hadn't met, and this was not an ideal scenario for introductions. Quinn was still telling him an in-depth story about her classrooms pet stick insects when Nikki came out and immediately read the room.
"Hey Quinny, why don't we go back to our cartoons for a minute? Mummy and Uncle Dean need to have a quick talk, then we can all have something yummy for dinner." Nikki took Quinn from Dean and started to walk her back to her room, turning to me while mouthing "Good Luck," before ducking through her doorway.
"This is the guy then, I'm guessing." It looked like Dean was puffing up his chest in an effort to appear larger. I stood from the table, walking over to him and gave him a playful whack in the stomach, he let out an "Oomph" and stopped flexing.
"Yes, this is the guy I told you about. Dean this is Noah. Noah this is my big brother Dean." I introduced them to each other trying not to feel as uncomfortable as I truly did. Noah quickly stood and walked over, extending his right hand.
"Nice to meet you mate, I've heard a lot about you." they shook hands and smiled, I instantly relaxed.
"You too mate. Not from around here from the sounds of it." Dean laughed at his own lame attempt at humour and I melted back toward the kitchen to get some drinks and look at starting dinner.
The two guys stood chatting about whatever it is guys talk about and I tuned out for a minute. I started getting things out of the pantry and fridge to make dinner, all while thinking about how best to handle Eric tomorrow. I needed to try to have a serious sit-down conversation with a not-yet-4-year-old. What a ridiculous premise. I was practicing a simple speech in my head when Dean waved his hand in front of my face.
"Hello-o, Earth to Letty. What are we having for dinner? You staying mate, want a beer?" Dean said while helping himself to a beer from the fridge.
"I was supposed to be working tonight but screw it. What good is it being the boss if you can't take a sickie every now and then." I could feel the heat in my cheeks when Noah smiled at me, and I wondered how long that would take to settle down.
Not that I didn't enjoy the butterflies, and whatever we were doing made me happy. The fact he showed up for me today, when he most definitely didn't have too, made me even happier. I know Dean would have been here if he could, but I also know that would have only been because I'm his little sister and for Quinn. Had he been newly dating someone, and they'd called him for something massive like this, I doubt he would have shown up. I'm not even sure he'd date someone with a kid, even if the father wasn't in the picture.
