Page 47 of Shadow of Doubt
“You sound so certain.”
“One thing I know. If my Colin is motivated to do something, he won’t rest until he succeeds. And, sweetheart, he is motivated to save you from this Kane fella.”
Brooklyn had to smile over the thought of his care and drive to find Kane. “I can see that.”
Sandy blinked a few times. “I think he has feelings for you.”
“I think so, too, and surprisingly, I have feelings for him,” Brooklyn admitted, shocking herself that she admitted it.
Sandy clapped but then winced and stopped. “How wonderful. I would like nothing more than for him to find a woman like you and settle down to have kids. You do want kids, right?”
“I do, but I don’t think he’s ready for any commitment.”
“That’s because of me.” Sandy crossed her arms. “I applaud him for his sense of commitment to me. I am blessed by it, but I sure don’t want him to put his life on hold for me.”
“I don’t think he has to do that, right?”
“Right.”
“Then maybe in time if you’re still living with him, he’ll come to see that he can get married and still have you living with him.”
Sandy tightened her arms. “If whoever he chooses as a spouse agrees to have me underfoot.”
“You’re so wonderful, she’ll be bound to love you.” Brooklyn scooped the onions into a small bowl. “Once she sees how much you mean to him, I can’t see how any woman wouldn’t want to help in your care.”
“I hate to say this, sweetheart, but that’s pretty naïve. Lots of women, especially new brides, don’t want their mother-in-law in the same house.”
“That’s because they haven’t met you.” Brooklyn winked.
“Which is why you’re perfect for my Colin.” She held on to Brooklyn’s gaze.
Brooklyn let her warmth linger until she couldn’t handle seeing her own hope for her own future in Sandy’s eyes and had to look away. She dumped out black olives onto the cutting board.
The front door flew open, and Brooklyn jumped, stabbing her knife into the board near her finger.
“It’s just us,” Colin called out.
She let out a breath at the shock and near miss of her finger.
He poked his head into the kitchen and locked his gaze on her. “Is there enough food for Ryan and Reid too? I’d like to do an update while we wait for Sierra and Kelsey to finish up. See if we can use the time wisely.”
Brooklyn felt her face heat under his intense study. “There’s plenty.”
“Good because we brought them with us.” He winked and left the room.
Sandy shook her head. “Just like my boy. Do, then ask for forgiveness. Sometimes it’s endearing. Sometimes not so much.” She laughed.
Brooklyn joined in, but the sound of the oven timer took her attention, and she got the chicken breasts out to slice them for the bowls. She liked to serve the burrito bowl with fresh bread, but hadn’t been at the cabin long enough to get needed supplies to bake it. She hadn’t asked, but she didn’t think Colin or Dev would have yeast on hand. They could surprise her, but…
Brooklyn carried large bowls along with silverware to the passthrough and leaned out. “Would someone mind grabbing these to set the table?”
She didn’t wait for an answer but turned back to get tortilla chips and the choices of fixings she’d prepared for the burrito bowls. She put them in a large divided platter that worked like a lazy Susan, which she set on the counter after Colin had taken the bowls to the table.
“You should go in,” Brooklyn said to Sandy.
She frowned.
“What is it? Not feeling up to lunch with a crowd?”
