Chapter 19

Brooklyn

There's definitely a lot to think about after Eden and I talked, and we ain't going to get it all solved in one day. Baby steps.

"It was a great afternoon," Eden says before she gets ready to head home with Noodle and Blake. We've been back out to the stables while Blake was doing her homework to put all the riding gear away. "I kinda forgot how much fun horse riding is."

"Well, you know where to find one, any time," I say. "And thanks for the picnic. I forgot how you're the sandwich queen."

She smiles. "Any time."

"You feeling okay?" I ask.

"I'm good, Brook. Thanks again for looking after me last night. I'm still a little embarrassed."

"Don't be."

"It's not often I get loose like that."

"You don't have to tell me that. Maybe it's a good thing to let your hair down once in a while."

"I think it was retaliation over Kirk."

Hearing his name again hits me like a football to the chest. She got drunk over him after all.

It kind of smacks me back into reality. She probably only kissed me in the moment over that too. Of course she did.

She was probably over me years ago. And having a familiar face there when she needed it was probably pretty comforting. She knows I'd never hurt her.

"The guy's a dick, but I'm sorry you got hurt. Let me know if he bothers you again."

"And you'll what, Brookie?" She pokes me in the ribs.

I smile and step back, barely dodging her. "I'll make him wish he'd never laid eyes on you."

"Well that's very sweet of you. But I'm sure I won't be hearing from him again."

"Good." I sling an arm around her as I walk back to the house, trying to keep it light.

"You let me know if he does."

I finish up early the next day in the cellar since I've been bottling from the crack of dawn. Not only are we focusing on the extra batches for our export demand, but there's my new blend as well.

The fact we age the bottles over time, and constantly keep up the process, should mean we never run out of supply. That's the theory anyway. It's Jarrod's job to keep me informed about stock levels and I check with our dispatch team who work closely with Beau, when he's not in his office dealing with a mountain of accounts and paperwork.

Beau and I head into town after work as we both need to grab some groceries.

"How are things after the weekend?" he asks me on the way. I haven't had a chance to talk to any of the guys about me leaving Moose's carrying Eden. I'm sure it's all over town by now, that's probably why she's not showing her face around much this week.

"Things are a little complicated," I say.

"Was Eden okay?"

"She was fine, she was upset about Kirk. She finally broke up with the jerk."

He glances at me. "That's good news then, right?"

"It's excellent news that he's gone, don't get me wrong. But I don't like that she was hurt in the process. I could break that fucker's neck."

"Oh, that doesn't sound good."

"She caught him in bed with another woman."

"Holy shit."

"And don't fucking repeat that."

"Swear on my life." He does that crisscross thing over his heart.

"I guess you were right about him," Beau says. "Does that leave an opening for you?"

I don't want to tell anyone about the kiss, because neither of us know what it means yet. But I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it in. It's brimming at the surface, ready to bubble over.

"I've no idea," I sigh. "It's a little soon. I didn't wanna push her a few days after breaking up with her boyfriend."

"Well, you are her husband," he jokes.

"And now everyone knows."

"Hey, I didn't tell anyone."

"No, I didn't mean you. Eden told her friends at the bar while GB was there with the other girls. And then Mom found out from Georgia and we had to spill the beans on my idiocy to everyone else, Blake included."

"How did she take it?"

"She doesn't really understand what it really means. We didn't say we're getting back together or anything, because I've no idea if we are. We just didn't want her to hear it from someone else."

"I guess kids can be pretty impressionable at that age."

And I'm sure my daughter would love nothing more than me and her mom getting back together. She's taken the divorce well, being only five when it happened. I guess we kept things as normal as we could for her during the whole process. She's come back and forth between our places ever since.

"Yeah. I mean, I'd never want to get her hopes up. Not when I don't know myself what's going on. And before you say it, I know I'm playing with fire."

"You know better than to listen to anything I say." He chuckles. "You know Eden better than anyone, so go with how you feel."

"We have history, so that plays a part."

"You gotta set all that aside," Beau says. "And work out what you want going forward. And what if she turns around and asks for a proper divorce this time?"

I shake my head. "I think the spark is still there, brother."

"Then I'd have the discussion sooner rather than later."

"Weren't you the one telling me to play it cool and lay low?"

"That was before when she went off to Georgia and you were stewing about the whole non-divorce thing. She's on the market now, so why not throw your hat in."

I glance at him sideways. "Your advice can get a little confusing, has anyone told you that?"

He laughs. "Just telling it like I see it. And I guess it can change on any given day."

"Good to know that now," I muse.

"Hey, you heard about the charity auction coming up?"

I glance at him. "Why, you thinking of entering?"

"No, but GB has other ideas. I just wondered if you'd seen it."

"I've seen the promos being put up over town in the last few days. Plus, when I talked to Owen this morning he said he was thinking of entering. Or rather, getting badgered into it by the women on the town committee."

The charity auction is a yearly event where the eligible men of Stoney Creek get up on a stage in the community hall and get raffled off like cattle to the highest bidder. And a date and dinner ensues at Mary-Lou's.

It's all to raise money for the kid's wing of the local hospital and to help out their families towards the holidays.

"He's game for just about anything," Beau says.

"You should do it, spread your wings, brother."

"I don't think I get a choice. GB twisted my arm last night."

I laugh out loud. "You're still letting your little sister boss you around?"

"You know what she's like. She doesn't seem to care about the ten-minute age difference."

"You can just say no, B. But I reckon it would be good for you. How long's it been since you had a date?"

"A while," he sighs. "Like I said, I don't get out much."

"Funny, she hasn't asked me to enter."

"That's because she knows how you feel about Eden."

"Fuck, maybe I really am that transparent."

"You know Georgia. She can sense this shit a mile away."

"Thank God she can't read minds while she's at it."

"You could enter with me and Owen, make a night of it?" he suggests.

I scrunch my forehead in confusion. "Huh?"

"Well, if you're not laying it out on the line with Eden, why not?"

"I'm getting my bearings about that, I told you."

He shakes his head like he doesn't believe it for a second. "You've had your bearings your whole damned life, Brook."

That's true enough.

"I'll think about it. Maybe I will just do it and see what her reaction is."

He laughs and blows out a breath. "Good luck with that."

"I think it's a perfect idea."

"Not if she doesn't bid on you."

"It would be interesting to see what she does if someone else did. The whole town will be there." I don't know why I didn't think of it first. Am I purposefully trying to make my wife jealous? Nope. But would it be one sure-fire way to find out how she feels? Yup.

"I can see the cogs in your head turning," Beau says. "And you know, Dolly Simpson was asking if you and Travis are in the charity auction. GB overheard her at the Stone's Throw."

I chuckle. "Shit, I better have my wits about me. What about you?"

He's toying with something, I can tell. "I think I'm going to bribe Autumn into bidding for me."

"What?" I splutter a laugh.

"She called me last night all upset about her boyfriend. I think it's over for good this time. So, I had an idea that if she bids for me I get off the hook, so to speak and she can have a bit of fun and forget about him. She's been kinda down lately. And bonus, we still raise the money for charity and GB can't say I wasn't supporting the community. It's good PR apparently to bid your single brothers off like we're in a meat raffle."

I give him a sharp, unimpressed look about the meat comment.

"Sorry, wrong choice of words."

"It all sounds pretty elaborate to me. Isn't the point so you can have the potential of meeting someone?"

"Hardly likely. I mean, old ladies go to the raffle too, you know."

I chuckle at the thought of it. "I guess it's not exactly match-maker dot com." I eye him then, suspiciously. "You sure you're not secretly jonesing for Autumn?"

"Wouldn't that be stupid."

"Fuck, Beau."

"I'm not jonesing for her. She's a cute, smart photographer who has a billion guys asking her out everywhere she goes. I'm way too aloof, too nerdy for the likes of her."

"But you've been friends for years. Isn't that how the best relationships can sometimes start?" I would know after all. Eden and I have been friends since as long as I can remember. Others like Gray and Hartley dived straight in from their one-night stand in New York, so I guess there's all different ways to get together.

"But it can spoil the friendship too," he says. "It's a fine line.

"Well, me and E are still friends even after being married."

"And not divorced."

"I love how everyone keeps bringing that up."

"You'll never live it down. No point trying now."

I let out a breath as we near town. "It'll sort itself out one way or another."

"Or you can grab the bull by the horns."

"What, and wrangle it?" I joke.

"Always the cowboy." Beau rolls his eyes. "You've always been smooth with the ladies. If it's not Eden, I'm sure you'll have no trouble on auction day."

"Hey, I haven't said yes yet."

"If I'm doing it, so are you. After all, it's for the kids."

"Fine." I shrug. "I'll do it. And I won't tell anyone you've rigged it for yourself, getting your best friend to bid on you!"

"It's better this way. Some of those single ladies of Stoney will eat me alive."

"Not always a bad thing, little brother."

"For me, it is."

Beau enjoys his world of having things how he likes them. And he stays in a lot because his favorite past-time is gaming. That's probably why his dates have been few and far between for quite some time.

"World of Warcraft has got nothing on love of a good country girl," I state.

"I don't just play World of Warcraft."

"Just sayin'." It's food for thought for him, and for me.

I am probably setting myself up for failure, but it could be fun in the process.

And like Beau said, it's for the kids.

What could possibly go wrong with the annual Stoney Creek bachelor auction?

I text Eden a couple of days later once I've let the dust settle a little on Sunday's picnic. Beau sent me the paperwork for the online auction which I've just filled in, but haven't sent off yet. Famous last words…

Both Beau and Owen have confirmed they will both participate, but I'm still in two minds because it could totally backfire. Do I really expect Eden to bid for me? She may not even be talking to me by the time the auction comes around just before thanksgiving. I heard through Beau that Georgia is trying to get Easton and Gaitley on board as well. Easton will be up for it, but I'm not sure about Gaitley; he's pretty reserved at the best of times.

Travis is going to be the big draw card this year, being that he's the new sheriff in town, as well as fresh meat. I'm sure the single ladies are going to go a little crazy over that one. But at thirty years old I don't think I look too bad. I keep myself pretty well kept; I work out, and chicks love the cowboy get up.

If anything, it should be good for a laugh. I hope.

Me

Hey, E. Are you going to be free this week for dinner? I know you said you were busy

Eden

Hi Brook, how about Thursday. I'm under a bit of pressure for the last wedding of fall this weekend. Friday I have a lot of prep to do

Me

Sounds good where would you like to go?

Eden

Well, we could just make it casual and I can cook

Me

That sounds like a good idea. What about Blake?

Eden

I'll ask my folks to have her for dinner that night and maybe a movie so it gives us a chance to talk

Me

Perfect

Eden

Eight o'clock?

Me

Ok. I'll see you then

I sigh, slinging my phone on the couch as I run my hand through my hair.

The time has to come where I tell her what I've been feeling lately, there's no time like the present. And now the cat is out of the bag with everyone in the family, including Blake, there are going to be questions. Questions neither of us have talked about yet. I just don't know what the smart thing is to do here?

Would she even be willing to give it another shot? And am I going to make a total ass of myself by asking her? I mean, we kissed the other day. That's gotta mean something. But I know how Eden is; she's not one to just jump back into something like this, not after all this time. It begs the question of why she kissed me in the first place.

Is it just a rebound thing? I know she's still hurting over Kirk so that could be it. But in thinking that, it's not her style at all. She doesn't play games.

I guess I just don't want it to mean more to me than it does to her. That's what it comes down to.

I guess there's only one way to find out.