Don't Let Go by Jaci Burton

mind won’t change.”
    Okay. So there was a finality to that, which Megan found unsettling.
    He got up from his spot. “Excuse me. I’m going to refill my plate.”
    Megan watched him walk toward the house.
    Chelsea grasped her hand. “Men. Pay no attention to them. They’re as fickle as our weather.”
    â€œHey,” Bash said.
    Chelsea looked over at Bash and made a kissy face at him. “All men except you, babe.”
    â€œYou’re totally placating me right now, aren’t you?” Bash asked.
    â€œTotally,” Chelsea said.
    Megan laughed. “I don’t know what to make of Brady. He’s so enigmatic. And I just can’t seem to break through that wall of utter . . . stoniness.”
    â€œOh, but it’s a sexy wall, Megan,” Chelsea said. “Hang in there.”
    She breathed in a sigh, then dug into her coleslaw. “I will. For now.”

Chapter 8

    OKAY, SO MAYBE Brady was a total downer at this party. Which was why he didn’t socialize much. He didn’t bring much to the table.
    But he had to admit, these cakes and cupcakes were damn good, and he sure wouldn’t have wanted to miss them.
    They had all gathered to celebrate and offer congratulations to Des and Emma, who, in his opinion, looked ready to give birth any second. Then again, what the hell did he know about pregnant women? Admittedly, nothing. But they were moving around just fine and seemed content and healthy. Both of them had taken the time to seek him out to tell him they were happy he’d come. They were all currently gathered in the dining room eating and laughing and talking baby names, since both were still trying to decide on names. Everyone was currently trying to suggest names.
    â€œBeauregard,” Carter said to Logan, who gave him a frown.
    â€œBeauregard McCormack?” Logan said. “What? You wanna test my kid’s spelling skills?”
    Des laughed. “I kind of like it. We could shorten it to Beau.”
    Logan shot Des a look. “No.”
    â€œI like Felicia if it’s a girl,” Megan said.
    Brady grimaced and leaned over to whisper to her, “Really? Felicia?”
    She turned to him. “What’s wrong with Felicia?”
    He shrugged. “Nothing.”
    â€œIt’s a cute name,” Emma said with a smile. “I like it.”
    â€œGood,” Brady said. “You can have it.”
    Megan lifted her chin. “Well, since you and I are clearly never having babies together, then you don’t have to worry about Felicia.”
    Brady laughed, and that earned him a glare from Megan.
    â€œRalph,” Carter said.
    â€œYou do not ever get to name our future children, Carter,” Molly said.
    Carter looked over at Brady and winked. Brady tried not to grin, since Molly was shooting visual daggers at Carter.
    Then it became a free-for-all of names.
    â€œSteven.”
    â€œLane.”
    â€œKathleen.”
    â€œMartha.”
    â€œAwww,” Des said, grasping Martha’s hand after someone had shouted out her name. “Wouldn’t that be sweet?”
    â€œDon’t you dare name one of your babies after me,” Martha said, but Brady noticed her eyes looked a little misty.
    Brady knew that after the McCormack brothers’ mother up and left them when they were younger, Martha had taken over as pseudomother for all of them. He knew how much she meant to the entire McCormack family.
    â€œUh-oh,” Emma said from her spot on her comfortable cushioned rocking chair. She followed that up by laying her hand across her stomach.
    Luke looked over at her and frowned. “Uh-oh. What does ‘uh-oh’ mean?”
    Emma looked over at Luke. “It means my water just broke.”
    Martha stood. “I need you all to excuse us for a minute. Can we clear the room?”
    Megan got up and Brady followed her outside. Torches were lit and there was a fire pit to keep