An easy smile graced her face. "What did you make?"

"Bacon and eggs. I have coffee for you too. I wasn't sure if Brooke could eat this stuff so I just gave her some of the baby food like yesterday."

Alyssa's heart softened at John's thoughtfulness. "Only baby food for her now."

"Grab a seat and I'll get you a plate."

"Here, let me help," she said, reaching for the cabinet door.

"No, I got it. Get your ass in the chair."

"John, I can help you."

"Babe, I know you can, but it's obvious you never get a break, so let me do this for you."

A loud sigh escaped her lips. "Okay, bossy man." Realizing what she said, her cheeks flamed as her eyes widened. The grin that lit up John's face warmed her all over and caused her heart to beat hard. She'd never had anyone help her like this, and truthfully she didn't know what to think of it.

"So," he took a sip of his coffee, "Sundays you have off. Do you have any plans for the day?"

Alyssa gave him a droll stare. "No. I'll do some things around the apartment, but if you mean go out, then no. I don't have many friends right now."

"Well, my brother and his girlfriend are in South Fork. My mom wants us all together for an early dinner since my drive back is a good few hours. I want you and Brooke to come with me."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

His jaw set tight. "And why not?"

"I just . . ." she sighed, and turned to look at him. His gaze pierced right through her. Easing into it, she said carefully, "John, you've been really sweet, and have gone out of your way to do so much for me, but I'm not part of your family. I can't go to a family dinner."

"You are part of my family, you and Brooke both. Don't fight me on this. I don't want to have to choose between you and them."

Her shoulders dropped and she shook her head.

"You're going with me."

That perked her right up. "Don't tell me what to do."

"Alyssa, why do you have to be so thick headed? I want you and Brooke to be there, so does my mother. She said she misses Brooke. Plus, it was her idea. She wants you there, too."

"John-"

John reached for Alyssa and he kissed her. He didn't know why, he just did. He needed to shut her up and the only way to shut up a girl who was pissed off was to kiss her senseless.

Pulling back, he said against her lips, "Now I know what my brother meant when he said Livy used to get under his skin like no other." The corner of his mouth tipped up. "Please, come with me," his thumbs circled her cheeks. "Please, I want you with me."

"Johnny . . ." she leaned into his opened palm, and he kissed her again. It was a slow, methodical kiss that sent her blood roaring. His kiss was passionate, showing her how much he felt for her. Her tongue entwined with his, melding her heart to him even more.

John and his damn kisses.

A squeal broke their moment, and they both looked at Brooke. She was squeezing her now smashed cookie in both fists with a big smile on her face, her two bottom teeth showing in her wide smile.

"What do you say, sweetheart? You coming with me or what?"

"Okay."

John laughed. Tilting her head to the side, she asked, "What's so funny?"

"Well, I've noticed any time I ask you a question and kiss you, you answer it with an 'okay'."

"I do?"

A tip of his lips curled up as he nodded his head.

"Well, if you would stop kissing me, then maybe I could think straight." She joked as she wiped the food from her daughter's hands.

"Can't help it. I love your lips. Now let's get ready and head on over there. Mama said she wanted to talk to you."

"Why?" she asked, looking over her shoulder to John. Anxiety curled inside her stomach. What could Diane want to talk to her about?

"I'm not sure, but she's been blowing up my phone saying she wants to see Brooke again."

"She does?"

"Of course. That's one cute kid. Who wouldn't want to play with her?"

Alyssa shrugged. Quietly, she asked, "How could she knowing that Brooke isn't even yours now?"

"She has a big heart, that's how. And, honey . . . she is mine. Don't forget it."

Her heart cracked. John was knocking down each barrier she erected. "But I've put you through so much . . . How can she welcome me into her house after everything? It's been, what, two months since I've seen her?"

"I think with Jace's death, it put things into perspective for everyone close to him. I know it did for me." John swallowed back the emotions climbing in his throat. "She knows how I feel about you, how I've always felt about you. She wants to see me happy, and you make me happy. You and cupcake."

"I'm nervous."

"Don't be. I'll be right by your side the whole time."

"Thank you."

"For what?

"For yesterday, this morning . . . Everything?"

He winked. "Don't mention it. I told you I wasn't leaving. Maybe you'll start believing me soon."

Those seemed to be John's favorite last words.

Alyssa was a giant ball of nerves as they pulled up to John's parents' house with a sleepy Brooke in the backseat three hours later. Gently lifting her from her car seat, John grabbed her diaper bag and they walked to the door.

"Just breathe."

Alyssa expelled a breath. "How did you know?"

"I can feel the tension radiating off of you."

John knocked twice then opened the door to a home that she always wanteda family with loving parents who accepted their children and their faults. The scent of peaches awoke her senses and she felt a sense of peace wash over her.

"Aside from yesterday, this is the first weekend you're able to come home in months. I hardly get to see you," Diane said as she embraced her son and dropped a peck on his cheek.

"Sorry Ma, next time." Nodding toward Alyssa, he said "I had to see my girls."

Diane brought her hands together and turned to Alyssa with a kind, genuine smile.

"Alyssa. How are you my dear? Where's my little pumpkin?"

Before she could answer, Brooke opened her sleepy eyes and reached for Diane.

"May I?" she asked.

"Of course."

Alyssa looked at John as Diane turned and walked into another room with her daughter. She wasn't sure what to think of this. She thought there would be some hidden animosity, but there wasn't. It wasn't that she didn't trust Diane, Brooke had never reached for anyone other than John.

"All babies love my mom." As if he read her mind, John answered the questioning look in her eyes. "She has, like, a gift with them."

A raspy voice broke her stare. "Is that my little brother I hear?"

Coming around the corner were Luke and his girlfriend, Olivia. Alyssa had met both briefly but knew next to nothing about either of them.

"What up?" The brothers clasped hands and embraced each other.

"Long time no see."

"Yeah, that's because you're touring the world and shit."

Luke grinned. Luke's smile was infectious. "What can I say? I'm a wanted man."

"Hey now, settle down," Olivia said, chiming in.

"Hey Livy."

"John." she nodded.

"You remember Alyssa, right?"

"I sure do."

"Nice to see you again, Olivia."

Well, wasn't this just uncomfortable? Everyone making pleasantries in front of John's parents' door. That awkward silence hung in the air like an elephant in the room. This is why she didn't want to come here. She felt so out of place.

"So you guys want to get a drink or something?" Luke asked.

"I'll take water."

John followed his brother outside to the cooler while Alyssa stayed inside with Olivia and Diane.

"I could sure use some sweet tea. Would you like a glass?"

"Yes, please."

Walking into the kitchen, Diane was giving Brooke a small piece of mashed banana. "She was cryin' for it," Diane explained, shrugging her shoulders. "I told her she needed to wait until dinner, but she wasn't having it."

"It's okay. I think she's getting ready to move up to the next stage of baby food actually."

Olivia handed Alyssa a glass and took a sip. "Olivia likes her tea extra sweet," Diane said with a smile.

"I can tell," she giggled after taking a sip.

"So, do you like South Carolina?" Diane asked.

Alyssa shrugged. "It's nice, I guess. I didn't realize how tired I'd be with staying busy with Brooke and work so I haven't had a chance to explore much. It was an adjustment that's for sure."

"Once you get a bit more situated with your schedule you'll be able to get out more."

"What do you do?" Olivia asked. "How long have you been working?"

"I'm a waitress at a local diner. I've been there for just a month now and work about thirty hours a week."

Olivia nodded in approval. "Who watches Brooke?"

"I have a sitter that was recommended by the owner of the diner. She's been a real blessing."

"Does John come over often to help, too?" Diane asked, one brow lifted.

Alyssa swallowed. "He does . . . he comes over as much as he can even though I told him he doesn't have to." She stared at the condensation on her glass. "He's done so much for me, more than he should have. I don't want him to feel like he's obligated or anything, you know?"

"Oh, honey, he doesn't feel like that one bit. Trust me. All he talks about is you and wanting to see you every chance he gets."

"He does?"

Diane nodded. "All the time."

"Things happen for a reason, so don't question it." Olivia chimed in. "The Jackson brothers have big hearts. Once they find something or someone they love, there's no stopping them. They're in it for the long haul. So what he's doing just comes natural to him."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Diane said. "Though, I could smack Luke upside the head for taking so long and finally going after you."

Olivia laughed. "I have that feeling all the time, but about so many other things."