Dakota Healing

Excerpt

Hearing conversation as Thorne and Brett came down the stairs, Sophie glanced in that direction and, without making eye contact, escaped to the kitchen, her heart pounding.

Their low conversation with Maggie gave Sophie an excuse to stall in the kitchen, taking time to fill a pitcher with water and toss the salad longer than necessary.

She heard one footstep behind her and stilled. Drawing a breath and holding the large bowl of salad, she turned to face whoever stood behind her.

In front of her stood a man who bore a remarkable resemblance to Thorne and Jake.

With the same dark hair and dark eyes as their father and his brothers, he stood over six feet tall like his brothers and had the same rugged features, muscled body, and intense stare.

But he had a twinkle in his eyes and a wicked smile that did strange things to her stomach.

“Hello, you must be Sophie. I’m Brett Faulkner.”

Sophie smiled, once again baffled at her attraction to the Faulkner brothers. “I assumed so. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sophie Reynolds.”

Brett’s playful smile made her heart beat faster. “I assumed so. Here. Let me take that.”

“Thank you.” Sophie relinquished the bowl and turned to pick up the pitcher of water and the basket of multigrain bread. Tongue-tied, she struggled to make conversation. “I cooked tonight. It’s not what Maggie usually makes.”

“I’m looking forward to it. It smells delicious.” He smiled again. “My brothers were right. You are beautiful.”

Her face burned, and she could only hope that Brett would blame her flush on the hot kitchen. “Thank you.” Remembering her reaction to Jake’s nearness and Thorne’s kiss, Sophie didn’t trust herself to be alone with Brett. “Let’s join the others.”

Over a delicious dinner of roasted chicken, a flavored rice pilaf, and a spinach salad dressed with lemon and other delicious flavorings, Brett watched Sophie with his father.

Although his father still appeared pale and weaker than he’d been even months earlier, Brett could see that Sophie was good for him.

She made him laugh, and her father seemed happier than he’d been since their parents had died.

Thorne made it clear that she wasn’t sleeping with their father, but seeing them together, Brett couldn’t help but see a developing closeness between them.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Brett cut into his potato. “So, Sophie, how long have you known our father?”

With a shrug, she glanced at his father and smiled. “Several months. Russell, would you like some more chicken?”

“No. It was delicious, Sophie, but I’m full.”

“Okay.” She started clearing the plates. “I’ll get some fruit and the coffee.”

Russell frowned. “Where’s Maggie?”

“I told her I’d clean up.”

Expecting his father to object, Brett watched as his father sipped his water.

Instead, his father nodded and smiled. “That’s good. She’s due for a night off. Do you have any more of those apples?”

At the doorway, Sophie paused and smiled at him over her shoulder. “Of course.”

* * * *

Pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace, Jake stared down the hallway to his father’s bedroom. “What the hell are they doing in there?”

Following Jake’s stare, Thorne sipped his drink and shrugged. “They’re not intimate, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Brett rose from his seat and poured himself a drink. “She disappeared in there with Dad before I got a chance to talk to her.”

Jake set his drink on the mantel and glanced at the grandfather clock. “They’ve been in there for almost two hours. What the hell could they be doing?”

“We’ll find out.” Thorne set his drink aside and went back to the papers he’d spread on the coffee table. “I have to admit Dad seems to be in a better mood since Sophie got here.”

With a smile, Brett lifted his drink, gesturing toward the hallway. “He sure is, and he listens to her. Even defends her. Interesting.”

* * * *

Sophie turned off her laptop and straightened her notes. “I set your alarm for seven. We’ll leave right after breakfast.”

Sitting in a chair by the window, Russell leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m not looking forward to this.”

“I know.” Sophie rose and went to crouch in front of him. “It’s going to work. Just believe that. We’ll do this one day at a time. I’m here to help you, but just remember that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

Russell smiled tiredly. “So what do you think of my sons?”

Sophie rose and picked up her things. “They seem nice.”

“Nice?” Russell fell back with a bark of laughter. “If you ask them, that would be about the most insulting thing you could call them.” Holding her gaze, he let laughter die away. “Do you think I can’t see the sparks between you and all three of them?”

Sophie sighed and weighed her words carefully so as not to upset him. Wrapping both arms tightly on her laptop and notes, she dropped to sit on the edge of the bed. “Russell, you said that you and your brother shared a wife. I’ve heard of such a thing before, but only in stories. Rumors. I’ve never actually seen such a relationship. I know you said it worked for you, but I hope you’re not hoping that anything is going to happen between me and one of your sons.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Russell contented smile worried her. “For the first time, I have hope that my sons can have what I shared with my brother and wife. I hope that something is going to happen between you and all three of my sons.”