Page 130 of Downpour

“What can I do for you, officer?” I asked.

“We’re about to head back to town,” he said. “As much as I told those two to save it for the judge, they just kept talking.” He looked at Brooke. “You’re the roommate with the rich grandma?”

“Former roommate,” Brooke said. “Am I in trouble?”

He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m just curious. Have they been harassing you for money?”

I stiffened and looked down at her.

Brooke’s tight lips told me everything.

“Baby—”

“I just… paid for a lot of things at the house we lived in,” she hedged.

The cop nodded. “Seems like they panicked when the easy money stopped flowing and started trying to get it elsewhere. I’ll tell you the same thing I told that lady who’s yelling at her phone.” He pointed over his shoulder to Cassandra. “You canlawyer up and try to get it back, but these kids don’t have two pennies to rub together. I don’t know how much you’ll be able to get back.”

Brooke nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

It made a lot more sense in hindsight. Trying to shake her down on the sidewalk for quick cash. They probably pawned the tools they stole from the construction site. Breaking into my house for drugs to sell.

“Come on,” I said as I cranked up the golf cart. “Let’s get home.”

Brooke was silent on the drive back, not saying a word as we entered and changed out of our smoke-filled clothes. I reeked from the bonfire. Ash coated my arms and hair.

“Shower with me,” I said as I led her into our bathroom.

The light had vanished from her eyes, leaving them empty like a day without sun or a night without stars.

I settled onto the shower seat. “Come here, baby girl.”

Brooke stood before me, completely naked, while I adjusted the water temperature and let the rain shower pour over us.

Sliding my hands around her hips, I pulled her closer, kissing a soft line from her navel to the swell of her breast.

“Sit,” I said, opening my legs and gesturing to the space on the bench between them.

Brooke sat between my legs without hesitation or protest. Still, there was a vacant look in her eyes, something I had never seen before.

Her warm skin pressed against mine, removing any barrier between us. Water droplets danced down our bodies, forming rivulets.

I grabbed her shampoo and poured some into my palm, gently working it into her heavy ringlets.

“Talk to me,” I urged, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes as I ran my fingers through her hair. “It’s all my fault.”

“Brooke, I already?—”

“It is.” She shook her head. “I love you,” she whimpered. “But I ... I love your family too. And I just wanted to be a part of it. I thought things were finally working out for me. That I had a place to belong. A really cool job. And a boyfriend. And a?—”

I grabbed her jaw and kissed her hard, stealing all her doubts away.

“You have all of it. Every single thing. You want me? You have me. You want my family? They adore you. You want to be part of this ranch? You’re the best thing about it. You want my last name? It’s yours. I didn’t want to come back here, but now I can’t imagine leaving. So, before those doubts consume you, let me fill your mind with something else. I love you. I fucking love you, Brooke. Nothing—absolutely nothing—will change the fact that you belong here.”

Tears filled her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks, only to be washed away by the shower.

“You’re wanted here.” I pressed my lips to her forehead as our hearts raced together.

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