Page 56 of The Desperate Warrior

“I don’t know if I can,” she said, her voice low. “I need someone who will choose me. Brock’s a great guy, but he’s divided. He’s trying to do right by his son, but Adrian—his ex—still has a hold on him.”

“Really?” Zoe sounded doubtful. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Well, I am,” Jules snipped.

“According to Dad, Brock didn’t even want to be paid for protecting you. He offered to do it for free, but Dad insisted on paying him.”

Her eyebrows shot up clear into her hairline. “So you and Dad have been talking about this?”

Zoe let out a sheepish chuckle. “Maybe a little. Look, I know how you feel about Brock.”

Jules tried to say something, but Zoe spoke louder and faster, cutting her off. “No relationship is perfect. Brock has a past life, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a future with you.”

Hope sprang in her chest. She immediately snuffed it out. False hope was dangerous. “Look, I really don’t want to talk about this right now.”

“Because you know I’m right. I’m your big sister, so you have to listen to me.”

Jules rolled her eyes. “Don’t go pulling the big sister card. I can appreciate what you’re saying, but I’m not in a position to entertain a relationship right now.”

“Baloney.”

She bunched her brows. “What?”

“You heard me. I hope you’ll think about what I said. What if I’d taken that approach when I was in danger? I wouldn’t be with Tippin right now. Maybe this is fate’s way of bringing you two back together. All I’m saying is that you should at least keep yourself open to the idea.”

“Okay,” she relented. “Can we please change the subject? Tell me about Ireland.”

They talked for several more minutes before Zoe let out a yawn and said she needed to get to bed. “Oh, before I hang up, did you get my postcards? I sent you a couple of them.”

“I haven’t checked the mail.”

“Of course you haven’t,” Zoe teased. “You’ll let it pile up for weeks.”

“I’ll check today,” Jules promised.

“Make sure you do,” Zoe sang.

“I will,” she replied in a similar tone.

“Love you, sis.”

“Love you more.”

Concern sounded in Zoe’s voice. “Please stay safe. Let Brock protect you, okay? Don’t fight him on this.”

“Okay,” Jules promised. “I won’t.”

Good timing. She was home. As she pulled into her driveway, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Brock was following behind her. Despite her conflicting emotions about him on a personal level, she was grateful to have him here.

She got out of the car and limped to the mailbox. Just as she pulled out the mail, Brock crossed the street.

“Hey,” he said with a grin that caused her heart to do a flip. “You survived your first day back to work.”

Her eyebrow slid up. “What? Ice Man’s actually making conversation?”

He frowned. “Ice Man? Seriously?”

She propped a hand on her hip. “You’ve been doing such a great job at giving me the silent treatment the past few days. Why stop now?”

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