Page 82 of The Desperate Warrior

She knocked once on the door and let herself in. “Hey,” she called. “It’s me.”

“In the bedroom.” Brock’s voice came from down the hall.

She found him stuffing the last items into a duffel bag. When he looked up, his face lit with that same easy, heart-stopping smile that had captured her heart. “Hey, you. How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” she replied, though the tightness in her smile said otherwise.

He knew her too well. His tone immediately softened. “What’s going on?”

She went to his side. “I don’t know … maybe I’m just coming down from everything that happened last week.” She paused, needing to admit the truth. “I’m having a hard time seeing you go.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for her hands, pulling her down beside him. “I don’t have to go. I’ll stay.” He stroked his thumb over the top of her hand. “You know I hate leaving you—especially when you’re not fully recovered.”

“You need to go. You need to be there for Trevor’s birthday.”

“I know,” he acknowledged.

Originally, Brock thought he would miss Trevor’s birthday because Brock couldn’t leave Jules alone with the threat of Steve Randall looming over her. However, now that Jules was in the clear, there was no reason why Brock couldn’t be there for his son on his birthday.

Jules had promised herself that she would never make Brock choose between her and Trevor, and she wasn’t about to break that vow now.

Trevor’s birthday wasn’t until Thursday, but there was another reason why Brock and Luke were leaving early. They had an important meeting lined up with Sutton tomorrow—one that could change everything for Luke. After hearing what Luke had done to stop Steve Randall, Sutton wanted to talk. Luke needed this chance. It was important for Brock to be there for Luke and Trevor.

Early this morning, Luke had taken Nikki to the airport. She’d been called last-minute to do a feature story on a new luxury resort opening in the Maldives. Nikki had jumped at the chance and was ready to go on the fly. That was her—suitcase always half packed.

Nikki would only be gone a couple of weeks. The house already felt emptier without her. Jules liked having her zany cousin around.

Zoe and Tippin would be back from their honeymoon soon, around the same time Nikki returned. They were spending several days at the ranch before heading back to their home in West Hollywood. At least Jules would get to see them for a few days before they left again. That thought offered a small measure of comfort.

And then there was Brock.

He was here now, but in a few short minutes, he’d be gone, too.

“So,” he said, studying her. “Do I dare bring up the elephant in the room?”

She tilted her head, cautious. “What elephant?”

“What happens from here?”

A laugh bubbled from her throat, halfway between nerves and affection. “You just have to keep pushing that envelope,” she chided.

“That’s why you love me,” he grinned.

Their eyes caught and held.

“I do love you,” she proclaimed, her voice clear and full of certainty. It was the first time she’d said it out loud.

His reply came ardently. “I love you, too.” He gathered her in his arms and pulled her close. “I’m going to miss you like crazy,” he murmured into her hair.

She looked at him, memorizing every line of his face, every freckle, every crease framing his dark eyes. She didn’t want to forget a thing.

“I’ll only be gone a few days,” he promised.

A small smile played on her lips. “So, are you taking Dad up on his offer? You know you could get a house out of the deal.”

He let out a warm laugh. “Yeah … I don’t think I could live with myself if I took the house.”

“Tippin took the guitar,” she pointed out.

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