Page 35 of Instant Heat
"But I do, Thatch. A lot."
As my brother's eyes roamed over my face, I noticed how troubled he looked."If he hurts you…"
I patted his hand,"I know, you'll kill him." I hoped adding a wink would break the tension between us. Fighting with Thatch was never fun.
"I can't promise anything," he said as he pushed to his feet."But I'll try." He bent down and dropped a kiss to my head."Just promise me you'll keep both eyes open."
"Always."
Long after Thatch had left my room, I still sat in the same spot. My mind replayed everything from the moment I'd met Griffin up until I drove away from him. I knew what I was feeling was crazy, but it didn't make the feelings go away. It didn't make me want to explore things with him any less either.
The sound of my phone dinging somewhere finally pulled me out of my stupor. Getting to my feet, I snatched it from the dresser. My notification bar showed I had three unread messages. With a swipe of my thumb, I unlocked the screen to read them.
Griffin:I'm sorry.
Griffin:Rae?
Griffin:I'm coming over.
17
GRIFFIN
Me intentions had been good, but leaving things with Rae like this felt all sorts of wrong. I'd known I'd made a mistake the very moment she got in her car and drove off. I'd been a coward because I didn't want any more guilt on me shoulders.
But all the guilt in the world couldn't possibly feel as heavy as me heart did right now. Me words had hurt her, and I needed to make it right.
Heading back to me truck, I fired off a few messages before dialing Nathan's number. He answered just as I slid behind the wheel."Nathan, I need Brooks'address."
There was a long pause."Are you sure that's a good idea? He's pretty pissed off."
"He can be as pissed as he wants to be," I growled into the phone."It's not him I care about."
He chuckled softly."Well, all right, but don't say I didn't warn you. Do you have a pen?"
Grabbing whatever I could find, I wrote as fast as Nathan spoke."Appreciate it, man." Not even bothering with disconnecting the call, I dropped the phone in me lap and turned the key in the ignition.
Five minutes later, I was parked in front of the address I'd scribbled on the back of a gas station receipt. Tilting me head, I stared at the house beyond the window.
Even though it was nighttime, the little solar lights strategically placed in the flower beds illuminated the yard with pops of color. I was certain if I stepped on the lawn with me bare feet, they'd sink away in the lush looking green carpet.
Me gaze shifted from the yard to the inky colored door. Was she in there waiting for me? Swiping me phone to life, I stared at the message thread between me and Rae. She'd read me messages but still hadn't responded. That had me feeling all sorts of things.
None of them pleasant.
For a second, I contemplated not going in at all. If Thatcher were to answer the door, we'd have another showdown, no doubt. Then the organ inside me chest reminded me that Rae was a girl worth fighting for—even if it was her brother I needed to fight.
Determined, I stepped out of me truck and approached the house. The sound of the gate creaking sliced through the still of the night. I hurried along the cobblestone path and took the stairs that led to the door two at a time.
Drawing in a breath, I tapped me knuckles against the wood two times. Then I waited… and waited… and waited. Just as I brought me hand up to knock again, the door slowly opened a crack revealing only half of the woman I came to see.
It bugged me that she felt the need to keep the door as a barrier between us.
"Can I come in?"
Rae chewed on her cheek and looked over her shoulder at something in the house."Thatch is here," she stated when her gaze found mine again.
"I didn't come to see him. I came to see you." I dragged me palm over me face."To apologize. To explain." She studied me with guarded eyes but said nothing."Please, Rae?"
