Page 27 of Capturing You
Officer Taggart would need a warrant, which no judge should issue based on an illegal phone trace and the proximity of her vehicle.
Though anything was possible, especially in a small town where everyone knew everyone.
“I’ll call him. And search the property.” The cop swiveled and marched down the steps and around the corner of the house.
After locking the door and then closing the blinds in the first-floor common rooms, Forbes took the stairs two at a time to give Brooklynn an update.
When he reached the top, he found her standing just out of sight.
“I told you to hide.”
“I needed to hear. You had it under control.”
“I did. But he could’ve…” Forbes didn’t bother to explain all that could’ve gone wrong. “That was your ex?”
She nodded. Her face paled as she slid to the floor right there in the hallway.
Because things weren’t complex enough, this woman needed to get the…the vapors or whatever.
She’d barged onto his property and into his life against his will. He’d now protected her three times. All he should want was for her to leave and never come back.
That was all heshouldwant.
But he found himself sitting on the floor beside her. “You okay, Brookie?”
Her lips twitched. “I hate that nickname. And he knows it.”
“Seems like a real catch. What’s the L stand for?”
“Leonard. He goes by Lenny.”
“He looks like a Lenny.”
She nodded, then shook her head.
Tears dripped down her freshly scrubbed cheeks.
He had no idea why she was crying. Or what to say. Or what to do.
So he did what he’d have done if this were Rosie. He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
Except Rosie had been a decade older than Forbes, his little boy arms not big enough to calm his big sister’s heartbreaks.
Whereas Brooklynn curled against his chest. Despite her height and curves, at the moment she seemed small and vulnerable and oh, so soft. The logical, analytical side of his brain told him to push her away. To protect himself. To protect his mission.
But the rest of him told that killjoy to shut up as he tucked her head against his neck, reveling in her warmth. She smelled like his soap, a scent he’d never found the slightest bit attractive. But on her…
Dang.
He had no idea what he was supposed to do with this woman. One thing he knew: Having her here wasn’t safe for Forbes.
But sending her away wouldn’t be safe for her. And suddenly, he wanted more than anything to make sure she was safe.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Brooklynn needed to move. She told herself to sit up, to push away from Ford. To take care of herself.
To quit being such a nuisance.
