Page 93 of Quiet Protector
Although I’m reconsidering my decision now. Not because I’m too lazy to remove the processors before swimming, showering, and going to bed, but because the conference for the trial is being held in San Francisco. That’s only miles from the pharmacy Ophelia is running her black-market drug scheme from, making it the ideal location for a long weekend visit.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, a grin tugs on my lips when the stomp of my name tickles the bottom of my bare feet. With the shower being recently switched off, Brandon is aware I can’t hear him, but instead of startling me, he reverted to an old method of communicating.
I kind of love it.
“Hey,”I sign when I spot him leaning on the doorjamb of his room. I don’t talk when I don’t have my implants on. I hate my voice in general, so I don’t want to consider how cringeworthy it is when I have no idea of the depth and pitch of my tone. “How was your session with Dr. Avery?”
After dragging his eyes up my legs barely covered by a teeny pair of shorts, they land on my face. The heat in them makes me squirm in a good way. “It was good. She is…”I smile when he pauses, incapable of describing Dr. Avery’s uncanny knack for getting people to open up.“I told her what you said last night. How I am Madden’s victim as well.”
“And?”I beg, hating that he’s leaving me hanging. I’m not a suspense type of girl. I like to know the news as it’s happening.
His smile has me craving another shower. I’m hot and sticky all over.“She asked if you wanted a job.”
I throw my head back and laugh.“Let us hope she was serious because if I stay cooped up in this apartment for much longer, I will go crazy.”I could smack myself for sliding our conversation into uncomfortable territory remarkably quick. “Not that I want to be anywhere else.”
Brandon steps closer to me, his eyes nurturing. “You should accept Leo’s offer. It is not at the District Attorney’s Office, but it will keep you in the know until their investigation is finalized.”
“No.”I shake my head to authenticate my short reply while moving for the tube of moisturizer on the bedside table. It’s next to Brandon’s jar of consumed peanut butter like it’s always belonged there. “Leo’s offer is in New York. You are nowhere near New York, so I am not interested.”
I stop rubbing moisturizer into my legs when Brandon signs,“I will come to New York with you.”
“You want to go to New York?”
The honesty in his eyes when he replies makes my heart flutter extra fast. “It is not my favorite city, but I am sure I will enjoy it with you.”
I take a few minutes to consider his objective before asking, “Is this a ploy to get out of counseling sessions? Because if it is, I hate to tell you, Dr. Avery does phone consultations.”
Brandon smiles like I am joking. I’m not, but I can still admire his grin. “This has nothing to do with that.” His lips twists as his eyes brighten. “Dr. Avery agrees a change in location could be good for us.”
I wish I had my hearing aids connected so I could have heard the way he expressed ‘us.’ If it sounded anything like the way he signed it, my hopes would be skyrocketing. It was possessive and protective—very much on par with the Brandon I used to know.
“Us?”
As he bridges the gap between us, my heart breaks out a new tune. “Yes, us. I cannot do this without you, Melody. I would have never made it this far without you.” His shirt gathers the moisture sliding down my face I’m pretending is leftover residue from the shower when he pulls me into his chest. It wouldn’t matter if we were standing in the middle of a snowfield, his hugs forever warm me up.
After giving me a few moments to relish the healthy vibrations of his heart, Brandon kisses my temple, my cheek, then my mouth before inching back. It’s the simplest gesture, but it has the biggest impact on my heart.
As does what he signs next, “Will you come on this new adventure with me, Mellowy? Test the limits of our relationship in a place that is both exciting and scary.”
“Are you sure this is what you want, BJ?” I can see the confirmation in his eyes, smell it on his skin, but I still need vocal confirmation. This is a huge step for both of us. New York is the only city we don’t control. There are ghosts there, but there are also good memories—many of them.
When Brandon nods without pause for thought, my skin mists with sweat like I didn’t dry off after my shower. “Then I guess we better get packing.” I’d give anything to be able to kiss the living hell out of him when he grins a smile I haven’t seen in weeks, but since I’m seconds away from killing his happiness, I can’t. “After we have talked. There is something really important I need to tell you.”
40
Brandon
Several long months later…
“What time did she say she was coming again?” Brandon’s nervous voice is cute as hell, but I’d rather him not be worried. I’m not in any danger. Over a dozen FBI agents are in the room next to ours, and he’s in the bedroom of our master suite watching my every move. I’m safer than I’ve ever been. “I still can’t believe I agreed to let you do this. Clearly, I need my head re-examined.”
“Do you want to see your son, BJ?” I hate that we’re required to have this conversation with Brandon’s work colleagues listening in, but I don’t have much choice. With my ears clogged up with implants, I can’t wear the standard earpieces most Honey Pots use during a sting, so Brandon’s voice has to be relayed to me via the speakers in the ceiling of the New York hotel we’re luring Ophelia to.
Brandon took the news he may be a father better than I expected. He cursed, ranted, and called Ophelia more than a few names, but within minutes, his focus shifted to me. He was worried I’d be upset, and that I wouldn’t be able to forgive him for having a child without me. It was only when we reached a mutual understanding of our dislikes did he calm down.
I wanted to hurt Ophelia. I wanted her to suffer for the anguish she had and was about to put Brandon through, but then I realized anything I did to her, I did to Bobby. That wasn’t fair. He’s an innocent child. I couldn’t hurt him any more than I wanted Mrs. McGee punished for what Madden had done to me.
