Chapter Seven Brad #3
“Thanks.” He shook my hand and smiled warmly at Bree. “You know where to find me.”
He left, and Bree groaned as the door closed. “Dammit.”
I understood the feeling of thinking you were onto something and then having the door slammed shut in your face. “I saw a coffee shop next door.”
“You trying to make me feel better?”
“Maybe.” I held the door open. “Is it working?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged, and we headed toward her addiction and ordered our treats.
As we drove toward my parents’ place, the car soon smelled like a bakery, and I eyed her extra-large coffee and warm cinnamon bun and wished I’d caved and gotten one.
She licked her slim fingers, and my stomach clenched.
My appetite suddenly went from a warm bun to a much warmer feeling inside.
Get yourself together. I pretended not to notice when she looked over and forced myself to focus on the road and not how much I wanted to taste the sweetness from her lips.
I spent as much time as I could at my parents’ place now that Ronnie was back home for good.
My brother’s PTSD made me worry. His time overseas in the service might have been over, but he still carried a lot of it with him.
I knew it was hard on my mom and dad to see him slip in and out of the dark places, as he called them.
By being there, I acted as a buffer. The fact that Dad was fixing the fence around the property gave me a good reason to be there, and I liked to help.
“Another dead end.” Bree pulled me from my thoughts as she held up her phone. “Smith said the guys in the photo were her friends who all have an alibi for Shelly’s murder, and the phone number was to a dry cleaner.”
“On to the next lead.” I squeezed her arm to let her know it was all right.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
It started to rain when we hit the highway, and we were in the middle of a good downpour. Bree angled the vents in her direction.
“It’s cold,” she explained as I looked at her.
“And I don’t like leaving my truck in town,” she grumbled.
I smirked at her. I loved that she was still pissed I’d convinced her to leave her hunk of a truck at the station.
I liked having her with me. She wasn’t the girl next door anymore.
I had to be honest with myself, it felt good to just be with her.
“But it worked out for Patrick.”
“Mm-hmm.” She knew I was right. He was already in town with Maxine and wanted to borrow Bree’s truck to haul some stuff home from the feedstore. “He’d better be careful with my truck. She’s touchy at times.” I turned off the road and headed down her long driveway.
“That I believe.” I laughed and ran a hand through my hair when I caught her glare. “You know, you’re still cute when you’re mad.”
She glared harder.
“Oh, not the main house.” She pointed for me to swing around and head toward the cabins.
“I’m living over there now. Number three.
” She tucked her coat around herself as I pulled in, then reached for her bag.
“Thanks to Lainey, I’m now bunking with a bunch of businessmen who thought this place was better than a hotel.
I really like it, actually. I like my space, and this allows it. ”
I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t say much. I turned off the car and looked at the cozy cabin.
“Wait here.” I opened my umbrella and got out into the pouring rain and hurried to her side. “Come on.” I walked her to the covered porch and waited for her to open the door, though not before glancing at the other cabins around her, wondering what kind of men were just a few steps away from her.
As I stepped inside, I immediately felt comfortable.
Her cabin was nice and homey with a bit of country living woven through.
It was a big open room with a fireplace straight ahead and a door off to the right that led to what I assumed was a bathroom.
She had set up a big whiteboard where she had written some thoughts on our case.
She bent to quickly light the fireplace that was all laid for her and hung her jacket from a peg on the wall.
“This is home.” She waved.
I looked around and admired the place again, before spotting cookies on the table.
“Are these . . . ?” I lifted the glass dome on the cake display and snagged one.
I’d forgotten that her mom could bake a mean cookie.
“Oh my god, they are!” I let the chocolate melt in my mouth and fought the urge to groan.
Her mother always used to have them for us after school when we were kids.
I leaned on the table and watched her plug in her phone and laptop. “So, when’s your date arriving?”
She reached around me and held up a package. “He’s already here.”
She barely had time to blink as I grabbed the package and tore it open. I pulled in my chin, and my brows shot up as I eyed the sex toy in my hand.
“Hey!” She grabbed it from me and tossed it onto the bed, where it turned on and did a little flop and a wiggle motion, then died. “That’s not for you.”
“No, it’s not.” I laughed, and she gave me the finger. “Seriously, you don’t need a fake—you can get the real thing from almost any guy we met today.”
“Right.” She sipped her coffee and looked out the window as the rain pelted it.
“I’m not really into dating strangers right now.
So, he’ll”—she pointed to her bed—“have to do.” She slowly turned, and I saw an expression I didn’t recognize cross her face.
“Hey, Brad?” I felt my insides twist with heat. “You still know how to ride?”
“A horse, you mean?” I grinned.
“Yes, you idiot.” She laughed.
I side-eyed her. “Yeah.”
“Great.” She beamed. “Meet me here tomorrow at noon.”
“Why?” I swallowed hard as I watched her reach back to undo her damp dress. The zipper was partway down when she grabbed something silk from the dresser drawer, then headed into what I assumed was the restroom. “Hey, you never answered me.”
“Sec,” she called, and I began to heat up, not sure where this was going. “I need your help tomorrow around twelve thirty.”
“Surrre.” The word fizzled away when she came back dressed in a PJ set of a silk shirt and shorts. “Is that your date outfit?” I rubbed my hot hands on my thighs and shamelessly let my eyes roam all over her.
“Yes, it is.” She smiled, then headed for the door and held it open for me to leave. “Good night, Brad, and remember, if you’re late, I still know how to unlock your bedroom window and get to you.”
I stood in front of her and kissed her cheek, lingering there for a moment.
I had to force my hands to stay at my sides when all I wanted to do was grab hold of her, press my body into hers, and ravish her.
But that whole thing about us being coworkers was hard to navigate .
. . so I’d behave, at least for a bit. “Good to know. Night, Bree.” I kissed her one more time just to witness the sprinkle of pink go across her chest, then with a light chuckle, I headed out into the wet night. I needed a cold shower after that.
Mornings on a farm came way too early. When the sun was up, you were up.
Farm life waited for no one. Just as the morning light peeked over the Cedar Creek Ranch across the lake, my boots touched down on the dirt and I called to Ginger to follow.
She bounded after me with a big old smile.
We crossed the property to where I had stacked the pine boards.
I tossed my hoodie onto a hay bale in case I needed it later.
The temperature often took a drop at that time of year without warning.
Ginger loved being out here even more than at my place in town.
I knew she was spoiled rotten, mostly thanks to my father.
She was rarely alone and always had someone or some other animal for company.
Here she had all the space in the world to run free and swim.
Her best friend, Finley, the Jaminsons’ border collie, lived at the ranch, and the two were often spotted swimming around the dock.
I grabbed a stick and tossed it into the air.
“Go get it, girl!” She raced off to find it.
With my tool belt in place, I grabbed a piece of board and began to nail it to another.
The old fence needed a lot of boards replaced, and the physical labor felt good.
It was just what I needed. Maybe it was because I didn’t get as much action in my job as I used to, or maybe it was because I’d been a little pent up lately.
I worked away until my muscles screamed at me to stop, and I knew I needed a break and some water. It felt so good. I leaned back against a tree and listened to the world wake up around me. It did wonders for the head.
A short while later, Dad walked into my line of vision and helped hold a board in place, then he gave Ginger a pat on the head. “Morning, girl.”
“We’re out of lumber.” I swung the hammer and smacked the nail into place. “You want me to go pick up some more?”
“I have a few things to grab—I’ll head in.
” He stepped back and admired my job. “Looks really good, Son.” His smile showed below his cowboy hat as he handed me a fresh bottle of water Mom must have sent out with him.
“How’s it going?” He jerked his chin toward the ranch as I downed the water, gaining myself a moment to think.
“Must be strange having her back in town.”
“Yeah” was all I offered.
“Heard you, Sherry, and Bree had dinner the other night.” He looked away as I looked at him, confused about how he knew. “Bree told Nina, who told your mother.”