26. Clover
TWENTY-SIX
Clover
A couple days later, the bond between Brooks and I has grown. We’ve been working the ranch, taking care of Darby, and enjoying our time like we really are some type of unit.
I know it hasn’t been that long, but I have to admit that I am utterly thrilled that things took a turn in this direction.
And not only because the sex is fantastic.
“You forget you’re out here to feed sheep? Or…?”
Brooks looks over at me as I stand in the middle of the pen like an idiot. But the truth is, when he bends over like that in those jeans, it’s not my fault.
He’s also really cute with the sheep. They even all have names.
“Oh, shut up. I’m on it.”
I get back to circling around the pen, a trail of little sheep following after me, and pour some feed into the next trough.
That’s when, of all things, my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. I switch the bag to my other arm and pull out my phone.
It’s not an unknown number, thank God. But it’s also one of my clients from New York. My stomach clenches, and I swipe over to answer.
“Hey, Shelly.”
“Clover! Ugh, where have you been.” Shelly is a very expressive woman, and I smile in a tight line as she continues. “You’ve been out of the office for too long, and I want more than emails.”
“I’m sorry, Shelly. It’s just that…” I sigh, my shoulders drooping. “The situation with Kyle has not improved. I am working on coming back as soon as I can, but it’s going to take time, and I don’t want to risk anything.”
There’s a pause, and I can’t help but think about how I knew that this was coming. My most loyal clients speak to me nearly every day, and being away like this has been taking a big chance.
Going back to NYC was going to be a thing eventually, but I have to admit that I’m not ready to think about it.
“No, no. I don’t want you to, either. This is just getting ridiculous. Is there anything we can do, or one of your other clients, that might help get him out of the way quicker?”
“Not that I can think of, Shelly. I’m sorry.” I know it’s not the answer she wants, and I have to do some schmoozing to keep her faith in me. “But I’ve reported everything to the authorities. I won’t let him bully me around. I’m sure it’ll be taken care of in no time.”
“That’s the Clover I know and love. Alright, well, call me soon, not just an email, and when all this blows over, you get your ass back here. We miss you. Hell, we need you.”
“I will, Shelly. As soon as I know something, you’ll know something.”
We say a quick goodbye, and then I hang up. Stuffing the phone back in my pocket, I turn around to finish filling the trough when I see Brooks standing in front of me.
“What are you going to do about him?” Brooks eyes me, that classic “tact” of his on full display.
“I don’t know. Kyle’s been escalating. The text and phone calls. I have told the NYPD about them, but there hasn’t been much they can do.”
The silence stretches between us, and I hate it. So, like always, I fill it. “I don’t feel comfortable going back right now, that’s for sure. And…and I have to admit that…”
Oh, boy, for “going with the flow,” this conversation took a turn. Jesus, should I even say this?
Still, the words just come out, the weight of Brooks’s stare pulling them from me.
“…I like it here. It’s been nice living out in the country. With you.”
The pinch of Brooks’s brows softens, and I watch a slow smile spread across his face. It’s a different type of smile, one that he doesn’t use as often.
Sure, the ones he gives Darby are close, but this one? It belongs to me, and I won’t deny how much I love that.
“Well, I’ll admit something, too.” He steps closer, gazing down at me as the sun silhouettes him from behind. “I like having you here. Darby does, too. We…make a good team.”
I’m smiling before I realize it, and seeing Brooks look at me like this, with hope in his hazel eyes, feels damn good.
It flickers though. Because we both know why this conversation started. I might be leaving soon. I’m supposed to be leaving soon.
Facing that sounds awful to me, and I know Brooks won’t do well all cooped up in his head like that, so I continue my grin, playing up the gracious flirting as I stuff my hand in the bag of sheep feed.
Then, without breaking eye contact, I flick the feed at Brooks’s face. It scatters across his cheeks and nose, and I burst out laughing. The fluffy crumbs stick to his five o’clock shadow, and he brushes it off with a playful glare.
Too busy caught up in my fit of giggles, I don’t notice that Brooks gets closer.
“You little brat,” he teases, shaking his head with a smirk. “You’re going to get it now.”
In a flash, Brooks surges forward, lunging at me. I yelp, breaking into a run as I fling sheep feed backward at him. The sound of Brooks spitting has me cracking up, and I just keep running, circling the pen until I hit the exit and then dashing through.
“I’m going to empty this bag over your head!” Brooks’s call is loud, right behind me, and I run faster. “Sheep be damned!”
We’re both out of the pen, and I abandon my feed bag, letting it hit the ground as I rush for the barn up ahead. There’s some part of me that hopes it’ll make me faster, but Brooks has longer strides than me, and he’s gaining.
“No! Get away with that stuff!”
My heart is pounding as I breathe hard to maintain my speed. I do a quick shift, banking suddenly to the right so that I can circle around the barn.
Best of all, though, I can’t stop laughing, and I know Brooks is the same. His honest laughter booms out behind me, along with a slew of curses.
“Dammit! Clover, get that ass back here!”
I’m quickly losing energy, but damn, this is fun. I feel like a kid again. Some silly teenager enjoying punking her boyfriend.
It’s delightful, and I know this kind of thing just couldn’t happen in the city.
When I reach the barn, I know I’m done for. I can’t keep going, so I bee-line it for a hay bale, collapsing on it. With my eyes closed, I laugh as I hear Brooks close in on me.
“Oh, sure. You just plop down. Was this the finish line or something?”
Giggling, I nod. “Yes, and I won.”
I can feel my heart in my ribs, hear it in my ears, and even though I’m a sweaty, disgusting mess, I swear this is the happiest I’ve ever felt.
The world slows down. This is the happiest I’ve ever felt .
Casting a glance next to me, I see Brooks lying back on his own hay bale, his eyes up to the sky as a tired smile stretches across his face.
I don’t want to leave him.
He looks over at me, and our stares connect. There’s something in Brooks’s eyes, something I think is reflected in mine.
We’re both quiet, just holding the eye contact as our breaths slowly return to normal. We know what I’m not saying.
I know what I’m not saying.
I’m supposed to be leaving. I’m needed back in NYC. I have clients there who depend on me, a life I left behind.
“We should go back inside. We’ll need to get dinner ready soon.”
That’s all Brooks says, but I hear something so different because of the way he’s looking at me.
I hear, “You’re not staying for much longer, are you? No. We should enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Yeah. I know I’ve worked up one hell of an appetite.” I feign happiness now, my mood turning sour.
Brooks smiles back at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He nods several times before he replies.
“Yeah, me too, Lucky. Me too.”
And then we get up. Dinner won’t make itself, after all.