Chapter 6
It had been a little over a month of late-night texts, check-ins that turned into real conversations, and her trying to believe she could experience peace and safe at the same time with Brooks.
She hadn’t even filed her divorce papers, and here she was, seeking out the man whose messages had become her lifeline.
The man she couldn’t stop thinking about.
But also, the man she needed to set boundaries with.
They needed to agree on the rules of engagement.
She smoothed her shirt before stepping into Bishop Towing. She’d been in her car for twenty minutes trying to talk herself out of being there.
The way he handled her, his silence when she needed space, the safety she felt in his presence… all of it was louder than the voice telling her to slow down.
And that was a problem. Another reason she was about to accidentally poke the bear.
She was unraveling with every word, every interaction. The more he did for her, checked on her, the more she spiraled. A line needed to be drawn. They needed to keep things platonic before someone got hurt.
Before stepping inside, she inhaled sharply and exhaled.
The bell chimed above her head, breaking her concentration.
Her heart picked up speed as she progressed further into the shop and rounded the corner.
When she saw his tall frame sitting on the counter she stopped in her tracks.
He looked up, attention no longer on what had him intrigued moments ago.
It was his smile for her. Simple, but perfect, soothing to her wishy washy soul.
“What you doing here?” He asked, jumping down to meet her with his hand extended open for hers.
She placed her hand in his and the electricity that coursed through her was why she needed to hit pause.
The surprise in his voice made her nervous.
He’d checked in on her today and she hadn’t mentioned stopping by.
He guided her out of the lobby and into the hallway beside them.
“I came to pay you back for all your help.” She reached for her wallet, but Brooks crowded her space, softly placing a hand on her wallet stopping her.
The act made her tilt her head back to meet his eyes.
She tried not to notice how good he smelled today it was different from the scent that lingered in her home after he left.
But she did. She had to be losing her mind.
This was her friends brother, this was Brooks.
Somewhere between that night at the diner and now, he’d turned into something that made her thoughts play peak a boo with her. The man she was discovering through his acts of kindness and service made her ache for lost time, ache for all the years she’d looked right past him and he right past her.
“You really think I’m gonna take your money? That’s the second time you did that.” His voice was low, teasing but she could tell he was irritated, offended.
“Brooks, I can’t let you-”
“Can’t let me what? Help?” Another step closer. Her back almost hit the wall, but he caught her by the small of her back before it could, and heat flooded her face. “You think I need your money?”
“That’s not the point.” She lifted her chin, trying to maintain composure despite their proximity. “Nothing in life is free, so let me pay you for your services... for all you’ve done for me.”
“Services?”
His eyes darkened and drew together into an offended glare. “Woman, what you on? Why you coming in here choosing violence? Bothering me and shit? You bored?”
“What do you mean? Nothing is up with me. You picked me up, fed me, let me -” she tried to list off all he’d done but was cut short.
“Enough Tay, I know what I did.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as he placed a finger to her lip. She fought hard not to lick his finger. She didn’t even know where that came from, this wasn’t her.
“But,” she tried to say before he stopped her again.
“Nah, that doesn’t explain why you came to my establishment, looking good, may I add, downplaying what is happening here. Something gotta be up.”
She cleared her throat, absolutely regretting coming in. Things were happening that almost made her want to moan. Her nipples hardened, her chest rose, and clit swelled. He continued to search her eyes, and she closed them again before opening them again.
“Nothing is wrong with me. I don’t want to take advantage of you. That’s all.”
“Like I’m some lame ass nigga trying to go tit for tat with you.”
“No, that’s not it. I never said that. ”
He laughed. “Oh, I get what this is about.”
He leaned over, his mouth was too close, his tone pure seduction wrapped in silk. “If I expected some pussy from you, trust, I would’ve had it by now. And I mean folded up like a piece of origami. You ever been folded up Taylor?”
She looked away.
“Nah,” he gently pulled her face back to his. “You haven’t because if so trying me wouldn’t have ever crossed your mind.”
Brooks wasn’t stupid. He could feel the sexual tension stressing them both. Her body betrayed her, telling him everything he needed to know. She’d give it up without a second thought, if that’s what he demanded. She knew it.
“I didn’t mean-” she started, but the words died in her throat as his hand came up to brush a piece of hair from her face.
“Didn’t mean what? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re looking for reasons to push me away before I even get too close. And you should stop while you're ahead, sweetheart.”
“Actually, let’s go there because what’s up with you?” She asked pushing him back slightly. The need for distance helped her find her voice. “You’re being the weird one. You’ve never even batted an eye at me before and now you expect me too just what? Fall in love with you.”
Brooks stepped back. She was right but she was also wrong. So damn wrong.
“You willing to bet on that?” He asked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’ve always noticed you.” His eyes traced over her face giving her looks he wished he could’ve back then. “It was you not looking my way ‘cause you didn’t agree with how I was living. You not me.”
“We’ve always been off limits to each other.”
“Who?” He let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Ain’t a damn thing off limits to me if I want it. You ain’t family. You ain’t a friend.” His eyes dragged down to her lips, slow and deliberate, before snapping back up. “You worried about Blake finding out you feeling her brother?”
“Brooks, don’t flatter yourself.”
“If I wanted you, I’d have you, right here, right now. Blake ain’t never stopped me from getting what I want."
He thought about his next words carefully, but proceeded, "Fuck a Blake, respectfully."
His words nearly choked her, but she swallowed it down. Pushing him back again she created more space.
“Thanks for the help,” she muttered before turning and bolted, like she hadn’t walked in with this exact chaos in mind.
He’d give her space… for now.
The way her pupils blew wide, her breath fought for control, and that pulse of hers hammered against her throat. She was a woman running from the one thing she wasn’t built to survive, him. But he’d be right there when she finally felt she could.
∞∞∞
Taylor drove home in a daze, fingers tight around the steering wheel, hands shaking just enough to piss her off.
Her panties soggy, confusion consumed her.
Proof she’d bitten off more than she could chew.
Brooks looked at her as if she was plate of his favorite foods.
She was ready to cuss, to scream, to do something because the way he had her riled up wasn’t even fair.
As she arrived home, the sky was a mix of purple and orange.
The porch light flickered, and she groaned, remembering she’d asked him to change the damn bulb and it hadn’t gotten done.
That was typical, no surprise. She made a mental note to inspect her home and make a list of things to do in her free time.
That would surely keep her busy as she sorted her life out.
She eased further into the driveway, put the car in park, already feeling the relief of sinking into her couch.
Her moods and energy levels were swinging and today had been a day of overthinking and stressing herself out.
She grabbed her things from the backseat, letting out a breath, trying to shake off the lingering heat still clinging to her skin from her encounter with Brooks.
When she turned she was shocked to find Tyree slouched on her front steps, the stench of liquor rolling off him even from a distance. Drunk. Sloppy. Clearly ready to ruin her night.
Her stomach twisted; all the alluring temptation she’d gotten from Brooks flipped into irritation and disgust. The man had lost his wife and instead of doing better, he was reminding her exactly why his time was up.
“Baby,” he slurred, standing unsteadily. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.” She stayed by her car, keeping a distance between them. “I told you we were finished. That means don’t come here at all.”
Taylor was done letting him think he could keep showing up and disturbing her peace. She meant what she said.
They were through.
“Who is it? Who you been giving my pussy to?” He asked, voice dropping to a low rumble.
She was so damn glad it was dark because the grin tugging at her lips would’ve given her away.
Or maybe Tyree could smell him on her. The thought only made her laugh.
She wasn’t going to cower to him. She was ready to get him gone.
Taylor started moving towards her front door and stopped just shy of him.
“Leave before I call the police. And don’t bring your drunk ass back here anymore. This ain’t your home.” She pushed past him, shoulders squared, daring him to test her.
She was done letting people wipe their ass with her kindness. And she wasn’t answering any of his damn questions. She didn’t owe him a thing.