Chapter 27
brOOKE
I leaned against Roy’s forehead for a moment then pulled back enough to stare into his eyes. They weren’t glowing green, showing his wolf, the way they were before he marked me. They were just warm brown orbs filled with appreciation.
For me.
I drank it in–I wanted every last sip.
My shoulder hurt where he bit me, but I relished the pain. The physical sign of Roy’s claim on me.
“It’s okay,” I assured him about my childhood.
“Nothing terrible happened. We just moved a bunch because of the latest and greatest man. We swung from opulence to poverty several times. It was chaotic and unstable. It just made me very determined to never rely on anyone else for my security. I learned I couldn’t trust my mom.
Definitely not the stepdads.” She gave me a rueful smile.
“Where is she now?”
“In Texas or Florida. Somewhere on her way to husband number five. “We get along fine, but she’s still unpredictable. It makes sense that I took refuge in numbers. Accounting is boring but predictable. I guess it felt safe.”
“No, I get it,” Roy said. “After I got out of the Marines, I was too restless for a conventional job. I was grateful just to sit in the workshop and let the simple craft heal me.”
I pressed my lips against his in a soft kiss. “Think I can see it sometime? Your work. You’re… workshop?”
Wow. Did I just say that out loud?
Before I could walk it back, I watched hope kindle and spark in Roy’s eyes, and it was a magnificent thing to behold. He sat up straighter and swallowed. “Does that mean…” He brushed my hair away from my face with the back of his fingers. “Are you really thinking about moving to Montana with me?”
My pulse picked up speed.
Was I?
It seemed crazy. I just met this guy and my life had completely turned on its head.
But not all because of Roy. In fact, if I hadn’t met him, my life probably would’ve ended.
If he hadn’t rescued me, I would’ve been murdered in the parking garage Friday night.
And if not there, at my house the next day.
Roy was the reason I was still breathing, not that it meant I was obliged to spend the rest of my life with him.
So, yes. I was considering going to Montana with him.
After everything that happened, I didn’t want to go back to my job or my house.
It was time to do more than have a predictable job and a predictable life.
Maybe I needed to keep being unpredictable and explore this thing with Roy.
To learn everything about him and show him more of me.
“Um, yeah. I’m definitely thinking about it.”
A grin split Roy’s face. “I will make you so fucking happy, baby. I promise. A mated male wolf lives to please his female–sexually and otherwise. Whatever you need or want, I’ll figure out how to give it to you.”
I would swear it felt like I was soaring. Like a helium balloon had filled in my chest, rendering me weightless. Floating off to the moon.
I smiled back at him. “Let’s just take things one step at a time, okay? I’ll drive back with you to visit and see how it feels.”
Roy stroked his lips across mine. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “It’s Mark,” he said, sliding his thumb across the screen to answer it and putting it on speaker.
“Hey, you two. How are you enjoying the cabin?”
“It’s perfect. I can’t thank you enough,” Roy said. “I, uh, wolfed out the moment we pulled up, but it’s all good now.” He cupped my face, looking into my eyes like I was a goddess.
“Does that mean what I think it does?” Mark asked.
“Yeah. We’re mated.”
“Congratulations!” There was a heartiness to Mark’s voice that warmed me. “That’s great news.”
“The best,” Roy said.
“Well, I’m calling with more good news. Thanks to the proof Brooke provided, I was able to get that warrant, and we picked up Lazano and one of his dealers this morning.
You already dispatched the top four in his organization, so other than a few petty dealers, we have streets clean on this.
Brooke is safe to go back home and to work. ”
We looked at each other. “That’s great news,” I said. “Thanks so much.”
“So get out of my cabin. No, I’m kidding. Stay as long as you want. Actually, there’s a run tonight if you want to meet the Denver pack.”
Roy glanced at me and raised his brows in question.
I shrugged.
“We’ll pass.” He kept his gaze on mine as he added, “Brooke’s going to drive back to Montana with me and check out Cooper Valley.”
I nodded my agreement.
“Where you are always welcome, I should add. I can’t thank you enough.”
My phone buzzed from across the room, on the kitchen counter charging. As Roy wrapped up his call with Mark, I climbed from his lap and checked my phone.
It was a text from Casey.
I’m back in town. Are you around?
No, I’m at a friend’s cabin. Then I’m heading to Montana with the guy!
I didn’t think sharing that it was a DEA agent’s cabin and we’d been hiding out from murdering drug kingpins over a text was a good idea.
What? Hold up! That was why I texted.
We need to talk about the Marine.