Page 106 of Downpour

Bree’s voice was soft. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for Brooke.”

I cocked my head. “What are you talking about?”

Bree shrugged. “You like her, don’t you?”

I raked my hand through my hair, hoping it would ease some of the tension. But it didn’t. ‘Like’ didn’t even begin to cover what I felt for Brooke.

“Yeah. I do, squirt. A lot.”

“She’s really nice.”

I nodded.

“And pretty,” Bree added. “And she obviously likes you. Do it for her.”

The sliding door rolled back and, speak of the devil, Brooke appeared. She was wearing a pair of short denim cut-offs anda flowing tank top that dipped between her breasts. Her hair was down in thick ringlets today. Her skin was flushed pink, probably from walking all the way from Becks’s house.

“Hey, girlie,” Brooke said with a smile as she wrapped her arm around Bree’s shoulders and squeezed. “I didn’t know I’d get to see you today.” One look at the tears that were slowly drying on Bree’s cheeks and Brooke’s expression shifted to concern. “What’s the matter?”

Bree wiped her cheeks with her fingers. “Nothing. We were just catching up.”

Brooke’s eyes fell on me, then on the puddle of popsicles. She lifted her eyebrows. “Okay. I see a dessert crisis. Nothing that can’t be fixed. I’m sure we have more. I got, like, three or four boxes.”

“It’s fine.” Bree wiped away the rest of her tears. “I’m not really in the mood for a popsicle anyway.”

My stomach clenched.

“You sure?” Brooke asked.

“Yeah. I feel better.” Bree looked at me. “Are y’all coming up to Grandma’s house for supper with everyone?”

I let out a breath. “Yeah, squirt. We’ll be there.”

Bree said goodbye to Brooke and slipped through the house and out the front door.

“Hey, how was going out with Becks and Cass?” I asked as I wheeled over and bent down to pick up the popsicle sticks from the puddle of syrup.

Brooke let out a light laugh. “I think I got interrogated, and then I burned off my tacos and margarita with the walk back to the house. How long do we have to wait until supper?”

I chuckled and went inside with her. “Not long. What’d they interrogate you about?”

Brooke slid onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. “You.” Her lips still tasted like salt and tequila.

I tilted my head, diving in deeper to savor her.

She let out a soft whimper, pressing into my chest. “I tried not to tell them anything but I think Cassandra had them put double the alcohol in my drink.”

“Don’t be fooled by the ‘mom act.’ Becks is just as diabolical.”

She giggled. “It was good, I think. I don’t know. I don’t really fit in with them.”

“They knew each other before they came to the ranch. They worked together in New York. It’ll just take some time.”

Her crisp blue eyes turned to puddles of cerulean. “You think I have time?”

I tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. “As much time as you want.”

Dinner was a lively affair.I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed this much or felt this at ease around my family. Mom opted for burgers and fries, which was nice. It didn’t require utensils or cutting, and I appreciated that.

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