Page 45 of Downpour

The front door opened and I heard the soft rhythm of her footsteps. I dropped the rope in my hands and wheeled out to the living room.

Brooke froze at the kitchen sink like she had been caught red-handed. Her cheeks were flushed a sunset pink, and sweat coated her sun-kissed skin in a sheen.

“Hey,” I grunted.

She looked down at the glass in her hand. “I just came in to get a drink. It’s hot out. I’ll be gone in a minute.”

Shit.

“Brooke—“

“I won’t tell anyone,” she whispered. “I swear.” Her fingers trembled against the edge of the sink. She looked like she was about to pass out.

“Brooke, sit down.”

“I’m fine. I’m going back out?—”

“Sit. Down.”

She bobbled the glass in her hand and fell silent.

“On the couch,” I said as I wheeled over and locked my chair. Brooke watched me as I lifted one knee, then the other and slowly put pressure on my feet.

Nope. It wasn’t happening again today. Apparently, I had exhausted my lower extremities for the day. I couldn’t lock my knees and my thighs were Jell-O. I sighed and used my arms to get on the couch.

At least physical therapy had ended with a massage. My shoulders were killing me, but the pain was a little more manageable.

It wasn’t until I was fully on the couch that Brooke dared to come near.

“I’m not gonna bite,” I grumbled as I moved the throw pillows out of the way.

“Yeah, I don’t believe you,” she said as she took the far end of the couch.

I leaned over and grabbed the rope I had been working on out of my wheelchair so I would have something to do with my hands. “Where did you go?”

She sat tall and proper as if she were at a job interview. “Outside.”

“I figured as much. You got sunburned.”

Brooke just dropped her shoulders. “I didn’t have time to put on sunscreen. I went for a walk.”

“Is that why you smell like the barn?”

“Am I in trouble? CJ said it was fine. I just hung out there for a little bit and then watched Anny.”

Anarchy was an asshole. But for some reason, she and CJ got along just fine. That horse didn’t like anyone but him.

I raised an eyebrow. “Anny let you watch her?”

Brooke nodded. “I didn’t touch her or anything.”

“Probably a good thing. She bites.” But the fact that Anarchy had let Brooke near the paddock fence was surprising. If that horse was within lunging distance, she would snap.

Brooke picked at her fingers. “If that’s all, I’ll go back to making myself scarce.”

I sighed as a headache brewed in my temples. “No.”

She stiffened.

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