Page 39 of Brandt's Rule

“So you’re sticking with that answer?”

“Yep. Pretty sure that whatever the hell is going on, you’re fully aware of it.”

Tempest laughed, her laughter pouring out of her spontaneously. That was the last thing she’d expected Brandt to say to her, and probably the most true statement he’d made since they’d met. “So, we’re not going to talk about this? Is that how you prefer it?”

Brandt’s gaze wandered away from her face and he looked around the room a couple of times before he focused on her again. “I’m not even sure what this is, Tempest.”

“You sure about that?” she asked as she moved her hand from his shoulder to the side of his neck, where she could feel his pulse. As her thumb stroked his skin, she felt that pulse jump, she heard the rumble in his chest and felt it vibrate against her own.

Brandt offered her a shaky smile. “It’s what I’m sticking with for now.”

“But yet you don’t like it when I dance with your friends. And you’re a little obsessive. Are you like this about all females?”

“No, I’m not. And you know that, don’t you?”

“I do, and doesn’t that just set you off?”

“Does it set you off?” he countered.

“Surprisingly, no. I think I might be okay with it. Besides, I’ve got no ties here. I can go whenever I feel the need.”

Brandt’s arms tightened around her, pulling her so close their cheeks were resting against each other as they finished their dance. As the music died down Brandt turned his head just enough to whisper directly into her ear so only she could hear. “I’ll hunt you down if you do. I’m not sure about anything else I’m experiencing, but I know that if you leave, I won’t take it well.”

Tempest turned her face toward him and spoke, her lips so close to his cheek that they brushed his skin. “Then you’d better start being a little nicer. I don’t have to put up with a damn thing that doesn’t make me gloriously happy anymore.” She pressed her lips to his face just beside the corner of his mouth, then broke his hold on her body and turned, walking away from him to meet their friends at the bar where they waited, drinking and laughing with several new people that had arrived.

“There they are!” a particularly pretty female called as they got closer. “Here you go. I drank somebody’s shot, so I ordered more for everybody.”

“Tempest, this is Hellen. She’s one of my sisters,” Ronan said.

“Hi, Hellen. I’m Tempest,” Tempest said, extending her hand to shake hands with Hellen.

Hellen looked at Tempest’s hand, then up to meet her gaze. “Really? Everything my father told me about you, and you’re going to just shake my hand? I don’t think so. Get in here, woman!” Hellen said, pulling Tempest in for a hug like she’d do for any of her family.

Tempest smiled and hugged her back. The strength and confidence this female radiated was nothing short of admirable. “Thank you for welcoming me. It really means a lot.”

“What are you doing here? You never come out with us,” Brandt said to another woman standing with the group. She was a lot like Brandt in appearance, though her hair was a little darker, but it was evident they were related. This female was different, though. Her demeanor was so calming, so soothing that she just pulled you in by doing nothing more than smiling at you.

She looked at Brandt and gave him the most angelic smile. It was clear that they shared some kind of quick exchange before she answered his question verbally. “Barron said you were all coming tonight, and I decided I’d like to be here for a little while and meet the new girl. Hellen said she was coming, too, so I rode with Hellen.”

“I’m the new girl, I guess,” Tempest said, as she discreetly tried to feel out the secrets this new female kept bundled inside. Then suddenly, she knew. This female was a healer. She was an empath, and a healer of not only physical pains and illnesses, but of emotional ones, too.

The female smiled. “I think you’d be right. I’m Daisy.”

“Daisy, what a beautiful name. It fits you,” Tempest said.

“My Uncle Bam says that I told him my name before I was ever born.”

“I have no doubt,” Tempest said. “I’m very, very glad to meet you.”

“Same. Could I have a hug, too?” Daisy asked, glancing quickly toward Hellen to indicate the hug Tempest and Hellen had shared.

“Of course,” Tempest said, and before she could utter another word, she was swept into an embrace that almost took her breath away. She let out a little gasp as she felt near tears, years of self-doubt and loneliness being swept from the deepest depths of her emotions. She struggled to hide the chinks in her armor, as she referred to the insecurities her lonely childhood had left her with, so that Daisy wouldn’t see them. But it did no good, Daisy found them, and smoothed them, in the few brief moments they hugged. Who knew what kind of healing Daisy would be able to do if Tempest willingly opened herself up to it?

Daisy smiled as she let go of Tempest and stepped back to look Tempest in the eye as she maintained contact by resting her hands on Tempest’s shoulders. “You have no idea how happy I am to meet you.”

“Thank you,” Tempest said shakily.

“No more wandering, no more alone. You’ve found us,” Daisy said.

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