Page 141 of Rescued by the Single Dad

They were still hugging. Her brother tensed a little in her arms, but eventually relaxed and exhaled. “Maybe next time I come to visit, the three of us can have dinner.”

She pulled away a little and held onto his shoulders. “I’d like that.”

Then she kissed his cheek as tears spilled down hers, then stood in the doorjamb with Talia and Clint as her brother—her only family—climbed into Clint’s truck with Jagger.

A moment later, the truck pulled away, pausing only for the electric gate to swing open.

“Brooke!” came a voice from the woods just beyond the gate. “Brooke Barker!”

Then the flash and click of cameras as she squinted, looking for the source of the voice.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Clint growled, stomping out into the driveway. “Get the fuck out of here. This is private property.”

“Why’s she still hiding if the killer has been found?” the guy in the bushes called out.

Click. Click. Click went his camera.

Brooke could see the telephoto lens sticking out from the shrubbery now.

Jagger rolled down the window. “Buddy, you need to get out of here!” He pulled ahead so the gate could close just as Clint approached, making sure the person in the bushes didn’t try to sneak through before the gate locked again.

“You need to leave,” Clint hollered, shielding his face as the man with the camera continued to take more pictures.

“I’ve never seen my dad this mad before,” Talia said, looping her cast-free arm around Brooke’s waist. “He’s really angry.”

Guilt burned like acid in Brooke’s belly as Jagger sat there in his truck, and Clint escorted the man down the hill to the parking lot. Jagger rumbled down the hill a few moments later, and shortly after that, Clint reappeared.

He punched in the code for the small man-door on the side of the gate—how they managed to get that thing erected so fast still eluded Brooke—then continued toward them. Steam practically rose from his ears.

Talia laced her fingers with Brooke’s. “Come on, let’s go make more bracelets.”

Nodding, but with her mind—and heart—still with the man who wore a thundercloud as a hat stalking toward them, she followed Talia inside.

Within minutes, the rest of the children joined them, and they spent the remainder of the day making bracelets and baking cookies—again. Though, they really didn’t need any more cookies in the house. But it was what the children wanted to do, so nobody denied them.

It was four o’clock before any of them knew it, and Inez buzzed the intercom to be let in through the security gate and parked her silver rental sedan in front of Clint’s house.

Brooke opened the door before Inez had a chance to knock. She didn’t want Clint or Talia to think she was eager to leave, because she sure as hell wasn’t, but the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to go. As it was, it was already agonizing.

This home felt more like home to Brooke than any place she’d ever laid her head before. And she’d only been here for twelve days. She felt safer here than anywhere else. More at peace.

The children had decorated her with enough friendship bracelets that she wouldn’t soon forget any of them. Ones made with beads, others made with threads, and then the ever-popular rainbow loom elastic band ones that Aya was currently obsessed with.

She had at least a dozen up each arm and made sure that she made one for each kid, too.

The way they beamed at her when she tied it around their wrist made her heart clench and the back of her eyes burn.

She’d give up her life in California for a life like this one. For this kind of perpetual joy and sweetness. She didn’t need to keep acting. She had enough money to retire now if she wanted to.

Could she propose something like that to Clint? Would he even go for it?

They shared a memorable night together last night, an amazing night, but it felt like a finale. Like ... he was saying goodbye. Forever.

“Ready to go?” Inez chirped. She wore a red tank top and jeans rolled up at the ankles.

Clint found Brooke a spare duffle bag for her belongings, but before Brooke could pick it up, Inez had her fingers wrapped around the handle. “I got it, boss.”

“Thanks,” Brooke murmured.

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