Page 117 of Back in Black

Audrey sat silently beside him, still sad, probably exhausted. She, too, had been through the wringer.

Early in life, he’d learned how easy it was to walk away when things weren’t to his liking. When his father left, he’d rejoiced. When his mom sank so low that she’d become a stranger to him, he’d blocked out any hurt and written her from his life. He’d worked hard to be the person he wanted to be, polite, educated, above the trash that had been his environment. But he’d never gotten so closely connected to another human being that he or she mattered. He’d never wanted to care to the point that he couldn’t walk away.

With Audrey . . .

He turned his head to look at her. “You really don’t mind if I stay with you?”

Burdened with uncertainty, she said, “I would like it very much.”

Brett nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” He stood and held a hand out for her. After he helped her back to her feet, he just stood there, looking at her, marveling at how she’d captured so much of him, so soon, when he’d never thought it possible.

He turned to look around at the chaos. Poor Roger was beside himself. Too much had happened at his establishment for his peace of mind. Simon Evans and Dean Conor stood talking to him. Off to the side, Gregor and his wife stood talking to Dickey Thompson.

It seemed no matter what, Roger’s place would remain the hangout.

Both Drew and Millie were taken away by ambulance, Millie unconscious, Drew bitching up a storm. Gillian, bless her, was about to follow.

“Come on.” Brett took Audrey’s hand and hustled her along with him. Not for anything did he want to let her out of his sight. Bullets and fires and lunatics . . . he had to keep her close for his own peace of mind.

“Where are we going?”

He nodded toward Gillian. “She’s a mess. She shouldn’t try driving herself to the hospital.”

Audrey agreed, and even freed herself from Brett to run ahead and catch Gillian before she got in her car.

Gillian’s relief was palpable. She hugged Audrey and agreed. Even from a short distance, Brett could see her shaking, and there was no mistaking the mascara tracks left by her tears.

So that they’d all fit, they took Audrey’s car rather than Brett’s truck, but he drove. Gillian climbed into the backseat without a word, and then she fretted all the way to the hospital.

Brett glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “He’ll be okay, Gillian.”

She nodded. “I know. Thank you.” As they pulled up to the hospital, she said, “Will you just drop me at the door?”

“We could come in and keep you company,” Audrey offered.

But Gillian refused her. “You look as wiped out as I feel, and besides, Drew won’t like an audience while he’s not one hundred percent.”

Brett figured she was right about that. “Will you call us if either of you needs anything?”

She smiled, wiped at her eyes as more tears seeped out. “I’m being ridiculous, I know, but if that bullet had done more damage . . .” She shuddered. “Even after I stopped denying how I felt, I didn’t want to tell Drew. I thought if he didn’t know, I could protect myself. But that was just plain foolish.”

Brett pulled up in front of the main doors and put the car in park. “Looking back is a waste of time, Gillian. Believe me, I know.”

Pausing in her exit from the car, Gillian tipped her head and studied him. “If we never look back, we might avoid dwelling on bad times, but we miss out on fond memories, too. It’s always a balance.” She reached up and touched Brett’s shoulder. “But the most important thing is to face the future without letting the past get in the way.”

And with that sage advice thrown out there, she got out of the car and came around to Audrey’s window. “Thank you both again.”

Brett watched her hustle into the hospital, shoulders back and stride proud, despite what she’d just been through.

After a second, Brett let out a breath. “She’s right, you know.”

Audrey nodded but didn’t quite look at him. “I’m looking forward to a future . . . with you.”

His heart damn near broke in two. Gillian made so much sense that now he saw how he’d almost let the past cheat him of a future. He caught Audrey and pulled her half over the console so he could kiss her.

The lingering scent of smoke wrenched him, reminding him of how easily he could have lost her.

With his forehead against hers, he whispered, “Before, when I said I was falling in love with you?”

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