Page 72 of Hidden Heir

Brooke tilts her head slightly then reaches out for me. I take her hand and she helps me lower myself down onto the bed next to her. As she threads our fingers together I’m momentarily distracted by the twisted flesh across her palms. I will neverforgive myself for being unable to save her from such pain, but I will spend the rest of my life protecting her and making up for it.

“So,” Brooke says softly. “Tiffany.”

I nod once. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know the first thing about kids. So, however you want to do this is what I will follow.”

“I don’t have any kind of plan,” Brooke replies. “But it will have to be a slow process. She’s already been through a lot. Dropping her father on her suddenly will be intense, so we’re going to take it slow. Recovery first.”

“I understand.”

“She needs to be safe.” Brooke looks up at me earnestly. “I need her tofeelsafeat all times.”

“I will make sure she always knows she’s safe,” I promise, studying Brooke’s face. I mean every word and I will do the same for Brooke. The feelings that I already had for her have only been amplified since I woke up in the hospital. Now that I’m sitting next to her, that overwhelming desire is back tenfold.

I will move at her pace and I will be there for her in whatever capacity she needs me to be. I will be the best man for her that I possibly can.

I’m about to tell her this when the door opens. Tiffany runs in with tears streaming down her face, followed by Selina who looks like she’s trying very hard not to laugh.

“Mommy!” Tiffany wails, making a beeline for Brooke.

“Honey!” Brooke slides off the bed so she can scoop Tiffany up into her arms then cuddles her close. “What’s happened?”

“I lost it!” Tiffany sobs.

“She, ahem,” Selina clears her throat to hide her laugh. “She was messing around with her chocolate bar in the elevator and dropped it. It fell through the gap just before the doors closed.”

“Oh, no,” Brooke is less successful in hiding her laugh as she kisses Tiffany’s head. “That’s just bad luck, isn’t it?”

“I lost it,” Tiffany says again, then turns her gigantic, tear-filled eyes to me. “It’s gone!”

My heart clenches at the sight so I reach out to soothe her, taking one of her flailing hands in mine. “How about I give Selina some money and she can take you down to the gift shop to pick out something else? Something even better than a chocolate bar.” I glance at Brooke for permission and she nods.

“That would be sweet, wouldn’t it?” Brooke says, kissing Tiffany’s wet cheeks. “Much tastier than anything in the cafeteria.”

“Okay.” Tiffany sniffles though her tears are quickly drying up. “Thank you!” She suddenly lurches from Brooke’s arms to mine, giving me an awkward hug. It’s very sweet, but I have to bite back a groan of pain as her knee accidentally collides with my healing gunshot wound. With a grunt, I cuddle her tight then help her back to the floor.

“Come on then,” Selina says, holding out her hand. “Let’s go get a real treat.”

Tiffany takes her hand and dances away with Selina, bringing an empty silence to the room. Brooke’s hand lands on my thigh and she squeezes softly.

“Are you okay?”

I nod.

“Are you sure?” she asks. “It looked like that hurt.”

I wave off her concern. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been shot and likely won’t be the last, I’m sorry to say.”

“I’m sorry,” Brooke says earnestly.

“For what?” I meet her eyes, a look of confusion on my face.

“For shooting you.”

“Don’t be.”

“I am.”

“Brooke.” I place my hand over hers. “Don’teverapologize for fighting for survival, okay? You did what had to be done, and in turn, saved both of our lives. So don’t you dare apologize.”

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