Page 29 of Forbidden Love

Emily didn’t want the house. She’d made that clear. If Deb sold it, she’d split the money with her sister and buy something simple, something hers. Somewhere she could finally breathe.

It would be the easy fix. Safe. Detached.

But it would also mean giving up something else. She wouldn’t get to be the kind of aunt she dreamed of being. She’d miss the milestones, the laughter, the little everyday moments that turn into memories. She’d be a name on a card. A voice on the phone. Not the steady presence she wanted to be, and for all her talk of escape, that thought hurt more than staying ever had.

Brock’s words from last night echoed in her mind, refusing to fade.

“Never took you for a coward.”

She clenched her jaw. She wasn’t a coward. Far from it. If she were, she would’ve packed up and left Lee County years ago, disappeared into a new life where no one knew her name or her past. But she hadn’t. She stayed. Faced the whispers. Endured the weight of her own choices.

Grabbing a towel from the hook, she walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As the water heated, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and paused.

Dark circles beneath her eyes, tension etched into the lines around her mouth, and that familiar flicker of doubt just beneath the surface.

She stared at her reflection for a long moment before squaring her shoulders.

“I’m not a coward,” she said firmly, meeting her own gaze. “I’m not.”

Saying it out loud didn’t make it true. But it felt like a step. A start. A small defiance against the part of her that still wanted to run, and maybe it was enough for today.

She would show up for lunch today—no more what-ifs. If Brock didn’t care that Linda might come for him because of it, then that was on him. He seemed capable of handling himself—and Linda.

Still, she knew it wasn’t that simple.

She and Linda had a history. There was bad blood between them now, and both of them knew it wouldn’t take much to bring it boiling to the surface. Once she stood against Linda, that had been the end of their so-called friendship.

Deb clenched her jaw. If it came down to it, she wouldn’t just sit back and let Linda do what Linda does best—tear people apart for sport. Especially not Brock’s sister or that sweet little boy, Ben. Deb wasn’t lying when she said that was precisely what Linda would do. She knew her well.

It was a small town, and word spread fast. Too fast. And Deb knew better than anyone how quickly whispers could turn into wildfire.

Once Linda found out she was having lunch with Brock and his family, it would be on. No question. Linda didn’t like to lose, especially when it came to something—or someone—she believed belonged to her.

What Linda wanted, Linda usually got.

Or so she thought.

Deb stepped into the shower, letting the hot water stream over her skin, chasing away the chill that had settled in her bones. Steam filled the room, curling around her like a shield, and for the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel like retreating.

She wasn’t sure what exactly she felt for Brock—couldn’t quite name it—but there was definitelysomething.And whatever it was, it scared the hell out of her.

And, if she was being honest, it excited her too.

She’d sworn off men. Closed that chapter, slammed the door, and bolted it shut. But Brock… Brock was different.

Maybe it was because he was still a stranger in so many ways. He didn’t know her past. He hadn’t seen the broken, messy parts she tried to hide from everyone else. To him, she wasn’t the woman with baggage or scars—she was justDeb.

That made things feel easier. And so much more dangerous. Because the moment he did learn the truth—allof it—things might change. They always did.

Until she knew for sure how he felt, until she was certain he wouldn’t run the second her past caught up with her, she had no choice but to guard her heart or at least what was left of it.

She couldn’t afford to fall too hard, too fast. Not again. But damn it… it was already starting to feel like a losing battle.

CHAPTER 14

Deb decided to walk to the farmhouse. The day was too pretty to waste behind a windshield, and according to the forecast, the storms wouldn’t roll in until later tonight. She had plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine and a nice walk.

She left early, giving herself enough time to swing by the Feed Mill. She wanted to check in on Emily before lunch.

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