Page 39 of Forbidden Love

As she opened the door to her car, she heard Brock’s voice float back to Hunter—full of genuine confusion and reluctant amusement.

“Okay, but seriously—who the hell is Mabel? And how exactly can she turn your dick black, man?”

Deb snorted, barely managing to muffle her laugh as she slid into the driver’s seat.God,she loved giving Hunter hell. Rattlinghis cage was quickly becoming one of her favorite pastimes. The man made itsoeasy.

Shaking her head, still grinning, she started the car and backed out of the driveway. But just as she shifted into drive and began to pull away, something tugged at her instincts. She glanced up.

There, on the roof, Brock was kneeling—shoulders shaking with laughter, his face turned toward her. The sunlight caught the edge of his profile, making the curve of his smile almost too perfect.

And then he looked at her.

Really looked at her.

His laughter faded, and the easy smile slipped away, replaced by something else—something heavier, hotter. His eyes locked with hers, intense and unblinking, like he was trying to memorize the shape of her in that moment. The air in her car suddenly felt a little too thick to breathe.

Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears, loud enough to drown out the radio she hadn’t even realized she’d turned on.

That stare… it burned. Not in a bad way. In adangerouskind of way. The kind that made promises her heart wasn’t ready to cash in on. She forced herself to break the connection, lifting her hand in a quick, casual wave before tearing her gaze away and driving off.

But even as the house disappeared in her rearview mirror, the image of Brock on that roof stayed with her.

The way he’d looked at her like she mattered.

Damn.

She was totally, utterly, helplessly screwed.

Pulling into the Feed Mill, Deb parked in a rush, barely cutting the engine before hopping out and jogging to the back entrance. She burst through the door, a little breathless.

“Hey!” she called, trying to catch her breath. “Sorry I’m late.”

“You’re fine,” Emily said, not even looking up as she sorted through a box of newly arrived work gloves. “It’s been pretty slow. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, just overslept,” Deb admitted with a half-snort, still a little stunned it had actually happened. She wasn’t exactly known for sleeping in. “How are you feeling?”

“Great,” Emily replied with a bright smile before giving a small shrug. “A little morning sickness, but nothing like the other day. Thank God.”

Deb nodded and moved to check the logbook, flipping through the day’s expected deliveries. “Are the chicks still coming in today?”

“They’re supposed to,” Emily said, walking over to the counter. “Hunter got everything set up for them already.”

Every spring, they got their usual shipment of baby chicks. Deb considered starting a coop out at the old farmhouse. This could be the year. If there were any left after the orders went out, she might just take the plunge.

“Hey, I was talking with Janna this morning,” Emily began, and Deb’s stomach twisted. Just the name made her pulse stutter.

“She said they’re not sure if they can host the community Easter egg hunt and potluck this year. Their place just isn’t big enough anymore. Our little shifter town is growing faster than we can keep up.”

“It really is,” Deb murmured, flipping another page in the ledger. “The farmhouse would be big enough. They can have it there.”

Emily’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Deb shrugged, keeping her tone light. “Sure. I hadn’t planned on going, to be honest. I haven’t gone to anything like that since... well, since Janna and Garrett’s party. But if they want to use the space, it’s theirs. You can let her know. If she’s not comfortable with it because I own the place now, I’ll understand.”

Emily hesitated for a beat, then admitted with a sheepish grin, “She’s actually the one who suggested it and yes, she knows you own it now. I just didn’t want to say anything until you offered.”

Deb blinked, caught off guard.

Emily took a deep breath. “Deb, you really need to talk to Janna. Apologize, or at least say what you need to say for your own peace.”

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