Page 40 of Knight's Desire

“Not voodoo. It’s just a dad thing. How is he doing?”

She may have talked to her father a couple of days ago, but he rarely shared how he was truly doing with his children. Something about not wanting to worry them when they had their own lives to deal with. Hope and Ella had to rely on their brothers for true assessments since they lived close enough to observe him and note any issues. She knew Ella had pumped Henry and Adam for information before agreeing to check up on her.

“He’s really doing okay. I’ve seen it myself, and I don’t know how he does it. There aren’t many people who can handle the kind of stress he’s under, but he does. I always feel sad after visiting Mom, especially if it’s a bad day for her. He leaves with a smile on his face. I can tell he misses her, and he hates to see her like this. But when he says he’s content just being with her, he means it.”

“It’s kind of beautiful, in a way.”

Ella sighed. “I thought the same thing. Ben acted like I was crazy for thinking that way, but imagine being so in love with a person that you can’t stand the idea of being away from them on good days and bad days. I love my husband, but sometimes spending my day with children is a nice break from his annoying habits.”

Hope laughed. “Just be glad you have a guy to love.”

“Uh, oh. Dad told me you were having issues with Parker. I’m guessing they haven’t resolved.”

“They have. I broke up with him. He showed up at my house and hit the roof when he saw my male bodyguard there. He thought we were having an affair. I tried to explain to him why we weren’t working anymore, but I don’t think he understood.”

“He doesn’t have to understand. He just has to accept the fact that you made the best decision for you. He’s not the one harassing you, is he? If he is, I’m sending our brothers and Ben up there to pound his ass.”

“No, I don’t think so. He didn’t even believe the harassment was real in the beginning. He thought I was overreacting.”

“Well, then I’m definitely sending the boys to Grayson Cove to beat some sense into him.”

Hope rolled her eyes though her sister couldn’t see her. “It’s not necessary. It’s over, and now I need this harassment to stop so I can move on.”

“Hmmm…why wait to move on? I’m thinking you already have a perfect recipe for getting over a breakup. You have a bodyguard at your side, right? Is he hot?”

“Which bodyguard are you talking about? The security firm has assigned more than one so I have round-the-clock protection,” Hope explained.

“You know the one I’m talking about. The one Parker had a fit about. I’m guessing he’s hot, or Parker wouldn’t have reacted so bad to finding him at your house.”

Hope shifted a bit and spotted Brick trying to discreetly blend into the background, but only succeeding in standing out. She imagined he stood out no matter where he was. He’d swapped places with Gennessey right after Hope started working with her last client.

Her lips curved in amusement as he started straightening magazines in the lobby, adjusting some of the dress racks so they hung straight and equal distance apart and picking out the dead flowers from the bouquets decorating the Shoppe. His jeans and T-shirt hugged his muscular frame, so she could see every ripple of movement. A lock of hair would fall to his forehead, and he would patiently push it back, his bicep flexing each time.

“Yeah,” she breathed into the phone. “He’s hot.”

Ella cackled. “I knew it. You have to send me a picture. I need to see this guy.”

“You’re married, remember? To a wonderful and brilliant man who thinks you’re an angel sent from Heaven just for him.”

“Oh, please. Yes, Ben is wonderful and brilliant, and I love him more than life itself. But I’m not dead. I can admire a good-looking man, especially if I’m scoping him out as a lover for my sister.”

“I think that’s my cue to say I love you and I need to get back to work.”

“Alright. I’ll let it go. For now. I love you too. And don’t forget to send a pic.”

“Bye, Ella.”

Hope ended the call to the sound of excited chatter coming from the salon. Kayla must have finalized the sale, but Hope couldn’t bring herself to move just yet. She watched Brick keeping himself busy with little tasks that she always took care of before she closed the Shoppe each day. She believed those little details like fluffing pillows and properly arranging the dresses made for a memorable experience for her clients, and the fact he was doing the same touched her, even if it was just to pass the time.

She lifted her phone, aimed it in his direction, and snapped a photo of him. It was a bit blurry and not a clear view of his face, but she sent it to Ella anyway. She didn’t have time to leave her office before her phone chimed with her sister’s reply.

OMG! So hawt! Do I hear the sound of a rebound?

Hope looked back to Brick just as he noticed her. Their eyes locked, and she was aware of only her breathing. Her fingers twitched with the urge to push his hair from his forehead and trace a line down the side of his face and along his strong jaw. She wondered what his skin would feel like next to hers, what his body would feel like pressed against her, and what his arms would feel like wrapped around her.

“Hope? Hey, I need you to help our bride out of the dress while I input the sale in the computer.”

Kayla’s sudden appearance in front of her broke the spell. She blinked and nodded.

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