Page 160 of Where We Bloom

I nod, and when the elevator doors slide open, we rush to the SUV.

I need to get home.

Chapter Thirty-One

BILLIE

“Ilove this book club,” Skyla says with a contented smile after the rest of the girls leave and just the two of us are left in the store. “Everyone always reads the books, and the conversation is so much fun.”

“I agree.” I smile at her as I gather the last few items for the trash, and Skyla helps me put the chairs away. “You don’t have to stay, you know. I’m fine here.”

“I’ve missed you,” she replies, watching me with shrewd green eyes, so much like her brother’s. “I know you’re a busy woman with work and my brother, but I thought it would be nice to hang out for a minute to chat privately.”

I can’t help myself. I pull Skyla in for a tight hug. Her arms wrap around me, and she squeezes me just as tight, and it occurs to me how much I really needed a hug.

“Are you okay?” she whispers as she rubs her hand up and down my back.

“I miss him,” I reply and pull back, eyeing Simon,who’s still standing by the front door, but he’s looking at his phone. “My life has changed a lot.”

She nods, obviously understanding. “He’s a little overbearing sometimes, and he’s feral when it comes to protection. Is it worth it?”

I frown at her. “Of course, it’s worth it. I can’t picture my life without him. But he’s so …worriedabout the safety thing, no matter how many times I explain to him that nothing’s going to happen to me here.”

“I thought I was safe here, too.” And everything that happened just a couple of months ago with Skyla’s stalker, her being in danger, her beautiful dog almost dying, comes flooding back to me. “My brother loves you, and there’s nothing he won’t do to keep you safe.”

“I love him, too.”

She smiles and cups my cheek. “Aye, I know you do. Isn’t it wonderful that I fell in love with your brother, and you fell for mine, and we’ll be best friends forever?”

“As long as your brother doesn’t dump me, it’s wonderful.”

She barks out a laugh and shakes her head. “Not happening. Ever.”

I laugh with her and pull away. “I’m just going to go turn out the lights and get ready to go. Would you like a ride home?”

“I drove myself in,” she says. “But I’ll wait and walk out with you.”

With a nod, I walk to the backroom so I can flip the light switches. I hear Skyla speaking and then a lower voice, and I assume she’s talking to Simon.

Once I’ve gathered my handbag from my office, I walk back through the store, and my eyes widen when I realize Skyla’s speaking to Connor.

But before I can run and jump in his arms, I realize Connor doesn’t look happy.

“You’ll do as I fecking say,” he says to his sister, who’s frowning at him. “I’ve already called Beckett, so he’s aware.”

“We’ll be fine,” Skyla assures him.

“Hey.” I offer my man a tentative smile, and then I’m yanked into his arms. He holds me so tight, it’s hard to pull in a breath. “I missed you, too.”

Suddenly, Simon shouts, “Get down!” He pushes through the glass door, his weapon drawn, and he’s sprinting across the street with Miller right behind him.

Connor tackles me to the floor, and Skyla’s down, too, and my heart thumps in my ears. There’s no noise coming from outside, and I lift my head to look, but Connor growls.

“Stay down, angel,” he says as Skyla scoots over to us, and I pull her close.

“What in the hell?” I ask.

“You’ll stay here, both of you,” Connor says as he goes to stand, but I yank on his hand, pulling him back to me.

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