Page 65 of Need Me
“Gladly.”
Brooke left the living room and made her way to the kitchen. She paused at the kitchen screen door, watching Robert as he played with Hayley and TJ. He’d reluctantly agreed to keep the kids busy while she talked to Tyler and Emily. A blanket had been spread out on the grass, upon which a mess of dolls, doll clothes, and baby toys lay strewnabout.
Hayley laughed when Robert made Barbie sashay across the blanket to TJ, who wanted to chew on her hair. Robert distracted TJ from the doll with a teething ring. It seemed like he was experienced withkids.
Despite what she’d said to Emily, seeing Robert with the children ignited a yearning in her for kids of herown.
“He looks good with them, doesn’the?”
Brooke jumped at Emily’s voice behind her. “Why are you sneaking up onme?”
Emily’s laugh irritated Brooke. “I didn’t. I’m following you out so I can watch the kids since you’releaving.”
Of course, Emily couldn’t leave the children alone. “Oh, yeah. Right. Okay, well, I’ll see youlater.”
She opened the door and walked out into the sunshine. Robert looked over and smiled at her. In the two years that she and Jamal had been together, she’d never felt as happy over seeing his smile as she didRobert’s.
Everything about Robert was genuine, with no artifice or hidden motives. His smile and laugh were true expressions of happiness, not designed to dazzle and distract her during an argument when she gotten close to the truth regarding hisactions.
Brooke kissed Hayley and TJ goodbye as Emily sat down with them and Robert got up. Bidding them farewell, they got in Robert’s SUV and droveoff.
* * *
Robert kepta white-knuckled hold on the steering wheel as he navigated a turn. He wished that it was that easy to keep a hold on his slippery emotions. While spending a little time with Hayley and TJ had been fun, but it had released memories that he kept locked uptight.
Focusing on his breathing, Robert combatted the panic attack he felt coming on by thinking about work. Every day was busy, but Mondays were usually chaotic. As office manager, it was his responsibility to keep things running smoothly to provide the best customer servicepossible.
He had some unfinished accounting work to catch up and he’d have to start working on payroll since it was pay week. Hopefully, none of their techs or front-end staff would call offtomorrow.
Help me! Please, helpme!
The voice came out of nowhere, startling Robert so much that he jerked the wheel to the left a little. He corrected the car, glad that no vehicles had been approaching from the oppositedirection.
“Robert, are youokay?”
He gave Brooke what he hoped was a natural smile. “Yeah. Sure. I thought I saw a groundhog about to run out in the road.”Forgive me for lying.He couldn’t tell her the truth, that the voice of a child he’d let die had screamed in his mind, an echo of a painfulpast.
“Oh. Okay,” Brooke said. “TJ is growing so fast. I’m glad that Emily decided to keep breastfeeding him for a whole year. They supplement with formula a little, but she mostly breastfeedshim.”
Robert felt the back of his neck begin to sweat. He had to switch the subject. “That’s great. What did Emily and Tyler say aboutSimon?”
Brooke gave him a curious look, but related the conversation tohim.
“I think that’s a good way to handle the situation.” Robert turned into Brooke’s driveway and parked the car. “Well, here you are, all safe andsound.”
She put a hand on his forearm. “Would you like to come in for awhile?”
The come-hither expression on her face left no doubt in Robert’s mind that heaven awaited him inside. Any other time, he’d have already been out of the vehicle, rushing her through her front door. However, he still felt rattled and needed a little time alone to regain hisequilibrium.
“I’d love to, but I have some stuff to catch up on at home. What about tonight?” He should be back in control bythen.
She made a dismayed face. “It’s wash-and-gonight.”
“So? Your hair will need drying time. We could watch a movie or something,” hesaid.
Putting a hand to her hair, which just brushed her shoulders, Brooke said, “I don’t know if I want you to see me that wayyet.”
“Come on. It’s going to happen sooner or later,” Robert said. “You’re beautiful no matterwhat.”
