Page 59 of Need Me
“I worked hard in school, got a scholarship to Colorado U, and left the day after graduation. I earned my business degree and worked at some firms in Denver, but then I met Kate and later on, her fiancé Phil. We became the best of friends and moved here when Kate opened her practice a few yearsago.”
“I don’t know what to make ofyou.”
Robert let out a short laugh. “What’s thatmean?”
“You’re a fascinating man. Sort of like a good cozy mysterynovel.”
“Okay. Not liking that comparison. They’re pretty bland reading,” Robertcommented.
Brooke chuckled. “Not the really great ones. You’re like a compelling plotline. Just when you think you know who the killer is, it turns out to be someone you never suspected. That’s what you’re like. There’s more to you than meets the eye. Just like a goodsuperhero.”
“We’re back to that, huh?” Her explanation reassured Robert that she didn’t find him boring. He hated the lingeringinsecurity.
“That’s right. You’re just like Clark Kent. You show the world one thing, but there’s another side to you. One that only a few people see,” Brooke said. “I hope I get to see more of your secretside.”
Secret.Robert blocked out the words that reverberated inside his mind. “We’ll see,” he teased. “So, how about you go climbing with me tomorrowmorning?”
“What? Oh, no. I’m terrified ofheights.”
“There’s a really small wall that’s perfect to learn on,” Robert said. “I’d never let anything happen to you, Brooke. You can be Wonder-Woman to mySuperman.”
“I don’t know. I don’t have a rock climbingoutfit.”
“Just a pair of jogging tights or some sort of shorts is fine,” Robert said. “We’ll do just one quick climb and then go out tobreakfast.”
“Are you trying to tempt me withfood?”
“Is itworking?”
“Yes.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight,” Robertsaid.
“Okay.Night.”
He loved how easy their banter was. “Night,honey.”
Hanging up, Robert tried to quell his disquiet about Jamal, but it was hard. It was never a good thing when an ex started sniffing aroundagain.
Robert sighed as he got up from his chair and went inside. Too keyed up to go to bed, he grabbed a beer from the fridge and settled on the couch with his laptop. He spent the next couple of hours catching up on world events, which always relaxedhim.
His thoughts turned to the night of passion with Brooke and desire pulled at him. Although it wasn’t their fault, the arrival of the McIntyre triplets had upset his plans for the weekend. All their dates had gotten interrupted. If Anna hadn’t gone into labor, he and Brooke would be enjoying each other rightthen.
Was the universe conspiring against them? Could that be why Jamal had suddenly reappeared in Brooke’s life? Robert channeled the anger that burned in his heart into resolve. He loved Brooke and he wasn’t going to let some asshole who’d hurt her drive a wedge betweenthem.
Robert knew that he’d lost his heart to Brooke too soon, which was why he’d be patient. He’d reveal his feelings for her at some point, but only when and if he sensed that she was falling for him. He might have made her feel incredible in bed, but that wasn’t any basis for a lastingrelationship.
As he drank his third beer, Robert decided that since what he was doing with Brooke was working just fine, he’d stay the course. That didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be ready to chart a new course, but why panic until there was a problem? He smiled as something Chase always said popped into his mind.If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.Feeling confident again, Robert finished his beer, put his laptop away, and went tobed.
