Page 63 of Need Me
She took a tissue out of her shorts pocket and blotted sweat from her face. “I thought you were still in theNavy.”
He took off the sunglasses, his vivid green eyes roaming over her. Brooke noticed the way Robert tensed and held back a smile. “No. My time was done and I decided not to re-up. Turns out I have a little problem with assholes being in authority. Figured it was time to get out before I wound up injail.”
Brooke frowned. “And now you’re working for thecops?”
“Not working for them. Iama cop. Just got hired last week, but this is my first day,” Simonsaid.
Further confused, Brooke asked, “Do Ty and Emily know about this? They never said anything tome.”
Simon shifted his gaze to Robert than back to her. “I’d love to catch up, but I came out here on official business. The people right down the road said they heard a woman screaming like she was being murdered. Did you hear anything likethat?”
Mortified, Brooke’s face burned with embarrassment, but she covered it with a laugh. She gave a little wave. “That was me. Robert is teaching me to climb, and I froze when I got up to the top. He was trying to talk me down, but I panicked. I started hollering my head off because I thought I was going to fall anddie.”
Robert put an arm around her and patted her shoulder. “You did great, honey. Don’t be so hard on yourself. All first-time climbers get a littlescared.”
Simon’s keen gaze took in the climbing equipment and their clothes. Apparently, he believed their story because he nodded. “Climbing can be scary, especially for people who don’t know what they’redoing.”
Robert cocked his head a little. “I know who you are, but we’ve never met. I’m Robert Chambers, Kate’s best friend. I’m sure you know that I’m a certified climbing trainer and that I work with theRescue.”
Listen to her Superman toot his horn, Brooke thought as she saw understanding dawn onSimon.
“That’s great. At least I know that you won’t let Brooke here go splat like Wile E. Coyote,” Simon said. “Brooke, I’d ask you not to mention me to Tyler or Emily, but I won’t waste mybreath.”
“Why didn’t you tell them?” Brookeasked.
Simon’s strong jaw tightened. “I have my reasons. Well, it was good to see you and nice to meet you Robert.” One side of his mouth lifted in a sarcastic smile. “Do me a favor and keep it down to a dull roar when you’reclimbingout here,okay?”
He rolled up the window and pulled away before they could answerhim.
“So that’s the famous Simon Bodine,” Robertcommented.
“Yeah.” Brooke blew out a nervous breath. “Emily is going to freak out and Tyler is going to blow a gasket. Tyler is very protective of his niece. He still blames Simon for his sister’s death. Hayley lost her mother, never knew her father, and then lost her grandmother. She doesn’t need someone entering her life who might not stay. Emily and Tyler are trying to instill some stability in herlife.”
Robert nodded. “Yeah. I don’t understand his motives. What is heafter?”
Brooke got her cellphone out of Robert’s car and hit Emily’s icon. “Me, neither. Prepare yourself for a shitstorm.”
