Page 156 of Beat of Love
Turn back. Turn back.
Brandy tightened her grip on the steering wheel and swore a blue streak. “You’ve come this far. Keep going.” She kept up that mantra, but by the time she passed the “Clearbrook, 10 miles” sign, she was a sweaty and crampy mess and couldn’t wait to get out the truck and shake loose her stiff muscles.
“In three hundred meters, at the roundabout, take the first exit,” the GPS voice intoned.
Brandy sucked in a fortifying breath and followed the instructions to the address she had received from Stas. Turning into the street lined with older, ranch-styled homes, she slowed, scanning the house numbers.There.
The U-Haul and sedan in the driveway confirmed what Stas had told her — Rafferty was still packing up. She parked in front of the small house and slipped from the SUV, taking a few moments to stretch out her sore muscles. And calm her nerves.
Or at least, try and calm her nerves.
With a wave to Stas and Ruby parked across the road, she walked up the pathway.
What if he didn’t want her here?
Worse, turned her away?
The front door opened, and a figure emerged, upper body concealed behind a packing box.
She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to call out.
The box thudded to the ground and a weapon emerged in its place. Once again, Brandy stared into the business end of Rafferty’s firearm.
“Surprise?” she croaked, her lips pulling up in a wry smile as she lifted her arms in surrender. “I come in peace.”
Motionless, he stared at her, his mouth agape.
Not the welcome she had expected. “Maybe you can lower the gun?”
Rafferty blinked. “Fuck,” he muttered, holstering his weapon.
She lowered her arms. “Guess I should’ve called ahead?” she remarked, rolling her stiff shoulders.
He strode across the small porch and down the stairs, stopping right before her, the tips of his boots touching hers. “Red.”
The way he growled her name set loose a thousand butterflies in her belly. “Rafferty.”
He stroked the back of his fingers over her jaw, her cheek, and tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. “You’re really here,” he whispered, dropping his forehead to hers. “I wanted this. You. Here. So badly,” he said, his voice gruff. “But I didn’t realize how much. Until … now.”
Those butterflies spread throughout her body, followed by a wave of indescribable warmth.
And a deep knowing that she had made the right decision to come.
“Then I’m glad I’m here.” She pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him in a quiet promise — he wasn’t alone.
Not anymore.
And if it were up to her, she’d never, ever let go.
45
All over the place
Rafferty returned Brandy-Lyn’s hug and buried his face against her neck, breathing deeply. A shudder wracked his body, and he tightened his hold on her.
And if he never let go, that was just fine by him.
What he’d admitted was true — he hadn’t realized until he saw her standing before him how much he wanted, no,neededher.
