Page 157 of Beat of Love
How isolated and alone and intimidated he’d felt.
But with Brandy-Lyn pressed against him, and her soothing scent enveloping him, a surreal calmness settled over him, and he knew that with her support, he would conquer the mountain ahead of him.
He drew back and issued a shaky laugh. “I’m so out of my depth here, Red, it’s not funny.”
Compassion shone in her luminous eyes.
And for a beat something flickered in her gaze.
Something softer. Deeper.
“Then it’s good I’m here to help, sugar.” Her easy tone gave no hint of the emotion he imagined. “But first, I need the bathroom. Desperately.” Her words were accompanied by a grumbling sound. She gave a light laugh. “And if you feed me, you’ll move to bestie status.”
For the first time he noticed the dark shadows under eyes. And scanning behind her, the familiar Yukon in the street. “You drove here?” he growled. It was a twelve-hour journey. The timewas barely three in the afternoon. That meant she left Texas in the middle of the night.
For him.
A furrow formed between her eyes. “Uh, yeah. The KS jet wasn’t available, and I figured you could hook the U-Haul to the Yukon instead of driving a hired car back to Texas. And travelling with two young children is not easy. You’ll need help.”
This woman. She floored him. Utterly floored him.
“Brandy-Lyn, uh …” He scrubbed a hand over his face, cleared his throat, and started again. “I cannot even begin to explain how much I appreciate you being here.”
Her warm and full smile wrapped him in comfort. “You’re so welcome.”
“Who escorted you?”
“No one.”
He blinked at her, stunned. “You drove herealone?”
She pursed her lips and lifted her chin. “Yeah.”
“Brandy-Lyn,” he exploded. “There’s a deranged woman—”
“And she’s far,farfrom here.”
Maybe. No one had seen Kamila since she landed in Rio. But Rafferty wouldn’t put it past her to turn around and come right back.
And Brandy-Lyn had driven alone. All the way from Texas.
The thought of something happening to her — of a world without his Red in it — was too much to bear.
Reaching up, she cupped his face with both hands. “I’m here, sugar. Safe.” She raised her brows. “And before you yell anymore, Ireallyneed the bathroom.”
Rafferty set aside his concern. For now. But he was going to have words with whoever allowed her to drive on her own. “Come.” He took hold of her arm and tugged her onto the porch. “I’ll show you the bathroom and order some food. Pizza good? Fully loaded?”
“Sounds awesome.”
She entered the house in front of him, and he indicated down the hallway. “Second right,” he murmured. Watching her scurry away, he took a moment to appreciate the way her faded jeans hugged her backside just so and her legs…
Fake fiancée, Rafferty Lawson.Fake. Do not complicate an already complicated situation.
A few minutes later, Brandy-Lyn joined him in the living room. She had removed her blue-and-yellow padded flannel shirt, and a few water spots stained her cheery yellow long-sleeved T-shirt. And despite his earlier self-chastisement, he couldn’t stop his heart beating faster and his dick taking note at the enticing sight of her breasts stretching the soft material. She draped the flannel over the back of the couch and slapped her hands together. “Right. What needs to be done?”
He met her questioning stare. “Honestly, Red, I’ve been all over the place, angry that Selena’s perfect life here imploded, sad that Connor and Nadie will grow up without knowing her.”
Brandy-Lyn nodded. “I get it.” She crossed the room to stop in front of the mantelpiece where a group of photos were on display. She lifted one showing a pretty brunette hugging a dark-haired boy who in turn held a small baby dressed in a white frilly dress in his arms and traced her finger over it. “She looks so happy. And clearly loved her children,” she murmured, hugging the frame to her chest. “It is heartbreaking all their milestones she’ll miss out on. Sports games. Finishing school. Graduating college. Watching them walk down the aisle. Holding their babies.”
