Page 35 of Brooke's Bliss
They still viewed her as a child, and maybe they alwayswould.They were her safety net.
“I can take you out myself if you don’t go,” Max promised.
She stepped in front of Bay.No one in all of her years hadbeen willing to take her brothers on for her.Her dating life had been almostnon-existent when she lived here in Bliss, but the two guys who had asked herout had told her they couldn’t handle her brothers.
What if Bay could?
“You are not going to touch him,” Brooke vowed.“We’ll beout of here as soon as I can pack up.”
“That is not what we’re saying…” Rye began.
Paige watched the whole awful scene play out with wide eyes.“Momma’s going to be real mad.”
Max moved to stand by his brother, and she prepared herselffor the worst.“You need some space, little sister?”
Something eased inside her.“I do.I thought I could get ithere, but I can’t.”
Rye looked to Max, and they seemed to have one of thosepsychic conversations they had all the time.She often wondered what it feltlike to have someone who always knew what you were thinking.Always wasconnected to.
Bay’s hand came down on her shoulder, silent proof that hewas there.
It was supposed to be a crazy one-night stand.He wassupposed to be disposable, a conquest of sorts.Evidence that she could go wildfrom time to time.He wasn’t supposed to make her feel…safe.
“Go talk to Marie,” Max advised.“Or Stella.I don’t know ifanyone’s staying in the apartment above the café right now.I think the Texascrew’s cabins are all open.She’ll give you a discount.”
“But I don’t want my auntie to leave,” Paige protested.“Momma don’t want her to leave neither.”
“Paige,” Brooke admonished.
Paige shrugged and sighed.“Momma doesn’t want her to leaveeither.”
Rye picked her up.“Your aunt will be back.She needs sometime.”
“Like a time out?I don’t like those.”Paige wrapped herarms around her dad’s shoulders.“I don’t think we should put Aunt Brooke in atime out.”
Oh, but she could use one.
“She’s not in trouble,” Rye said, his expression grim.Helooked over at Brooke, his eyes on the hand on her shoulder.“Take the Jeep.”
“I’m not taking the Jeep.You might need it.I’ll be fine.We’ll wait for Shane.”It was weird for things to be so awkward.This was herhome, and it suddenly felt like it wasn’t.
Rye started to argue.
Max held up a hand.“She’ll figure it out, and if she needsus, she’ll call.”He turned to Brooke.“I’m a phone call away.Maybe when youfeel comfortable we can have a family dinner.”
“We’ll be there,” Bay offered.
Oh, that seemed like a bad idea.
Max looked like a man who’d caught something in hiswell-laid trap.“Excellent.Then we’ll discuss setting it up later.We’ll makesure the kids are all in bed so we can have a nice long get-to-know-you sessionsince you’re apparently getting married.”
“Max,” she began.
“Oh, no, sister.We’re rolling with it for now.”He winkedher way.“Honestly, I’ve always worried that you never push back.This is agood bit of rebellion since I’ll do anything you need me to do so you don’tmake the horrible mistake of marrying beneath you.”
Rye seemed to pick up on Max’s vibes.“Yes, I think a niceformal dinner would be a good way to welcome those boys to the family.Suitsand ties?”
“Absolutely,” Max agreed.
