Page 20 of Mine to Protect

“Thanks.” She lifted the mug and blew before taking a small sip. She tried not to moan. “You didn’t have to make this big of a spread.”

He laughed. “I always enjoyed your appetite in the morning. I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as you.”

“When I do that, I tend to graze the rest of the day. And, honestly, I don’t eat like that on a regular basis. I usually just have some plain toast or a bagel. But I really appreciate you going to all this trouble.”

He pushed a plate of French toast loaded with butter and syrup with a side of bacon in front of her. He snagged his own plate along with his coffee and joined her, sitting right next to her, their elbows practically touching. “No trouble at all. I’m a breakfast guy. Though it’s usually an egg sandwich from a drive-thru.”

“How the hell do you stay so fit when you eat fast food like that?”

He shrugged. “Good genes, I guess.” He dug into his food and shoveled half of it into his mouth.

It smelled so good that she couldn’t resist plopping a large bite into hers, as well. They sat in silence until they’d both finished their meals, and then he was on his feet, doing the dishes and pouring them both a second cup of his delicious brew.

She’d missed having someone in her life. She nearly choked on the thought because she’d never really had a long-term relationship worth speaking of.

She’d been taking care of her family for years. First, her mother’s depression, which had started when Shelby and Chris were in grade school. It was so bad, she could barely get out of bed. And it got so bad that Shelby and Chris wouldn’t bring their friends over. For Shelby, it wasn’t that big of a deal. But for Chris, it really affected him, and that’s when his drug use started.

By the time Shelby was a sophomore in high school, she’d become the family’s caretaker.

When her father was diagnosed with cancer during her senior year, her mother died by suicide two weeks later.

Everything went downhill from there.

Chris took it personally. It was as if he’d done something wrong, and their mother had done this terrible thing to punish him. When, in reality, she’d simply wanted her pain to end.

Shelby had opted to go to community college and worked to help support the family. She’d given up her childhood, and she had no regrets. Or so she’d thought.

After meeting Rhett in Key West, she’d realized how resentful she’d become and how much she wanted her life back. Rhett not calling her in those first few weeks had tormented her, but she couldn’t bring herself to pick up the phone. Because if her brother went off the deep end, she knew without a doubt that she’d once again dedicate her life to Chris.

Her therapist told her she was addicted to it, and this trip proved it.

Only this felt different. As much as she’d worried that her brother was using again, and some of his behaviordidscreamaddict…

His voice. His facial expressions. His eyes, did not.

But she’d chosen to believe that he’d fallen off the wagon. That he’d gone back to his old ways. And instead of asking him what was going on, she’d treated him like a child. And now, he was in trouble.

“Either you are making love to that cup of coffee, or you are in some serious thought about something deeper than a bottomless pit.” Rhett leaned across the counter and tapped her wrist.

She blew out a long breath. “Sorry.”

“Care to share?”

Lifting her gaze, she swallowed. Hard. Let the lies begin. Or maybe half-truths because Rhett didn’t know about her mother. Not all of it, anyway. “I was just thinking about my mom.”

“She passed away when you were in high school, right?”

“You have a wicked-good memory.” That had been one of the few truths about her past she’d shared with him five years ago.

“Goes with the job,” he said. “It’s both a blessing and a curse. It drove my ex crazy because, when we fought, I tossed so much shit back at her it wasn’t fair.”

“Yeah. That’s not nice.” She waggled her finger. “If you ever do that to me, I’ll hurt you.”

“I’ll remember that,” he said. “So, what about your mom?”

She took a sip of courage while contemplating if she should be honest or not. By the time she swallowed, she’d decided that if she couldn’t tell Rhett the truth right now, she’d never be able to get through these next few hours or days when it came to Chris. “My brother has always blamed himself for Mom’s death. Even sometimes today, when he knows it’s not his fault.”

Rhett arched a brow. “You never told me how she died.”

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