Page 68 of Perfect Bragg

“I don’t understand,” I say instead.

“What don’t you understand?”

“Why aren’t you fleeing as fast as you can away from me?”

“Why would I flee?”

Is he deliberately being obtuse? “Because I’m a murderer.”

He growls. “You’re not a murderer.”

“Yes, I am.”

I try to stand, but Elder’s fingers dig into my hips to stop me. “Stop running away.”

“I’m not running away,” I lie. “Story hour is done. I’ve explained why I can never be in a serious relationship with you.”

“You have?”

“Yes.” I nod. “I killed my family. Therefore, I don’t deserve love.”

“You didn’t kill your family. A car killed your family.”

“Wrong.”

This time when I try to stand, he lets me.

“You want to have a friends with benefits relationship? I’m all for it. Anything more?” I shake my head. “Not happening.”

Never ever. I leave the room before Elder has a chance to recover. I’m done talking about this.

Chapter 22

If anyone asks, I have no idea what happened to Soleil’s phone ~ Text from Brody to the Bragg brothers

“Ah, someone’s all dressed up for the Beltane festival and looking absolutely adorable,” Elder says as he takes Robin from me.

As soon as he has the baby, I retreat. He frowns but doesn’t say anything. The same way he hasn’t said anything for the past few days after the big reveal of my past.

It hasn’t exactly been awkward. Elder doesn’t do awkward. He fills silences with silly jokes. But he has moved back to sleeping on the sofa. A move I don’t like. But you won’t hear me admitting to it. No way.

It’s better this way. I don’t deserve love. Not after what I did. I’m surprised he didn’t run off after learning about my past. I would have if I were him.

“I thought we’d go in early,” I say as I hitch Robin’s diaper bag on my shoulder. Elder frowns before taking the bag from me. “Before it gets wild.”

He chuckles. “Because the gossip gals can’t be wild before noon?”

“They’ll leave us alone since we’re now ‘married’.” I hope.

He tweaks my nose. “You’re cute when you’re in denial.”

“At least we don’t have to worry about any fertility rituals associated with Beltane since we already have a baby,” I say as we make our way out of the house toward his truck.

Elder stumbles and I rush forward to help him. “Don’t drop the baby!”

“I’m not going to drop the baby.”

I notice he has a protective hold on Robin and step back.

---