Chapter 14

Brooklyn

I carry her to my truck while she holds onto me. At least she hasn't passed out.

"I'm fine," she mumbles with her face buried in my neck.

"I don't know about that, Eden. You're actin' weird."

"The cold air feels nice," she whispers as I unlock my truck and open it up while maneuvering her around so I can slide her onto the passenger seat.

She blinks up at me as she sits back. "I just got a bit tipsy and that last half a shot…"

I press my lips together to save me from laughing because I've not seen her remotely tipsy since before we had Blake.

"Luckily I came along when I did then."

"I was perfectly fine, but thanks all the same." She tilts her head back on the seat while I close the passenger door and walk briskly around to the other side.

I can't believe she's here, though she's a little under the weather. The fresh air will do her good. I slide into the driver's seat but don't start the engine.

"You looked really hot in the bar," she says as I flick my cowboy hat onto the back seat. "Has anyone told you that in a while, Brookie?"

"Except for the other day, you haven't called me that in a long time," I sigh. "And no, no one has told me lately."

"Well they should've told you. You're a real catch. But I'll tell you ‘cause I'm your wife, and you're my husband…"

I run my hand through my hair. My thoughts about her being a little more sober may have just gone out the window.

"Yes, I think we've established that." I chuckle.

"And I don't hate you for it either, B. I could never hate you. In fact, Georgia thinks it could be a sign. There, I said it." She folds her arms across her chest.

"Said what? What sign?"

"A sign from the universe that we were stupid to get divorced, and do you know what?" She turns in her seat to face me. "Maybe. Maybe we were a little… hasty."

I swipe my hand down my face. She's taking tipsy to a whole new level. "You agree we shouldn't have gotten divorced?"

"Or tried to, since we're not divorced," she giggles. "But maybe it is a sign. Things didn't work out with Kirk, and we're still married! What more signs do we need?"

"Tell me what happened with him, E. Did he hurt you?"

"I don't want to talk about him right now." She shuffles closer, her soft, vanilla scent encasing around the truck as my heart beats rapidly in my chest at her proximity.

"You always were the sexiest cowboy." She puts her hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze, and I nearly jump out of my seat.

It's everything I've wanted to hear and more, but not like this. Not when she's been drinking and may not even remember this in the morning.

I would never do that to her.

"Eden." I put my hand over hers and hold it steady.

"What's wrong? You don't find me attractive anymore?" she murmurs. "I think you do…"

"It's not that."

"What is it, Brookie?" She leans in and rests her head on my shoulder and it takes all the strength I have left in me to try and keep my composure to the woman I want.

"Tonight's not the night, baby girl. You're drunk. I don't play that way."

She lifts her head and looks up at me. "Not tonight? Then when?"

I kiss her forehead. "I better get you home, let you sleep it off."

"No!" She grabs hold of my shirt and pushes her body into mine, almost climbing up into my lap.

"Eden!"

"Are you hard for me, Brookie?" Her hand slides up my thigh and I stop her just before she brushes her hand over my cock. Then she slides further into me and just as I turn my head to face her, I feel her lips crush against mine.

Her mouth is warm. Sweet like honey and oh, so tempting.

She moves her lips against mine, but I freeze and she notices. She pulls back as fast as she kissed me and slaps her hand over her mouth like she's just realizing what she's doing. "I think I'm more drunk than I first thought," she whispers. "Oops."

"I think so, beautiful. Let me drive you home." I try to ignore what she just did, but I can still taste her and feel her warmth on my lips.

"Noodle is waiting," she says, closing her eyes, sinking back into her seat.

"Yes, he is."

She rests back. Her giggles and jokes are silent as I drive her home.

She's quiet all the way there, and I figure she must've fallen asleep. There's just the hum of the engine and the quiet roads we pass through. When I park, she doesn't even stir. It's only when I'm opening her passenger door to help her out and I can hear Noodle barking that she stirs, incoherently.

"We're home?" she whispers.

My heart literally spasms at her words. Home.

If only.

"Yeah, babe." I reach in and slowly pull her into my arms, looping one arm under her legs again.

"I'm fine."

"Let me put you to bed," I whisper.

She breathes into my neck, the warmth of it stirs all the way up my spine as I walk toward her front door. She rustles around in her pocket for the key, handing them to me. Finally, when I get the door open, while still holding her, we're greeted with a very excitable Noodle.

"Hey, little one," I whisper, looking down at her. "I'll pet you in a second. Momma's home." I walk through the house with the heavy thrum of my cowboy boots — as Noodle follows us toward the bedroom — and I push the door open with my foot.

It's all cozy florals in here and everything I would expect from her. She's always had a sweet, romantic kind of taste in decor. The bed is made with a soft looking comforter. Nothing's changed there. I place her down on top of it as Noodle jumps up.

I give her a scruff as she licks my hand and then noses her momma.

"Hey, baby," she whispers.

"I'll grab some Tylenol and some water for the morning," I say. "I'll leave them on the bedside table for you."

"Stay, Brookie. Please."

I sigh. Palming the back of my neck, having an internal dilemma with myself over the best course of action. I also don't want her to be alone.

"Not the best idea you've had, E."

"I meant to sleep!" She laughs quietly as I watch her in the moonlight. She looks up at me in the dark, her curls bobbing, as Noodle snuggles in.

"What happened with Kirk?" I ask again in a whisper. I hope she answers me this time.

She swallows in the silence as her hand comes up to her face. I hear a deep breath escape her throat. "I caught him in bed with another woman."

Okay, I was not expecting that. "Fucking what?"

"Some surprise, huh?" She laughs without humor.

"I'll kill him, do you know that?" I clench my fist by my side, instantly angry. "Fuckin' asshole."

She reaches out to touch me, rubbing my arm with her hand soothingly. "No you won't, he's not worth going to jail for."

"I'm sorry you had to witness that." I have no words to offer her. Sure, he was a douche and I didn't like him around my wife, but I didn't take him for a cheater.

I guess you never really know.

"It was awful, Brook." Tears fall from her eyes and Noodle sticks her head up to lick her face. I lean down and wrap my arms around her, with Noodle in the middle.

"I'll never let anything or anyone hurt you again, sweetheart. You hear me?" She nods into my chest and my protectiveness surges even bigger than ever before. "You were too good for him."

No one messes with my girl. Nobody. Not now, not ever.

"I'm sorry I threw myself at you tonight. I've made such a mess of things. I'm an idiot." She cries even harder and my heart constricts at her distress.

I hold her close and try to soothe her. "Shhh, don't say that, it's alright. We'll work things out in the morning. You've nothing to be sorry about."

"Is it because I'm not attractive, Brook? I mean, this girl was… wow… she was gorgeous and blonde and had huge breasts… and… and…"

I shake my head. "Don't, babe. She would've had nothing on you. You're beautiful. It's him with the problem, not you. Don't you go thinkin' you're anything less than the perfect woman you are because of that asshole."

"Obviously not as perfect as you think if he was already getting it from someone else. We never had sex. Stupid me thought I'd go and surprise him, and boy did I get the surprise of my life…"

I try not to let my jaw hang open hearing that she never slept with him. At the same time I can't help but think thank fuck for that. I want to jump from the rooftops.

"You are perfect, no matter what you say. Don't worry about any of that right now. You need to rest. I'll take care of you." I'll always take care of you. I shift a little to look at her cradled in my arms.

She looks up at me, blinking a few times. "Thank you for bringing me home."

"I thought I'd better because if you'd started boot scootin' out there tonight, my reigning crown would've been stolen for sure."

She laughs and wipes her eyes with her hand.

"Don't cry over him," I add, moving some of her hair out of her eyes with a gentle brush of my fingertips. "Not one more tear. That bastard will get what's coming to him. I'll go get some water. Would you like some herbal tea?"

I feel her nod against me. "Some peppermint would be great," she whispers. I edge away as she rests back onto the pillows, Noodle snuggling by her side. Her dog is used to me by now, not that I've been in her bedroom like this since we split.

"I'll be right back."

"Will you stay the night, Brookie? I don't want to be alone."

"Of course." That seems to put her at ease as I right myself, straightening out my crumpled shirt and walk out toward her kitchen. I immediately open the fridge and reach for a cold bottle of water and then hunt around for the Tylenol in the same place it always was; the top drawer. I've been here plenty of times before and some things never change, but I don't exactly know where everything is in her kitchen.

Her wanting me here has taken me by surprise, and I've no idea what to make of her actions tonight. She sure is cute, though.

I guess this is exactly why she barely ever drinks. I don't even want to think about that asswipe Kirk and what she just told me. I can't believe she drove all the way down there to surprise the fuck face and he was in bed with someone else. What a prick.

The thought makes me furious. The fact he hurt her is enough to get my blood boiling. I guess I'll talk to her in the morning and see what she has to say then, not that she'll likely open up once she's sober again.

For now, I'm going to look after her and make sure she's alright during the night like a man should.

And I meant everything I said; I'm never going to let anyone else hurt her. That's my promise.

I put the tea and water on the side table along with the tablets, helping her under the covers. She's still fully clothed but I don't think she would appreciate it if I undressed her when she wakes up in the morning.

I lay down next to her, on top of the comforter for a few minutes while she settles. Though she's already half asleep. I can hear the soft, faint whirring of her breath.

Noodle is already toast and she's snoring loudly, making me chuckle.

Man, if there's one place I didn't expect to be tonight, it's in Eden's bedroom, lying on her bed. It's weird how things happen.

I'll wait until she's asleep, then I'll take myself out to the couch and sleep there for the night.

I'm exhausted, and I didn't even finish my first beer. Not that I care. The second I heard Hudson talking about E tonight, I took off to find her. I wasn't even sure she was in the Tavern, but then I ran straight into her. Another reason I love small towns is that nobody is ever hard to find.

I'm glad it was me and not some random asshole.

I'd never take advantage of her or let any harm come to her. Other assholes, I'm not so sure.

I yawn quietly and relax back into her comfortable pillows, thinking about the way she tried to feel me up in the car. Then that kiss. It would be comical if it wasn't so crazy.

She's gonna have a sore head tomorrow, that much is certain. And God only knows how much regret when she remembers. I guess we'll see.

I yawn again and close my eyes. I'll just take a minute, then I'll go into the den…

I wake up with a start and forget where the fuck I am for a moment. It takes me a second to register. I'm also not wearing my shirt, and I must've kicked off my boots during the night.

I'm also very aware that there's a warm arm draped across me, and a leg.

I'm trapped.

Fuck.

She didn't even stir from me jolting awake.

It's still early — not quite sunrise as I glance at my watch. I guess I really did spend the night.

Noodle is awake and pops her head up between us. I give her a little scratch on the head.

I honestly don't know how to climb out of this tangle, or where my shirt went. I'm still on top of her comforter though, and she's half in, and half out. She must've kicked the comforter back during the night as her leg is draped across me. Just like old times.

I chuckle in the cool morning air. She always was a koala bear in bed. My koala bear.

And a thought suddenly comes to me — which I was trying not to think too heavily about last night with all the commotion happening — but Eden is single. That part I get loud and clear. So was the part about her talking about universal signs. I'm not really into that kind of stuff, but it makes me wonder if there isn't something to it.

Maybe the universe is conspiring for us this time, and not against us?

I mean, it's possible. Maybe it wasn't just my uselessness that's got us in this situation. Perhaps it's all for a bigger reason we don't know yet, like divine intervention or something.

I don't have the answers. I just know that it feels good laying here next to her, and maybe it shouldn't. Maybe I should edge away now and pretend like this never happened. I got her through the night and she's fine. More than fine.

But I don't want to move. I want to just enjoy the silence for a little longer, until she wakes up and probably screams at me to get the hell out.

I don't even remember taking my shirt off. At least my jeans are still intact…

She did ask me to stay after all. Not that I was supposed to fall asleep next to her, but it is what it is.

I close my eyes again and bask in this warm feeling, even if I shouldn't. I must doze off again because the next time I open them I'm feeling her stir against me… And I definitely have a hard on cos I'm that guy in the mornings. Always have been.

I try to edge away, but when I look down to her head right near my chest, her eyes are open and she's staring at her name inscribed over my heart.

Fuck.

"Good morning," I offer cheerily, by way of distraction. "I think we have some talking to do."