Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Skylar

"Yes!" Danny cried dramatically, throwing his arms wide. His T-shirt read, Too gay to think straight.

Brooks chuckled. "Yes?"

"I will have a threesome with you. Thanks for asking."

"For fuck's sake," Brooks grumbled under his breath, some of that red creeping under his stubble again. He was putting himself out there as it was, offering to play boyfriend should the need arise and reassuring me about my lingerie habits. I didn't want the poor guy to regret all his choices.

"Just coffee today," I told Danny. "We're on our way to see Grandma Riggins."

"Grandma Porter actually," Brooks corrected. "She's on my mother's side."

Danny pouted. "You could have indulged me in a little flirting, at least, but fine. I assume you're all three having your usual?"

"Yep," Brooks said. "Sorry to rush you. We're just running late."

"Mm-hmm." Danny's gaze flicked from Brooks to me and back. "Give me five minutes. I'll take the tip later." He winked playfully, then turned and began working the expresso machine like a boss.

A few minutes later we were walking into Silver Cove Assisted Living Center. Brooks paused to check in with a woman at the front desk. She was on the younger side with dark hair in a cute pixie style, and her smile widened three notches when she saw Brooks.

He was obviously the highlight of her day, and I tried to ignore the burn of jealousy in my stomach.

Brooks turned to me suddenly. "Ready?"

I realized I was grinding my teeth and quickly stopped. "Yep!"

His forehead creased, a bit of worry creeping into his gaze.

"We'll make it a quick visit. I've got to open the pub soon. But if you'd rather just wait here…"

"No," I said quickly. "I'll go in with you."

Brooks was such a great friend to me. If he liked Izzy— according to her nametag—then I should be happy for him. I was . I was happy for him.

Who could blame the woman for lighting up when Brooks came in? He was gorgeous and sweet. I never would have guessed that off his surly expression the first time we met, but it was true.

And I hated that I'd made him think I didn't want to be here, even for a second.

"I can't wait to meet Grandma Porter," I said.

He smiled crookedly. "Okay, good. She'll love you."

He led the way through a door, down a short hallway, and into a sort of living/recreation room. There were groupings of sofas and armchairs, a large flat-screen television on one wall, and two tables with games set up. A few of the residents watched an episode of Jeopardy , calling out guesses to the trivia questions. Three women sat around a table with a half-finished jigsaw puzzle, each working on a different side, and one old guy appeared to be playing chess by himself.

I recognized Brooks's grandma before she said his name. Like Izzy, her whole face lit up when he entered the room. She sat in an armchair by the window, a book in her hand. Her hair was more silver than gray, cut in a curly bob, and where Brooks was brawny, she was petite. She looked almost fragile, but when she spoke, her voice came out strong and bright.

"Brooks, sweetie!" She patted at her hair, gaze going to me. "You didn't tell me you were bringing me a handsome young boyfriend. John will be so jealous!"

He chuckled, dipping down to kiss her cheek. "The handsome young man is Skylar. His family owns the pub, so we've been working together." He handed his grandma her coffee and turned to me. "You'll have to forgive my grandma. She's a terrible flirt."

"I'm flattered," I told her. "If I were in the market for a girlfriend, you'd be top of the list."

She giggled. "Well, shoot. The good ones are always taken or gay, aren't they?"

She winked, and it was obvious she'd put together the truth fairly quickly. Brooks's grandma was sharp.

"Except for Brooks," I replied, then wanted to smack myself.

She gave me a knowing look. One that told me I'd given away my silly little crush. "That's true. I've been after him to find someone. Of course, you'd have to stop working him to death at that pub you own."

"Grandma," Brooks protested.

"Brooks sets his own hours," I told her. "But I agree that he works too hard. I'll see what I can do to change that."

She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes sparkling. "I like him."

"Of course you do," Brooks said. "I knew you would."

I drank my cockiato, content to listen as Brooks's grandma caught him up on the Silver Cove gossip. She was a hoot, full of funny stories about the dating life in a senior center. High school had nothing on these people, but their determination to live their best lives that was really admirable.

I could learn a thing or two from Grandma Porter and her friends.

"You two are really close, huh?" I asked after we'd headed down the block toward my car, still parked in front of the coffee shop.

So far, I hadn't seen a single sign of Blaize in town. If it weren't for my security footage on my app, I'd think I imagined the whole thing.

"Yeah, very," Brooks said. "We're pretty much everything to each other."

"Your parents…"

"No longer in the picture," Brooks said.

"I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "My dad died when I was about twelve. My mom couldn't handle it. She was already an addict, and things got worse after he died. She left me with Grandma with a lot of promises to get help."

"She didn't come back?" I asked, horrified.

"Oh, she's been back to town a few times. Never before I was eighteen though, and mostly only when she wants something. It is what it is."

I put my hand on his arm. "That's awful, Brooks. You deserve better."

He grimaced. "I've got Grandma, and I really don't know why I'm throwing this pity party."

"I asked. You're only being honest."

"I usually don't blab all my childhood trauma," he said, sounding sheepish. "You're too good at getting me to talk."

I flushed with pleasure. "Well, don't worry. I think I'm winning when it comes to embarrassing personal drama."

"Nothing to be embarrassed about," he said.

"Not even that my ex thought I was too femme and hated my lingerie?"

"Nope. Your ex is clearly an idiot who didn't appreciate a good thing."

His warm gaze landed on me, feeling weighted with hidden meaning. I wasn't ready to examine what that meaning might be. I was afraid to hope he'd return my interest. Even more afraid that he might.

Better to change the subject.

I pulled out my key fob and unlocked the doors. "Well, your grandma is adorable. You're lucky to have each other."

"We are," he agreed, reaching for the passenger door.

The drive to the pub was a short one in this little town. I parked halfway down the block to allow for more customer parking, though a lot of the pub's patrons came in on the dockside.

We'd just reached the doors when I spotted a familiar car, and my stomach flip-flopped.

"It's him," I said.

Brooks glanced over his shoulder as Blaize parked and stepped out of the car. He looked sophisticated in his expensive suit, the cut emphasizing his broad shoulders and chest. He wasn't anywhere close to as built as Brooks, but he wasn't as slender as me. He wore his hair in a conservative business cut, his jaw shaved clean, everything about him screaming city executive.

But when dark gaze landed on me, I felt rooted to the spot by dread. There was none of the warmth that Brooks's eyes conveyed whenever he looked at me. Blaize's eyes weren't cold, exactly. They were…calculating. He was always thinking about his next move. He treated every relationship like a business negotiation.

I wasn't a person to love, but another check in the win column. Just another asset to claim.

Brooks unlocked the pub door. "Go inside. I'll deal with him."

"I can't ask you to do that."

Blaize was coming closer, eyes narrowed on me, then on Brooks's hand on my arm.

"I don't mind," Brooks said.

I swallowed hard, part of me wanting to run, to hide behind him. The other part of me knowing I couldn't.

"I have to face him. Just…stay with me?"

"Of course."

There wasn't time to plan anything more. Blaize bounded up the steps toward us.

"Skylar!" he called. "Honey, I've been trying to get hold of you."

That was an interesting way to put tracking down my number and location.

"What do you want?"

He laughed sharply, eyes cutting to Brooks. "Do I need a reason to see my fiancé?"

"I'm not—"

He cut over me. "You needed a little break from life. I get it, hon. We all need a vacation now and then. This has gone on long enough, don't you think?"

"No, I…" I was speechless at the strength of his denial. I'd packed all my belongings. I'd disappeared, leaving only a note that read, It's over. I can't do this anymore. " No."

"No?" he said with a little chuckle, like I was adorably puzzling.

"No," I said more forcefully. "This isn't a vacation, Blaize. We're over. You know that."

"We're not over. We had a little argument. It happens." He reached for me, and Brooks put an arm out, stopping him from touching me.

Blaize scowled. "This is a private conversation, asshole. How about you back off and let me talk with my fiancé?"

"Afraid I can't do that," Brooks said.

He huffed. "Why the hell not?"

"Because Skylar isn't your fiancé. He's my boyfriend."

He's my boyfriend.

Despite the tension in the air, which only grew thicker at that statement, my stomach fluttered to hear the words roll off his tongue so easily.

If only they were true. If only I'd met Brooks before I'd met Blaize. If only…

"That can't be true," Blaize said.

"We talked on the phone before, remember?" Brooks said. "Sky and I are together now."

Blaize had been playing nice guy, but now he looked truly pissed. His face twisted and reddened. "Bullshit. You're just trying to make me jealous."

"Wrong," Brooks said. "Skylar's moved on, and so should you."

He looked at me, eyes narrowing. "I don't think so. You're nothing but a beard. You're not his type at all." He scoffed. "You're a fucking bull with no brains. Skylar appreciates intelligence far too much to be with the likes of you."

"Hey!" I protested, finally finding my voice again. "Don't talk to him like that."

Blaize's eyes flashed, and he made a move toward me. "Don't defend this asshole. You're loyal to me , not—"

"Back off," Brooks growled, taking a step forward. "You need to go. Now."

Blaize stumbled backwards. How could he not with Brooks advancing on him? Bigger or more powerful men easily intimidated him. Probably why he wanted to control me so badly. To prove he was the alpha, at least sometimes.

"We're not done here," Blaize said, while retreating. "Skylar, I'm not giving up on us."

He'd jumped from screaming at me to trying to placate me again. His attempts to manipulate me seemed so transparent now. Had he always been this bad at it, or did Brooks's support give me the ability to see through it?

" This fucking douche, " Brooks muttered under his breath.

"Go home, Blaize," I called. "I'm not going anywhere."

Brooks pushed open the pub door, and I turned to go inside. Behind me, Blaize called out, "Fine, stay as long as you want."

I turned, surprised. That seemed way too easy.

Blaize smiled smugly. "I've joined the Wexlers on a project in Swallow Beach. I'll be close by."

My breath caught, and Brooks shepherded me inside.

"Go wherever you want," he said shortly, "but stay the hell away from my pub."

Brooks slammed the door behind us, flipping the lock, then turned to me. "Are you okay?"

I was shaking, but it wasn't from fear this time. It was indignation.

"Why won't he just let me go ?"

"Men like him don't like to admit they've lost," Brooks said. "He's in denial."

"He's not going to leave," I said. "He doesn't really believe it's over. What am I going to do?"

Brooks cupped my face, his hands warm and grounding, calming my racing heart.

"We'll just have to make him see there's no reason to stay."

"You heard him. He doesn't really believe us, and why would he? You scream straight guy."

Brooks looked me in the eye. "We'll show him I'm not straight then. Next time, Sky, just kiss me. We'll be so fucking convincing even he can't deny it."