24. Brynne

Chapter 24

Brynne

M y phone rang for the twelfth time as Booker helped me up the porch steps.

"You might as well just answer it," he said, opening the front door.

I walked past him, his hand still glued to my lower back like if he removed it, I'd break into a million pieces and have no hope of being whole again.

"I don't know what to say to her." Hey, McKenna. Sorry for disappearing tonight. I was knocked out, shoved in the back of a van, and held hostage by some maniac who wanted the deed to Booker's ranch. Oh, and if anybody asks, tell them I was simply mugged.

The door clicked shut behind us, and then he was helping ease me up the stairs. I could think about food later. I just wanted to curl up under the covers and sleep for fifteen years.

"The truth." He said it like it was that simple.

"She'd freak. "

"Or she'd do what any best friend would and be there for you."

He was right. She'd never treated me like I couldn't tell her anything and everything. She hadn't even blinked when I told her about my agreement with Booker. Any other person would've judged me, but McKenna stood by and supported my every decision. What had happened to me tonight was out of my hands, and she'd understand.

"I'll call her while you make me food," I decided, knowing he'd force a meal on me even if I refused.

We hit the second floor, and he led me down the hall to his bedroom. I assumed I'd no longer have my own room here, given at this point, we were officially together. There'd be no point in spending a night without him from this day forward.

At my side, Booker raised a brow. "Is that so?"

"Mhmm. I think I'm feeling pasta."

He chuckled, the sound low as it wrapped around my heartstrings. "If that's what my darlin' requests." He reached out a hand, swinging his door open. "Bath before you call her?"

Though all I wanted was to lie down, I wasn't in the best hygienic state. I nodded, and he left me on the cushioned bench in the bedroom while he filled the tub with steaming water.

Once the bath was ready, he helped me undress, then got in the water behind me. I leaned back against his chest, enjoying the warmth as it seeped into my aching, bruised skin.

The wet tips of his fingers glided up and down my forearm as I closed my eyes.

"You're beautiful, Brynne," he murmured.

My eyelids opened as I tilted my head back slightly to get a good look at him. "Did you just compliment me without your dick inside me?"

He frowned, which caused a smile to bloom on my lips. "Careful, Darlin'. Don't encourage me."

Just the thought alone had my core heating. "Well, I'm not that hurt."

He shook his head, shooting the idea down. "I'm not risking it. In a week, we'll talk."

My mouth popped open. "A week?"

"You should be glad I'm not saying until the end of your healing."

I shrugged, relaxing my back against his warm chest again. "Wouldn't matter if you did. I couldn't possibly stay away that long."

"Some might say that's a little obsessive so soon into our relationship."

My cheeks heated slightly at the use of the label. "They'd say the same about you breaking into my motel room wearing a mask."

His heart fluttered at my back. "You liked it, though."

That smile stayed stuck to my face as I admitted, "I did."

The door squeaked open, and McKenna's face appeared in the crack. As soon as she saw I was awake, she opened it wider and slipped inside. She shut it behind her, then crossed to the bed. "Brynne, I'm so sorry?— "

"Don't apologize," I cut her off. "This wasn't your fault."

"I should have stayed with you instead of getting caught up with Grace."

She sat on the bed beside me, taking in the bruises littering my neck. Then, her eyes trailed to the stitches, and she winced. "I'm so sorry."

"McKenna." I reached out, grabbing her hand. I was in one of Booker's t-shirts with shorts on underneath, and only had the sheet over my legs. My back was propped up against the pillows so I could eat easier once Booker brought my dinner up. "None of this was your fault."

The door opened again, and this time, Austin and Henley entered. They'd wanted to check on me after my bath, but Booker had told them to wait so I could have a few minutes alone before McKenna got here.

McKenna's eyes immediately narrowed on Henley, and she shot off the bed, aiming right for him. I instantly regretted telling her the little information I did. "You." She raised a hand, her feet stomping the ground, but before her slap could land true on Henley, Austin grabbed her wrist.

Austin walked her back a step. "Calm down, vicious kitten. No need to get the claws out."

"He's the reason that son of a bitch even had his sights on her in the first place!" she yelled.

I flinched, because she was right. But I didn't blame him. What happened happened, and pinning the blame on someone when there was nothing they could do to change the past was a waste of energy.

McKenna tried to wrench her wrist free, but once she figured out it was no use, she threw her whole body at Austin. He had no choice but to wrap his arms around her.

"Just one fucking slap!" she complained. "That's all I want!"

"Not happening," Austin said.

She groaned in frustration, then acted like she was done. Austin waited a moment before loosening his hold on her, and in a flash, she was trying to dart for Henley again. Henley stepped to the side, watching as Austin hefted McKenna up over his shoulder.

Her fists came down on his back. "Put me down, you fucking caveman!"

He carried her to the opposite side of the room from Henley, who still stood by the door. "Stop trying to attack my friend and I might."

He plopped her down in the chair, bracing both hands on the armrests on either side of her to keep her planted.

"You know you want to hurt him for it, too," she said, trying to quiet how loud her voice had gotten in her rage.

"I want to do a lot of things to a lot of people, kitten, but it ain't going to get me anywhere by doing it."

She glared up at him, her blonde hair loose and tangled around her shoulders from the mayhem. "You're a dick."

He shoved off the chair to stand in front of her. "Call me what you want. I know how you really feel."

Instantly, her cheeks turned to twin flames, and she was darting out of the chair. This time, at him. He caught her around the waist, lifting her a foot off the ground before throwing her back into the chair.

"Stop doing that!" she screamed in frustration.

"You first," he spit back.

I couldn't help but laugh, which made all the focus in the room turn to me. I pressed a palm to my side as my giggling ebbed, and Booker slipped in the door with a tray.

"What the fuck is going on in here? Sounds like a goddamn jungle from downstairs," Booker said, and then he saw the placement of my hand and rushed toward me. "What's wrong? Does it hurt?"

I smiled again, biting back my laugh as I shook my head. "Couldn't feel better."

McKenna never failed to make a shitty situation better, and this was proof of it.

My eyes moved to what was in the bowl, and my smile grew. "Alfredo is my favorite."

"I know. It's all you ever order at the diner," Booker said.

"How do you know that?"

He shot a wink my way. "I know everything, Darlin'. Including that you need to eat this and get some rest. Which means everyone needs to get the fuck out." He turned his glare on Austin and Henley.

"I'm staying," McKenna said, no room for argument in her tone.

"We have a guest room down the hall if you want to spend the night," Booker said, because I knew damn well he wanted to be the one by my side tonight.

She nodded, standing from the chair. "It's a good thing I always keep a to-go bag in my car."

"Need help bringing it up?" Austin asked like the gentleman he was.

She sent a death-glare his way. "I can handle my own bag. Thanks. "

Henley gave McKenna a wide berth as she left the room. Austin had his hands up in mock surrender. "Don't know what I did to piss that one off."

Booker set the tray on my lap as I said, "She's nice to customers, some family, and me. That's about it."

Austin groaned, rolling his neck. "Any way I can ask that she not come over often? Or at all works, too."

I picked up the fork, wanting nothing more than to devour this bowl of pasta and cuddle up next to Booker for the rest of the night. "Not gonna happen. Sorry."

Austin's lips pressed together in a tight line. "Great."

Henley and Austin left the room, closing the door behind them to give us some privacy. Booker slid under the covers beside me and fiddled around with the remote, trying to find a show to watch while I ate.

I eyed the way he studied the remote. "Have you never worked a TV before?"

He glanced my way. "Don't got much time for TV, Darlin'."

"Let me guess. Ranch chores."

He pressed the menu button on the remote, squinting his eyes at the big screen to make sure it pulled up what he wanted it to. "You're lucky you're injured or I'd make you regret that little comment."

"I'll start a list so you can dole out the punishment later."

Booker smirked, then settled on a cooking show. He shared bites of my giant bowl of pasta, and once I was done, he made sure I drank an entire glass of water and took my pain medication. Finally, our bodies wrapped around each other under the comforter, and we fell asleep to the sound of coyotes howling somewhere out on the property.

In Booker's arms, I was safe, but in the way that kept my heart racing and my mind on the edge of its seat. He was fear itself and a warm blanket wrapped in one.

And though what we had was new and uncertain, I had no doubt that he'd never let another person put their hands on me again. We were an unlikely pairing, but we were right for each other.

And that was all that mattered.