CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

ZAC

I feel like shit because I didn’t get home until late last night.

It was after midnight when we got most of the wiring fixed on a new installation in an office building on the other side of town. I have to go back extra early, before the offices open in the morning, to check for system glitches. Jake bitched that he’d better be getting overtime. I didn’t care to remind him that he was one of the bosses and didn’t get overtime.

The worst part of it all was that I didn’t get to see Brook. She was asleep when I got home last night and asleep when I left this morning. I’m hoping things go smoothly today so I can get home at a reasonable time. The early start should help.

Before leaving the condo, I noticed the leftovers from a chicken dinner in the fridge. If that doesn’t make a guy feel like an ass, nothing will. I told myself I didn’t have time to call because the installation process was such a mess. Maybe if I say it enough times, I’ll begin to believe it.

* * *

The systems check takes about as long as we thought it might, and when we finish, we go back to the office. I drop in on Will to see if he’s found anything on Brook’s aunt. Apparently, she’s relocated to Maryville, Tennessee. She and her husband are up to their eyeballs in debt, and their bank balance is next to zero.

“These folks are about a week away from living on the street.”

“How can that be?” I sit in a chair across from him. “If they have control of all that stuff from Brook’s parents, they should be living large, don’t you think?”

“You would think.” Will picks a pen up off the desk and plays with it. “None of the money in the parents’ checking or savings accounts has been transferred out. It’s just sitting there. And that’s not counting the stocks and bonds they have.”

I rub the base of my neck. I know Brook’s not lying. Why would she be? “Maybe you can find out who the lawyer is? See if he can’t shed some light on the situation.”

“I’m on it.”

“Thanks, Will.”

I go to my office and type out an invoice for the hours and equipment used in setting up the security system for our latest client. Caleb comes in and takes a seat. I finish typing.

“What’s up?”

Caleb grins. “Were you surprised by Brook’s news?”

I cock my head. “I haven’t talked to Brook since yesterday morning. Got home late last night and left before she woke up.”

Caleb frowns.

I continue, “I’m trying to get everything done now so I get home.”

Caleb sighs.

“What was the surprise?” I ask.

“Natalie and Emily took Brook out yesterday and found her a job.”

“As a waitress?”

“No, at an art gallery. You didn’t know?”

“I told you I didn’t. Fuck.”

“Hey man, sorry. I thought you knew.”

I run my hands down my face.

“It’s not your fault,” Caleb says.

“Yeah, it is. I didn’t even call her last night to tell her I’d be late. She made supper for us and everything. Probably a celebratory meal . . . Fuck!”

“Call her now.”

I pick up the landline and dial my home phone. Nothing. I try Brook’s cell. It keeps ringing. I hang up.

“Not there?” Caleb says.

“No.”

I grab my cell phone and check an app that shows the security feed inside my condo. She’s not there. I check the outside feed. Her car is gone.

“She’s not at my place,” I say.

“Maybe she went to the store or something.”

“Or maybe she just left.” I get out of my chair. “I’ve got to go home.”

“Go.”

I rush home. Her car still isn’t there. I jump out of my vehicle and hurry inside, checking the living room and bedroom. Her suitcases are gone. Gall dammit!

I shuffle to the kitchen and see a note on the table. I read it and my stomach clenches. My wolf howls. He wants to take me back behind the woodshed and teach me a lesson. Then he wants me to find her and bring her home.

I call Will. “Hey, Will. I need you to check a number and I tell me where it’s at.”

“Hang on.”

Pause.

“Okay.”

I give it to him.

He says he’ll get back to me.

I melt into a chair and stare at the floor.

My phone buzzes. Will has texted me an address and apartment number.

I text back, “Thanks.” And hit the door running.

* * *

Twenty minutes later and I’m screeching into a parking lot. Four minutes after that, I’m knocking on a door.

A woman opens it. She scans me up and down and licks her lips. “Aren’t you yummy.”

“Thanks,” I answer. “Is Brook Mathews here?”

She puts a hand on my chest and pushes me back into the hall. She follows and swings the door halfway closed. Then she says, “I don’t know any Brook.” She runs a finger down my arm. “But I’d like to know you.”

I try to peek past her.

She moves in close, smashing her breasts against my chest. Her nipples are hard. “What do you think, big boy? Want to go somewhere and have a drink?”

She’s a good-looking woman, no doubt. And her short shorts and tight, skimpy shirt would be a real turn on for someone else. But I’m here for Brook.

“Listen. I need to talk to her. I know she’s here.”

“She isn’t.”

I push past her. “Brook? Brook.”

She grabs my arm. “Don’t you go in there.”

“Too late,” I say and drag her along behind me.

Brook comes out of what I assume is the bathroom. Her hair is wet.

Her head jerks when she sees me. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to bring you home.”

“I’m not going.”

I move toward Brook and the girl who answered the door kicks my calf. It was a well-placed kick. For a minute, I thought I was going to cramp up. But I didn’t. I look back at her and she yells, “Get out of my house, you fucker, or I’m calling the cops.”

“I’ll be out of here in two minutes,” I say, and finish walking over to Brook. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close—this is where she belongs. “I messed up and I’m sorry. I was so focused on getting my work done so I could be with you more that I lost track of time. I’ll do better, I promise. Please, come back.” I’ve never groveled before. But I’ve never had to.

“Bullshitter,” the girl says. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

Brook pulls away and looks at her roommate. “Jenny,” she scolds, then says to me, “You hurt me, Zac. I was excited to share my news with you and you didn’t come home. Didn’t even call or text to let me know.”

“I know. It was thoughtless of me.” I pull her back close to me.

“It really upset me.”

“That’s understandable. But it won’t happen again. You have to believe me.”

“Bullshitter!” Boy would I like to . . . Never mind.

Brook says to me, “I guess we both have things we need to work on, then.”

“Does that mean you’ll come home with me?”

“It does.”

I kiss her hard.

She kisses me back.

“You’re not buying this shit, are you?” Jenny says.

Brook pulls away from me. “I’ll get my things.”

Jenny hurries over and grabs Brook’s shirt. “You’re making a mistake, Brook.”

“I’m sorry. I’m going with him.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“Where is this hostility coming from?” Brook asks.

“I’m not hostile.”

“You seem to be.”

“Fuck you, Brook.” Jenny’s face reddens. “If you go with him, you won’t be welcome back here.”

“Don’t be like this,” Brook says.

“Are you going with him?”

“Yes.”

“Then leave.”

Brook reaches to put a caring hand on Jenny’s shoulder.

“Get the fuck out!”

Brook gathers her things and I carry them out to her vehicle. Then I put them in the back seat and I kiss her. A child laughs in the distance, so we stop.

“We should go,” she says.

I help her into her car and close the door. After I start up my pickup, I follow her back to my place. My brain’s on autopilot all the way there. I can’t shut down my longing for her. I think she knows how badly I want her. My wolf is begging me to mark her, but I can’t just yet. Maybe if I make her mine in another way, he’ll back off.

It’s worth a try.