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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

T he ice pack and ibuprofen had brought down the swelling in Brooklynn’s ankle, and with it, the pain. Forbes had found an old Ace bandage and wrapped her ankle, giving her more stability.

She walked all by herself to the door of the family room. She’d taken her things out of the old-lady purse and, with her backpack slung over her shoulders, turned back to Forbes, who watched from beside the sofa, arms crossed.

“See? I’m fine.”

“I see.” He walked forward, stopping just a foot away. “I’m carrying you downstairs.”

“I don’t need?—”

“I know you don’t need me.” Before she could protest, he lifted her as if she weighed no more than the tray of food he’d brought up earlier. “Maybe I just want to, hmm? Ever think of that?”

She would swear amusement danced in his eyes. Amusement, which was not at all the same as what she was feeling.

Desire warmed her, and she fought the temptation to run her fingers into his auburn hair. She slid her arms around his neck as if she needed to hold onto him. And maybe she did.

When he’d shared his memories, he’d shared the deepest parts of himself with her. He’d trusted her with the truth, something he hadn’t shared with anyone else. She’d never felt closer to a man or to anyone.

Being in his arms felt perfect, as if she’d been longing for this place all her life without even knowing it.

Maybe God had more for Brooklynn and Forbes.

His eyebrows hiked as if he waited for an answer. Had he asked her a question?

Perhaps sensing her confusion, he bumped his arms, jostling her. “May I carry you?”

“It’s a little late for that question now, all things considered.”

“Still, it feels rude not to ask.”

She laughed. “If you insist.”

“I do.” Holding her against him, he carried her down the center staircase and into the office, where he lowered her feet to the floor in front of a chair.

She didn’t sit, though, not ready to be apart from him. She stood, weight on one foot, only inches from this man she was falling for, enjoying the warmth of him and unwilling to leave it.

He held her eye contact, his arms slipping around her waist.

Inhaling, she picked up the scents of pine and forest and books, mixed with something distinctly Forbes. Every nerve ending vibrated with need. The desire that rose inside her was unlike anything she’d experienced before, almost unbearable.

He lowered his head, pausing centimeters from her. His breath fanned into her hair, but he didn’t move closer. Just held there in delicious anticipation.

She couldn’t wait another moment. She closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his.

He seemed surprised at first. Then tentative.

And then he dove in, exploring her mouth, deepening their kiss.

Sliding her hands over his broad shoulders, she pulled him closer. All her fears, all her worries, all her dreams… They faded away until all that was left were Forbes and Brooklynn and this kiss.

She couldn’t get enough. Everything inside of her yearned for him. Every moment in her past seemed to lead up to this moment, not a pinnacle but a turning point.

She would never be the same.

His mouth left hers, his kisses trailing down her neck. He brushed her hair back and continued onto her shoulder. Then returned to her mouth for more.

How much time passed? It could have been seconds. It could’ve been days. She could’ve stayed like that forever.

His hand slid beneath her shirt, up her back.

Abruptly he stopped and stepped away.

They stared at each other, both breathing heavily.

He rubbed his lips together, and then they parted in a tiny, beautiful smile. “I think…” He blinked a couple of times, swallowed. “I think I love you.”

Oh.

Of course that was what this was. She’d never experienced it before, this feeling that was desire and affection and a million other things she’d never dreamed could all exist at the same time.

Brooklynn had never believed in the idea of soulmates.

That wasn’t how life worked. Marriage was about two people who fell in love and decided to keep loving each other forever.

The falling part was a little mystical, maybe, so she’d never really trusted it.

But the deciding part, the following-through on loving someone even when they were unlovable—that was hard work.

She’d never been one to rely on the mystical—or even trust it.

But this was… Mystical wasn’t the word. It was more…spiritual. As if God had known all along, and He’d brought them together at this time for more than just this unsolved murder.

She might not have trusted the falling part, but she’d fallen anyway. Hard.

“I think I love you too.”

His tiny smile bloomed, and he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She memorized his beautiful features, his kind eyes, his square jaw hidden by whiskers. They weren’t long enough to hide a dimple on his right cheek, a dimple she’d never seen before.

She loved that dimple. It was as if it’d been created just for her.

“I want to kiss you again.” He stepped back. “I want to do all sorts of things I absolutely will not do. I promise.”

“I trust you, Forbes.”

His smile broadened. “Okay, then.”

Not sure what else to say, she echoed him. “Okay.”

They kept staring at each other, both smiling wide.

Finally, he rubbed a hand over his hair, messing it up, making him look boyish and adorable.

“I guess we should…” He looked around.

“Right. The mystery.”

His smile disappeared, and his eyes narrowed, fixed on something across the room.

She followed his gaze to the cassette tapes stacked on the desk.

“Are those the ones from upstairs?”

“Yeah. I haven’t had a chance to listen to them yet.” He gave her a tiny kiss on the cheek. “Sit down and get off that foot.”

She did, and he slid the second guest chair closer and angled it so she could prop up her foot.

“I’ll be right back.” He took off out the door, and his footsteps faded as he jogged down the hall.

Funny how she’d forgotten about the sprain for a little while. Maybe Forbes’s kisses had healing properties, like the tears of a phoenix.

She felt a silly grin. She’d share the cultural reference with Forbes, but he’d probably never heard of Harry Potter or The Chamber of Secrets .

After this was all over, she’d introduce him to her favorite TV shows and movies.

Or...not. She wouldn’t need to watch TV to escape her loneliness anymore. She’d have Forbes.

Yet, somehow, with everything happening, that hope felt tenuous. So many things could ruin it, starting with the people who’d come after her that afternoon.

She’d already wanted to survive, of course, but now, she had a new motivation. She wanted to know what would come of this fresh, tender love that had sprouted. She wanted to see the kind of man Forbes would become apart from the mystery that had shaped his life.

She wanted more of him, more of this. She wanted her life to be about more than capturing fleeting moments with her camera.

She wanted long, lingering time with the man she loved.

Father, You are able to… But there was so much to ask, so many moving parts, most of which she didn’t know enough about to articulate. “You know, Lord. All of it, every single thing, You know. Just please…work it all out.”

“Talking to yourself?”

Forbes stood in the doorway, a crooked smile on his face.

She loved that smile.

“Praying.”

“Even better.” He stepped in, holding up a box. “I ordered this after you found the cassettes. It came in earlier, but I haven’t had time to listen.” Standing beside the desk, he unwrapped a cassette player and plugged it in, then slid the first tape into the slot and pressed Play.

Scratchy sounds filled the room, and then a man’s voice.

“May third, ninety-nine. Overheard Stafford talking to OT before the Chamber meeting today. I wasn’t seen. She mentioned the March shipment being disappointing. It was less than February by two million. OT blamed troubles in Montreal, said infighting. He must be in contact with MM ? —”

“Dinner’s ready, sweetheart.”

If the first voice was Charles, then that second voice had to be Grace.

“Be right…”

His voice cut off abruptly.

Forbes pressed the Pause button.

This was it. Proof! Charles Ballentine had been a confidential informant collecting information on The Network for…somebody.

Brooklynn looked at Forbes, expecting to see the same excitement on his face that she felt inside.

But he’d leaned over the desk, hands gripping the edge. His face was pale, his eyes red.

Realization hit her.

She stood and slid her hand around his arm. “Sit down.” She soothed the words, tugging him onto the chair that’d held her foot a moment before.

He didn’t even look at her, though his arm, where she touched it, tightened.

“Come on, love. Sit with me.” She tugged, and he seemed to come back to himself.

He didn’t sit. He didn’t speak. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. Though he nearly enveloped her, she felt like she was the one holding him up.

She didn’t know what to say, so she just held him while the grief or whatever he was experiencing washed over him.

It was a few minutes before he looked up at the ceiling.

As if she would judge him for his tears.

“Please. Sit down.” She tugged on his arm, and he complied, folding over his knees.

She scooted her chair closer and rubbed his back, waiting for him to get his bearings again.

Thinking about how it would feel to hear the voices of loved ones long dead. The room felt heavy with memories, as if his family hovered nearby. They weren’t here, but evil had resided in this house a long time, hiding as if waiting to be unleashed.

Lord, fill this place with Yourself, and drive out anything that doesn’t glorify You.

Her God was bigger than any dark spirit. Her God was big enough to handle all of this.

And give me words and wisdom to comfort Forbes.

She’d felt extreme emotional highs and lows since she’d run from those men on Monday, and for Forbes, it was all so much more personal. His ride had begun when he was eight years old.