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CHAPTER EIGHT

brOOKS

I was staring out my kitchen window when my phone started ringing.

I picked up when I saw Tuck’s name. “Perfect timing. I was about to call you.”

“I would have called sooner, but I had to bring Marty to his doctor’s appointment.”

My chest twisted. “Any updates?”

Marty was our grandfather. He was recently diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer. The doctors gave him thirteen months. Losing him was going to be tough.

“They want to adjust his meds. Recommended some vitamin C infusions to help with his fatigue.”

I shifted the phone to my other ear. “Good. He looked wiped out when I was there the other day.”

I promised to take Marty fishing this weekend, but the forecast called for rain, so I wasn’t sure what my backup plan was going to be.

My brothers and I were the only things keeping the old man going.

None of us were the type to talk about our feelings, but we didn’t have to.

We all knew the end was coming, and nobody in my family was ready for it.

Tuck cleared his throat. “I’m worried that the treatments aren’t doing much. He’s weaker than the last time I saw him.”

A wave of dread washed over me because the doctors told us that his life expectancy would be determined by how well his body responded to the treatments. While there were other options still left on the table, his age and overall health were working against him.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’ll head over tomorrow.”

“He would appreciate that.”

I walked over to the Keurig machine and dropped a pod in. “Do you have any updates on the investigation?”

He let out a sharp laugh. “I had a lovely chat with a couple of really nice men today.”

Normally, I would laugh at his sarcasm, but I was too exhausted from the lack of sleep I had last night.

Harlow Bennet has been sleeping in my guestroom. Under the same quilt my grandmother made for me when I was ten. All because some asshole decided to flood her house by cutting the water supply line to her washer.

“And? What did they have to say?” I grabbed my coffee and let Diesel outside so he could go do his business.

“Her dad was as pleasant as you would expect.”

I never liked the man, and the feeling was mutual.

“I imagine he’s not very happy with his daughter right now.”

He let out a low chuckle. “Yep. He’s a total asshole. He’s been trying to get in touch with her, but she’s been dodging his calls. I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up soon.”

I set my coffee down on the porch railing. “Sounds about right. Do you think he had anything to do with it?”

“It’s hard to tell. He was too busy telling me how ungrateful his daughter was and how lucky she was that someone like Baz Zimmerman would even want to marry her in the first place.”

I dragged a hand through my hair. “He’s a miserable excuse for a human being.”

“Agreed.”

I rubbed my temple. “What about the ex?”

He paused. “Yeah, he was even worse. The guy is a real piece of work. He acted like he was offended that I even called. When I told him about the house, he didn’t ask where she was or if she was okay.”

I cradled the phone against my shoulder. “My money is on him.”

He was quiet for a minute. “It’s too early to tell, but his reaction raised a few red flags. He was furious with her. Played dumb when I questioned him about the hoses but made some comment about, she should come crawling back to him any day now.”

I gritted my teeth and tightened my hand around the phone. “That won’t be happening.”

Tuck laughed, and I frowned.

It might have been five years, but I still felt this need to protect her.

“Listen, I’m calling in a few favors. Due to the amount of damage, Chief had the state police send their tech guys out to the house and dust for prints.

We got nothing, but I promise, nothing is being ruled out.

Those washer lines were intentionally cut.

I promise I won’t stop until we figure out who is responsible. ”

“I know he’s responsible,” I said. My theory about her ex was gaining strength in my head. “She humiliated him. The guy has an ego bigger than the state of Texas. He’s got money and influence to boot.”

“I’m not saying you're wrong, but we have no proof. There were no security cameras installed. Right now, it’s simply a hunch.”

I stared across the yard. “What does that mean? How do we prove it was him?”

“It means I keep digging until I find something to connect him to the house, but I’m doing this mostly on the side, so I don’t catch heat from Chief Scott. I’m a sheriff, not a detective. I’ll lose control of the investigation if I get caught using the department’s resources.”

That sounded like Chief Scott. He did everything by the book. He didn’t bend the rules for anybody, no matter who you were.

“I understand, and I appreciate it.”

“Can you promise me something, Brooks?”

“What?” I asked, feeling the third degree coming on.

“Promise to keep your head on straight. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I think you’re doing the right thing. My only concern is that it might come back and bite you in the ass later. Her staying at your house means something, whether you want to admit it or not.”

“I’m only letting her stay here because she has nowhere else to go. The sooner we get that house cleaned up, the sooner she can leave.”

“Just don’t do anything stupid.”

I let out a dry laugh, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me. “Define stupid.”

“Like inserting yourself deeper into this mess. She pissed off some very powerful people, and I know you’re still hung up on her, so don’t do something you will regret.”

“You know nothing,” I said, picking up my coffee and wishing I had something stronger.

“Yeah, okay. Sure. Whatever you say. You are so keyed up right now, I can practically hear you vibrating through the phone.”

I leaned against the porch railing and crossed my feet at the ankles. “Thanks for the pep talk, brother. I’ll let you go back to work so you can go write some speeding tickets.”

He exhaled audibly, the sound coming through like static. “Just be careful. I know you are pissed and want to help her. Don’t let your anger cloud your judgement. If either of them shows up, you call me.”

I glanced down at a scuff on my boots. “You don’t need to keep repeating yourself. And stop making this into something it’s not. I have no intention of picking up where we left off. I don’t have feelings like that for her anymore.”

The words tasted bitter on my tongue.

“Brother, I’ve known you my whole damn life. You’re lying to yourself if you don’t think you still feel something for her.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. “I feel nothing. Whatever we had was a long time ago. The sooner she packs up and leaves, the better.”

“You don’t fool me, but I’ll let you off the hook for now. Let me know if you hear or see anything. I wouldn’t put it past either of them to try something.”

I would like to see them try. They might have power and influence, but this was my town and my people. I would not let them intimidate me.

“You sound like you think I’m in danger.”

“I think you’re in danger of making a dumbass decision.”

I picked up a ball and threw it across the lawn for Diesel to catch. “Have a little faith in me. I’m not stupid. I know what I’m doing.”

That was a total lie. The truth was, I was in over my head, but it was too late to turn back now.

He snorted. “I gotta get back to work.”

“Just keep me posted, yeah?”

“Will do. Try to get some sleep tonight. I’ll check in with you later.”

I hung up and blew out a long breath. The tension in my chest refused to let up.

I turned toward the door, ready to head back inside, when I saw her standing against the doorframe.

She was barefoot and wearing my red and blue flannel that swallowed her entire frame.

I wasn’t sure why she was wearing it, considering she had other things to sleep in.

Her arms were wrapped around her middle, and she looked like she was on the verge of crying.

My heart sank. She must have heard my conversation with Tuck.

“Sorry,” she said, keeping her eyes glued to the ground. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I heard you talking and figured it was about the house.”

“How much did you hear?” I asked, feeling guilt twist around in my stomach.

“Enough.” She stood there, refusing to meet my eyes. She looked so small and fragile. It made my chest ache.

“Harlow…” I started, but she held her hand up, stopping me.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to cause any trouble. I can leave. My stuff is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I can find a rental or a hotel outside of town.”

She definitely overheard.

“You don’t need to rush out of here. I told you. You can stay until we figure things out.”

She rubbed her arms like she was cold, even though it was warm outside. “I’m grateful you’re allowing me to stay, but I don’t want to make things more difficult for you.”

She only heard my end of the conversation, and I could only imagine how bad it sounded. I should have been more careful.

“Harlow.” I stepped closer, wanting to say something, but I stopped myself. If I said too much, if I let my true feelings slip out, I wouldn’t be able to take it back.

Instead, I settled for the safest thing I could say. “Having you here is no trouble. I have the space.”

She let out a laugh. “I heard you, Brooks. I’m not welcome here.”

“It’s not like that.”

She met my gaze head-on. “Then tell me what it’s like, then?”

I had no answer. At least not one I was willing to admit to. I didn’t know how to reassure her without exposing everything I was feeling.

She shook her head and pushed off the doorframe. “That’s what I thought.”

I ran a hand over my face. “Harlow, you are jumping to conclusions. You overheard one half of a conversation. You are not a burden, okay? I just didn’t expect to be in this situation. I’m doing the best I can here, but know this: if I didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here.”

She stood there, arms crossed, with a guarded look on her face as if she was trying to decide whether she could believe me. “Okay. I’ll stay. Thank you.”

I nodded back and walked past her, heading to my room to get ready for work. I should have said more. I could have been honest. Instead, it felt like I screwed up.

I shut my bedroom door behind me, but it no longer felt like my space. Not with her right down the hall.

I peeled off my clothes and threw them into the hamper. I sat on the edge of my bed and dropped my face in my hands.

Every time I looked at her, I saw the girl I fell in love with all those years ago. I shouldn’t still care this much. I shouldn’t be so caught up in this shitstorm.

Yet here I was.

Tuck was right to warn me. But that didn’t change how I felt.

I should want her to leave. Hell, I could help her find a place. It would make my life easier and less complicated.

But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.