by Lisa Crane
“Oh.” Brooke hesitated for a moment. “Just thinking of things I need to take care of, people I need to call, bosses, professors, that sort of thing.”
“Ah, um, about that.”
Brooke’s head swung toward Travis. She didn’t like the way he hesitated. She could only imagine what he was going to say.
“Listen, I’ve had your phone, in case someone – a friend or family member – tried to reach you,” Travis explained. “Your boss from the diner called.”
“And?” Brooke prompted, holding her breath.
“He said when you didn’t show up, he had to replace you.” Travis glanced over at her again, then continued quickly. “But he also said, he’d hire you back, if…well, if he has a spot open.”
“Any other phone calls I should know about?”
“After that boss called, I called your other job. Hot Diggity’s, right? I talked to the manager; he said he’d try to hold your spot. But I couldn’t get him to make me any promises.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Brooke muttered.
“And, um, there was an automated call about your account at the credit union,” Travis continued. He was aware that his neighbor seemed to slump, as if under some huge weight. “And the day of your accident, your, uh, mother called. Something about not receiving a check?”
“You talked to my mother?” Brooke asked, her tone somewhere between accusing and panic.
“I was hoping to find a relative or someone, Brooke,” Travis answered. “The phone rang and I thought it might be a friend. Your mother’s name is Satin?”
“Stage name.”
“Oh, is she a performer?”
“You might say that,” Brooke answered tightly.
“What does she do?” Travis asked.
Brooke’s head swung toward him again. Travis looked at her. The expression on her face spoke volumes.
“Really?” she said. “Her stage name is Satin. The woman named me Bunny, for Pete’s sake! What do you think she does?”
“I, uh…sorry.”
They rode in silence after that. Travis turned on the road that led to his house and Brooke’s and she sat up a little straighter, one hand on the dashboard as she craned her neck to see up ahead. A car sat in Brooke’s driveway.
“You can just let me out here,” Brooke said, the panicked note back in her voice. “Really.”
“Don’t be absurd, Brooke!” Travis said more sharply than he’d intended. “I’ll help you inside and get you settled.”
“Not necessary, really!”
Travis parked behind the shiny red Mustang next to Brooke’s ancient Buick. He hurried around to the passenger side of the Hummer and helped Brooke down from the high seat. He put an arm around her waist as she made her way slowly up the driveway to the front porch. She stopped and stood staring at the broken window next to the front door. Frowning, Travis used a booted foot to push aside shards of glass before opening the door for Brooke.
“Bunny!” a voice cried sharply as soon as they set foot inside the house. “It’s about time! We’ve been waiting forever! And your electricity’s off, so we couldn’t even watch TV or microwave anything – not that you have any decent food in your pantry or your fridge!”
The owner of the voice could only be described as flamboyant. Bouffant, bleached blonde hair, bleached teeth, fake nails, fake tan and fake boobs, if Travis didn’t miss his guess. She wore leopard print leggings that looked as if a shoehorn might be needed to get her into them. A slinky, clingy black top, cut dangerously low, displayed her tiny waist and abundant curves. The look on her face when she spotted Travis tempted him to look down and make sure all his clothes were still in place and buttoned securely; he now understood exactly what women meant when they said a man undressed her with his eyes.
“Hullo,” the woman purred. “Who’s this?”
“Satin, this is my neighbor, Travis Cooper,” Brooke said, speaking rapidly. “He can’t stay. Thanks for the ride, Travis.”
Brooke was all but pushing Travis out the front door when the other woman laid a hand on his forearm. She pulled him further into the room. Travis was beginning to worry that Brooke was going to hyperventilate when a man strolled into the room.
“What kinda place is this, Satin?” he asked petulantly. “There’s not even any booze anywhere!”
“Yeah, she’s a real goody two-shoes,” Brooke’s mother drawled. “Blaze, this is my daughter, Bunny Valentine. Bunny, this is my…friend, Blaze.”
Blaze was easily only half Satin’s age. His dark hair hung in artfully messy waves around his face, falling to just below his shoulders. His black jeans were so tight they made Travis want to cringe and tug at his own jeans. Blaze’s black silk shirt was unbuttoned nearly to his navel, displaying a lean, muscled chest, tanned golden, and waxed completely free of hair. His hazel eyes roved up and down Brooke’s form, then he seemed to dismiss her.
“Satin, what are you doing here?” Brooke asked. “And how did you get in?”
“Well, when I didn’t get my check, I thought I’d just come pick it up,” Satin answered blithely. “And sorry about the window. I didn’t know where you kept a spare key, so we kinda had to break in.” She winked as if it were a great joke. “Your insurance oughta cover it, though.” She laughed. “Just tell ‘em somebody broke in! That’s true!”
“Satin, I mailed you a check last week,” Brooke said tiredly.
“Well, I didn’t get it!”
Something was off about the woman’s behavior, Travis thought. When she talked about this mysterious check, her eyes didn’t quite meet her daughter’s gaze. She seemed nervous about something, like a child who wasn’t being completely truthful. Travis stood behind Brooke, arms folded across his broad chest.
“Well…I’ll have to go to the credit union,” Brooke sighed.
“Why can’t you just write me a new check?” Satin whined. “We got places to go, me and Blaze! We could use that money!”
“I can’t just write you a –“ Suddenly Brooke stopped speaking. She turned to Travis. “Do you have my phone with you? And that message you took for me? The recorded one?”
Travis pulled her cell phone from the pocket of his jeans, saying, “I wrote the name and number down. It’s on the notepad there on the coffee table.”
Brooke picked up the notepad and limped to the kitchen. Travis stood awkwardly in the living room with Satin and Blaze. What a pair they were! Satin continued to eye Travis with a hungry gaze, ignoring the dark frown on Blaze’s face. Travis tried to ignore her ogling, while at the same time sidling closer to the kitchen so he could hear Brooke.
“Yes, this is Brooke Valentine,” she was saying. “I had a message to call…oh, of course.” She rattled off a number, then listened. She gasped. “That’s not possible! No, no, I’m telling you – what? Two-thousand? No, no, I need to call you back. Thank you.” There was a brief pause and Brooke reappeared in the doorway, her face disturbingly pale. “Satin, what have you done?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m sure!” Satin said defensively.
“Then you’re saying you didn’t receive the check I sent you for two hundred dollars? And you’re saying you didn’t alter it and cash it for two thousand dollars?” Brooke’s breathing was ragged. “Two thousand dollars I don’t have!”
“Oh, come on, Bunny!” her mother said scornfully. “You work two jobs! I’d think you’d be a little more willing to help your mother out occasionally.”
“I can’t believe you did this to me!” Brooke said. Travis could tell she was on the verge of tears. “My account is now overdrawn by over sixteen-hundred dollars, Satin! I – I can’t replace that kind of money! I don’t even think I have one job right now, let alone two!”
“I don’t have to sit here and be treated like this!” Satin snapped.
Coming to her feet she tottered on stiletto heels to the front door. As she brushed past her daughter, Brooke stumbled slightly; Travis threw an arm around her
waist and steadied her against his solid frame. Satin paused, her eyes roaming over Travis once again; she cast a mocking glance at Brooke.
“What a waste!” she muttered. She glanced over her shoulder. “Come on, Blaze! I think we’ve tapped this well dry for now.”
“I’ll move my truck,” Travis said, his deep voice cutting across Blaze’s whine.
Chapter 5
When Travis returned to Brooke’s house, he found her slumped on the sofa, her injured leg stretched out before her. One forearm rested across her eyes, the other hand pressed against her abdomen as if her stomach hurt. Travis shifted from one foot to the other uncertainly.
“I’m fine,” Brooke said tonelessly. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but you can go now.”
“Are you sure?” Travis asked.
“Positive,” she said. “I think I’ll take a shower and lie down.”
“Okay.” Travis didn’t move for a moment. “Listen, I’ll come back later and put something over this window. And I put my number in your cell phone. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“Sure. Thanks again.”
Feeling as if he’d been dismissed, Travis backed out of her door and closed it behind him. Glass crunched underfoot as he left the porch. As he walked away, Travis knew without a doubt that Brooke Valentine wouldn’t call him – or anyone – for help even if her house were on fire. Some little thought kept niggling at the back of Travis’ mind; he thought there was something he should remember, but it wouldn’t come to him. Sighing, he went into his own house. He sat down in his office and pondered his neighbor.
What a mess that woman’s life was! Travis Cooper’s life was about as disciplined and organized as a man’s life could be; as a result, he found it hard to understand how someone could let their life get so out of control. Travis hadn’t found it necessary to work two jobs since his summers in high school and college. Immediately after college, he’d joined the army; now, after three tours in the Middle East, he was well on his way to establishing his new security business as a leader in the field. He employed fellow soldiers, former Navy SEALs, Marines and airmen. Each of his employees was as disciplined as Travis was.
So how did a young woman, at the age of twenty-four, find herself in such debt that the influx of money from the sale of his lot didn’t make a dent? And why was she sending money to her mother? Travis couldn’t believe a mother would commit fraud against her own daughter, altering a check from two-hundred dollars to two-thousand. So now, Brooke was probably sitting over there in her house, wondering how she was going to come up with the money to cover that check, unless she could prove she hadn’t written it. She was probably sitting over there in her house with no electricity….
Suddenly, Travis realized what had been bothering him. Electricity. Brooke’s electricity was off. Travis glanced out the window. From his office, he had a clear view of Brooke’s house; it was dark in the deepening twilight. So what was she doing? It was chilly already, and as the night wore on, the temperature would only drop further; did she have gas heat? Travis doubted it as his own house was all electric; there were no gas lines on the property. Determinedly, Travis rose and headed over to Brooke’s house.
Brooke, having dozed off on her sofa, nearly fell in the floor at the sound of someone pounding on her front door. She rose slowly, wondering if Satin and her latest boy toy had returned. Well, when they figured out she still had no electricity they wouldn’t stick around. The banging on the door continued as Brooke hobbled toward it.
“Brooke!” Travis Cooper’s deep voice sounded from her porch. “Brooke, are you all right in there?”
“Just a minute!” she yelled. “I’m coming, okay?”
Brooke yanked open the door and frowned up at her neighbor. He returned her glare, his gaze taking in her hair, still wet from her shower, her puffy face and red-rimmed eyes and her uncontrollable shivering.
“You don’t have electricity,” Travis said accusingly.
“Wow,” Brooke said sarcastically. “Good looks and brains.”
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
“I was sleeping until you woke me up.”
“Brooke –“ Travis stopped and took a deep breath. This woman was maddening. “Brooke, do you have somewhere you can go? A friend’s house? A hotel or something? Anywhere you can stay until your electricity’s back on?”
“I’m fine right where I am,” she said stubbornly.
“You are driving me crazy!” he snapped.
“I am not your problem!” Brooke ground out between clenched teeth. Travis wasn’t sure if she clenched them out of anger or to keep them from chattering. “I’ll figure something out about the electricity tomorrow. And I have plenty of blankets for tonight. If I get too cold, I’ll build a fire in the fireplace. Happy?”
“What will you eat?” Travis persisted. “And did you take a cold shower?”
“I have peanut butter, and I like cold showers!”
“That’s it!” Travis growled. “You’re coming to my house.”
“I am not!”
“You either come willingly,” he said. “Or I throw you over my shoulder and carry you kicking and screaming. The choice is yours, Miss Valentine.”
Brooke stared up at Travis. He could tell she was trying to determine if he was serious. He could also tell when she figured out he was; her shoulders seemed to slump a little. Never in his life had Travis met anyone more stubbornly independent; Brooke wasn’t only reluctant to ask for help, she apparently didn’t want to accept help when it was offered.
“Why don’t you go get whatever you need for the night, hmm?”
“All right,” she said quietly.
Brooke turned and limped away. Travis stood in the middle of her living room waiting for her. She returned shortly carrying a duffel bag; Travis took the bag from her. Brooke bristled slightly, then accepted the arm Travis offered. He looked down at her.
“You’ve got your pain pills?” he asked. She nodded. “You need to take a couple if you haven’t already. Your leg’s hurting, isn’t it?”
“It’s…not too bad.”
“Humor me. When we get to my house, take some pain pills. I’ll fix something to eat.” He smiled. “You can hang out with Boo, who’s been missing you.”
“Yeah, he’s a big baby, isn’t he?”
It was the first unreserved smile Travis had seen from Brooke Valentine, and he nearly tripped over his own feet. The smile transformed her face. One moment, it was drawn, worried and unhappy; the next, her face lit up, her eyes twinkling merrily. Travis noticed for the first time, how full and lush her lips were, with their corners curved upward.
“You should smile more often,” Travis said. He regretted his words instantly as her smile faded slightly. “I just meant you have a nice smile.”
Brooke didn’t reply. Travis slowed his steps, matching his pace to Brooke’s measured limp. Inside his house, he led her to his bedroom. At the door, she pulled back, frowning a little.
“Blow dryer,” he explained, nodding toward the bathroom. “You need to dry your hair.” In the bathroom, Travis pulled a blow dryer from beneath a cabinet and plugged it in. “When you’re done, I’ll be in the kitchen and – whoa!”
Brooke suddenly slammed up against Travis Cooper’s hard chest. He steadied her as she laughed at Boo, who was trying to jump on Brooke and lick her face. Travis put a protective arm out as Brooke ordered the huge dog to sit. Boo obediently sat at her feet, wiggling all over in his excitement at seeing his mistress. Brooke leaned over him, stroking him, kissing him and laughing.
“Oh, so you do sit, you big beast!” Travis said from beside Brooke. She glanced up at him curiously. “The past two days have been like living with an untrained elephant.”
“He didn’t –“
“Oh, no, not that!” Travis laughed. “He went outside every time I took him. No, I just can’t get him to do anything like sitting or staying.”
“Oh,” Bro
oke said, relieved to know her dog hadn’t made any unmentionable messes in her neighbor’s new house. She shook a scolding finger at Boo, saying, “You’ve been a brat, have you?”
As if on cue, the dog lifted one enormous paw and laid it across his eyes as if he were embarrassed. Travis could only stare when the big dog turned and faced away, pressing his nose into the corner where the bathroom cabinet met the wall. After a moment, Boo looked back over his shoulder at Brooke and Travis.
“He wants to know if you forgive him,” Brooke said, one brow arched.
“That dog is too smart for his own good,” Travis laughed. “Or maybe he’s just smarter than I am!” He looked sternly at Boo. “You’re forgiven, but now that I know how well trained you are, I expect your best behavior!” He winked at Brooke. “As I was saying before your dog tried to knock us into next week, I’ll be in the kitchen. Come on in there when you’re done.”
Travis walked out of the bathroom. Boo sat patiently at Brooke’s feet as she blew her hair dry; it only took a few minutes, as it had only been a little damp when Travis woke her. She looked at her reflection, grimacing slightly. She was pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Ah, well, she told herself, it wasn’t like she was anywhere near being in the same league as Travis Cooper when it came to looks. Brooke stuck her tongue out at her face in the mirror, then limped from the bathroom, listening for sounds to guide her to the kitchen.
Brooke paused, listening. She heard a voice other than Travis’ coming from down the hall. She cocked her head, listening for Travis.
“No, she’s just staying here tonight,” he said. “There’s a problem with the electricity at her house, and it’s too cold for her to stay over there.”
“Well, that’s creative, even for you, Coop!” the other voice said laughingly. “What’d you do, turn the power off at the main breaker?”
“It’s not like that, Will,” Travis replied shortly. “In case you’ve forgotten, she was hurt because of me, indirectly. I’m just helping her out, making sure she’s okay, that’s all.”
“Sure,” the first voice drawled. “I’ll believe that when I see it!”
