Brooke crossed her arms and watched Tyler pace back and forth in the Jeffries’ living room. Once she’d gotten Emily on the phone, she’d elected to deliver her startling news in person.

Tyler stopped and looked at her. His eyes were an icy silver, his face a cold mask of fury. Even though his countenance was a little scary to behold, she refused to let him see her apprehension.

“So that’s all he said?”

“Yeah, that’s all he said.” Brooke looked at Emily, who sat in a recliner. “I can’t believe that Simon didn’t tell you about being discharged.”

“I can,” Tyler said. “He’s always been a fucking sidewinder.”

Brooke grinned. “Sounds like someone’s been spending a lot of time with Tucker.”

Tyler’s expression relaxed into a smile for a moment. “I just saw him yesterday, so I guess some of his sayings are fresh in my mind.”

Tucker McGee, the best mechanic in Cooper’s Creek and arguably in Colorado, was known for his kindness and for speaking his mind, usually in very colorful terms.

Emily said, “There has to be a good reason why Simon didn’t mention this.”

“Yeah. He’s up to something,” Tyler said. “That’s his good reason.”

“I disagree,” Emily said. “Simon has lived up to his responsibility to Hayley and stuck to our legal agreement. He’s never missed a child support payment or done anything to make us distrust him.”

“Except get Lizzie killed,” Tyler said.

Emily pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling with anger. “I can see that you’re not going to be reasonable about this. You’ll always hate him.”

“That’s right,” Tyler agreed. “I can’t believe that you keep sticking up for him.”

Brooke broke in before World War III erupted between them. “Look, I think you’re both right. Something is going on with Simon.”

Tyler gestured at Brooke. “See? She agrees with me.”

“I also agree with Emily, GQ. Simon has toed the line in every way,” Brooke said. “Fighting with each other over this won’t accomplish anything. Simon can’t be planning anything too tricky since he’s a deputy now. He has to obey the law now more than ever.”

Tyler’s shoulders relaxed and he went over to the recliner. He sat on the arm and took Emily’s hand. “She’s right. The last thing I want to do is fight with you.” He kissed her knuckles. “I’m sorry.”

Emily smiled up at him and Brooke was glad that her attempt to avoid a huge blowup between her friends had worked. “I’m sorry, too. So, what do we do about this?”

Brooke said, “I say let it ride for a day or two. He knows that I’d tell you. I’ll bet that he gets in touch by Tuesday or Wednesday. If not, call him.”

Tyler scowled at her. “I hate it when you’re right.”

She tossed him a saccharin smile. “I know. Well, my work here is done. I’m going to go home and get some things done. I don’t want to be called unless it’s a dire emergency. I swear that every time Robert and I get together, something happens.”

Emily smiled. “When you guys get married, you’ll have to schedule days when no one is allowed to disturb you.”

“You’re so not funny.” Brooke gave her a withering stare. “I told you, we’re not serious yet.”

Tyler’s lips twitched. “Are you exclusive?”

Brooke’s pulse jumped. She and Robert hadn’t discussed that yet, but the thought of him seeing another woman sent hot jealousy racing through her veins. “The subject hasn’t come up yet.”

“But your body language says that you’d rip off the face off any woman who came onto him,” Tyler said.

Brooke rose from the couch. “Damn straight, I would. Well, I don’t want to keep Robert waiting. I’ll call you tomorrow. And no fighting, you two. I should charge for playing your marriage counselor.”

Emily gave Brooke’s ass a playful kick as she walked by. “Get out of here.”

“Gladly.”

Brooke left the living room and made her way to the kitchen. She paused at the kitchen screen door, watching Robert as he played with Hayley and TJ. He’d reluctantly agreed to keep the kids busy while she talked to Tyler and Emily. A blanket had been spread out on the grass, upon which a mess of dolls, doll clothes, and baby toys lay strewn about.

Hayley laughed when Robert made Barbie sashay across the blanket to TJ, who wanted to chew on her hair. Robert distracted TJ from the doll with a teething ring. It seemed like he was experienced with kids.

Despite what she’d said to Emily, seeing Robert with the children ignited a yearning in her for kids of her own.

“He looks good with them, doesn’t he?”

Brooke jumped at Emily’s voice behind her. “Why are you sneaking up on me?”

Emily’s laugh irritated Brooke. “I didn’t. I’m following you out so I can watch the kids since you’re leaving.”

Of course, Emily couldn’t leave the children alone. “Oh, yeah. Right. Okay, well, I’ll see you later.”

She opened the door and walked out into the sunshine. Robert looked over and smiled at her. In the two years that she and Jamal had been together, she’d never felt as happy over seeing his smile as she did Robert’s.

Everything about Robert was genuine, with no artifice or hidden motives. His smile and laugh were true expressions of happiness, not designed to dazzle and distract her during an argument when she gotten close to the truth regarding his actions.

Brooke kissed Hayley and TJ goodbye as Emily sat down with them and Robert got up. Bidding them farewell, they got in Robert’s SUV and drove off.

* * *

Robert kept a white-knuckled hold on the steering wheel as he navigated a turn. He wished that it was that easy to keep a hold on his slippery emotions. While spending a little time with Hayley and TJ had been fun, but it had released memories that he kept locked up tight.

Focusing on his breathing, Robert combatted the panic attack he felt coming on by thinking about work. Every day was busy, but Mondays were usually chaotic. As office manager, it was his responsibility to keep things running smoothly to provide the best customer service possible.

He had some unfinished accounting work to catch up and he’d have to start working on payroll since it was pay week. Hopefully, none of their techs or front-end staff would call off tomorrow.

Help me! Please, help me!

The voice came out of nowhere, startling Robert so much that he jerked the wheel to the left a little. He corrected the car, glad that no vehicles had been approaching from the opposite direction.

“Robert, are you okay?”

He gave Brooke what he hoped was a natural smile. “Yeah. Sure. I thought I saw a groundhog about to run out in the road.” Forgive me for lying. He couldn’t tell her the truth, that the voice of a child he’d let die had screamed in his mind, an echo of a painful past.

“Oh. Okay,” Brooke said. “TJ is growing so fast. I’m glad that Emily decided to keep breastfeeding him for a whole year. They supplement with formula a little, but she mostly breastfeeds him.”

Robert felt the back of his neck begin to sweat. He had to switch the subject. “That’s great. What did Emily and Tyler say about Simon?”

Brooke gave him a curious look, but related the conversation to him.

“I think that’s a good way to handle the situation.” Robert turned into Brooke’s driveway and parked the car. “Well, here you are, all safe and sound.”

She put a hand on his forearm. “Would you like to come in for a while?”

The come-hither expression on her face left no doubt in Robert’s mind that heaven awaited him inside. Any other time, he’d have already been out of the vehicle, rushing her through her front door. However, he still felt rattled and needed a little time alone to regain his equilibrium.

“I’d love to, but I have some stuff to catch up on at home. What about tonight?” He should be back in control by then.

She made a dismayed face. “It’s wash-and-go night.”

“So? Your hair will need drying time. We could watch a movie or something,” he said.

Putting a hand to her hair, which just brushed her shoulders, Brooke said, “I don’t know if I want you to see me that way yet.”

“Come on. It’s going to happen sooner or later,” Robert said. “You’re beautiful no matter what.”

Her shy attitude was endearing because it revealed her vulnerable side. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“All right,” she said, grudgingly. “But if you make one wisecrack about my hair, I’m tossing you out on your ass.”

He leaned over and kissed her lush lips. The contact with her soft mouth almost made him reconsider staying, but he’d better not press his luck. “I’ll see you around six?”

“Six is fine.”

“Do you like Chinese?” he asked.

Her eyes lit up. “Love it.”

“Great. I’ll bring us a smorgasbord.”

Leaning further into him, she caressed his shoulders and ran a hand up his neck. “Bring a change of clothes for tomorrow while you’re at it.”

Her invitation was clear and he couldn’t refuse it. “I’ll do that.”

Her kiss brought out a tempest of passion in him and once again Robert was hard-pressed to resist staying. Their embrace ended slowly and they rested their foreheads against each other.

“Six?” Brooke whispered.

“Six,” Robert confirmed.

With a parting smile, she got out and walked up the porch steps. The enticing sway of her hips made Robert blow out a breath before he put the car in reverse and backed out of her driveway.

* * *

Working at home that afternoon, Robert decided to discuss a sensitive topic with Brooke before things became serious between them. Correction; before she became serious about him. He was in love with Brooke, but when she learned he did not want children, he was pretty sure it would be over. He didn’t want Brooke to fall for him and then get hurt by his life choices, so he needed to have a very tough conversation—tonight.

After Cletus’ escape act the previous night, Robert had decided to check the rest of the wooden pasture fencing for weak places. The manual labor kept his demons at bay for a while, but eventually, they seeped out through the crack in the lid of the mental box where Robert had imprisoned them.

A combination of things had triggered the agonizing memories; loving Brooke so much that he’d begun envisioning a future with her and the fact that he didn’t want kids. However, he knew that Brooke did, so they needed to discuss whether their relationship could last despite their different stances.

Robert had been looking forward to the evening with Brooke, but as he finished his chores, his anticipation turned to dread because he was on the brink of losing the only woman he’d ever truly loved.