ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (30 page)

“You don’t seem yourself tonight.  Are you feeling ok?” 

Brooke shook her head.  “Not really, but I’ll be fine.” 

“I can send you home.” 

“No, it’s fine.  You know I need the money.” 

Both men watched as she resumed her construction of the mixed drinks.  Jack spoke softly. 

“She’s a good girl.  She’s trying to get herself a car.” 

“Does she live with you?” 

“Nah.  After she graduated college she had a rough spell.  She had a boyfriend but it ended badly.  Instead of coming home she started renting a room from one of her college friends.” 

“Independent.”  Blaine simply stated, sipping on his near empty beer. 

“That, my friend, is an understatement.  She’s tough as nails, that one.” 

Blaine noticed Jeanette and laughed.  “She’s working the pool room again?” 

Jack grimaced.  “Now
that one
will be the death of me.”   He wandered away, barking orders to his younger daughter about how many tables she had neglected, and checked on the few men sitting at the bar already. 

A curly red haired woman rushed in through the front door, tied an apron on and quickly pulled her hair up into a bun.  Jack grinned at her and gave her a mock bow.

“Lady Penelope Travis!” 

The woman cut her eyes sharply at Jack as she dug under the bar for an order pad and serving tray. 

“Don’t start with me, Jack!  I’m in no mood!  My old man’s in a foul mood, the baby was squalling when I left, and those mangy other two were plying on the XBOX.”  She walked away grumbling about a sink full of dirty dishes that would no doubt still be there when she returned home.  Blaine was amused how she transformed when she went to her first table.  Her posture relaxed and he could hear tinkling laughter. 

Jack shook his head.  “Penny’s a hoot.”

“I see.  Hey, let me go ahead and get some mozzarella sticks and a side salad.”

“We only have ranch and honey mustard.”

“Ranch is fine, and I’ll take another beer.” 

Jack nodded and went into the kitchen area.  Blaine looked out over the restaurant and frowned when he saw Brooke stop near the front doors and lean her shoulder in like she was losing her balance.  Blaine slid off the bar stool and went to her.  Her face looked even paler than when Jack had introduced them, and her head and hands held a tremor. 

“Hey.”  Blaine said softly, stooping slightly to look into her face.  Her eyes were watery and slightly blood shot.  “You don’t look so good.  Come sit down.” 

Jack led her to the empty table her assailant had sat in the night before.  He grimaced, wishing he hadn’t placed her there, but she didn’t seem to notice.  Poor woman probably didn’t even realize that man had been in the bar the night before anyway. 

Jack saw Blaine helping her to the table and rushed around the bar to them.  Brooke’s breath was rapid. 

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.  Get her some water.” 

Blaine sat down and took Brooke’s hands in his.  They were cold and clammy. 

She’s having a panic attack. 

Jack returned with the ice water and encouraged her to drink it.  She sipped it, and sputtered slightly like she was choking.  Jack’s eyes were full of concern as he knelt before her. 

“What is it?  Can’t you tell me?”

“I just…I just don’t feel well.”  She avoided her father’s eyes. 

“Ok.  I’ll have one of the girls take you home.” 

Brooke shook her head.  “It’s too busy.  I’ll just stay until Carleigh can come and get me.” 

“You’re in no condition to stay!” 

The front door opened and a small group of men and women walked in laughing and talking.  Jack looked at them, then back at his daughter. 

“I can take her home.” 

“I don’t know…” 

Blaine understood the man’s hesitation, he also understood the way Brooke looked up at him with large fearful eyes.  He was a stranger. 

“I promise, no harm will come to her.” 

Jack nodded, a frown pinned to his lips.  “What about your food?”

“I’ll be back for it.”  Blaine stood and held his hand out to the girl.  “Do you need your purse or anything before we go?”

She nodded, and Jack walked away from the table, returning moments later with her little black handbag.  Blaine knew as soon as she saw his truck, she would know who…and what he was, but that wasn’t his concern at the moment.  Either she would accept it, or she wouldn’t. 

Light from the summer sky was failing as they walked into the parking lot.  He watched her reaction as the truck came into view.  Brooke’s footsteps faltered, but she regained her composure, allowing Blaine to open the passenger door for her.  He could feel her eyes on him as he walked around the front of the truck and climbed in.  Neither spoke as he started the engine and put the truck in gear. 

“Where do you live?” 

“Magnolia Place.” 

Blaine gave her a half smile.  “You’ll have to tell me where that is, honey, remember I’m from the ‘upcountry’.” 

“Make a left out of here.  Three lights down, make a right onto Magnolia.  It’s at the end of the street on the left.” 

Blaine nodded.  He could sense her eyes on him again.  She let out a deep but shaky sigh. 

“You…”

“Yes.”  He knew what she wanted to know, and a simple answer seemed the best course of action. 

They didn’t speak again until he pulled in past Magnolia Pace’s paint peeled sign.  It was a small stucco colored apartment building.  He doubted there were more than eight or nine apartments there, but it had a quaint look with tall shade trees and a few unruly box hedges bordering the place.

“Do I just let you off here?”

“My apartment’s around back.” 

Blaine drove around the building and parked where she indicated at the far side of the structure.  His headlights shone on the gold colored “12” on the dark green door. 

Brooke stared at her hands.  “I can’t thank you enough for last night.”  Her voice was small and sounded far away. 

“You don’t have to thank me.”

She turned her head, looking at him sharply. 

“How were you there?  Were you waiting for me too?”

Blaine rubbed his jaw.  “No.  I saw that man last night and…he didn’t seem right.  I saw the way he looked at you when you came and went out of the kitchen.  Your Dad said he had been there a few times already.”  Blaine shrugged.  “I just wanted to make sure was all.”

Brooke nodded her acceptance if his explanation.  “I’m glad you stayed.”   She opened the passenger door and stopped before shutting it.  She kept her eyes on the ground.  “After you eat, I’d like for you to come back here.” 

“Why?”

“I would like to ask you a few other questions.”

Blaine’s muscles tensed.  He knew exactly what she wanted to talk about. 

“Sure.” 

He waited for her to unlock the apartment door.  She threw her hand up once, before disappearing behind the closed door.

Blaine walked back into the bar, and the relief that passed over Jack’s face was a near tangible thing. 

“How is she?”

“I think she’s fine.  Could just be a stomach bug.”  He easily lied. 

Jack nodded.  “I’ll get you another set of mozzarella sticks.”  Blaine had no doubt the man would call Brooke to make sure she was fine before coming back out.

An hour later Blaine was knocking on the door of apartment 12 at Magnolia Place.  Brooke opened the door, her hair damp and her face looked freshly scrubbed, and held it open silently for him. 

The front door opened immediately to a sparsely furnished living room.  He could see a light on in the adjacent kitchen, Brooke shut the front door and walked into the kitchen.  Blaine assumed he was supposed to follow.  A hallway lead off of the kitchen where three doors were closed. 

“Please sit.”  Brooke said, as she poured two mugs of coffee.  Blaine complied, lowering himself slowly onto one of the two light brown kitchen chairs.  The kitchen was small, but sparkling clean.  He smiled lightly as his eyes rested on a canister set that looked like three pigs, each one smaller than the first.  Brooke’s eyes followed his. 

“My roommate has a thing for pigs.  Do want anything in your coffee?” 

Blaine shook his head no. 

Brooke sat across from him and wrapped her hands around her mug.  “I personally have a thing for wolves, but I’ve never seen one that quite looked like you.”  Her eyes were steady, and Blaine fought the urge to squirm. 

“I’m sure you haven’t.” 

“What would I call you?  A werewolf?”  Her eyes held the hint of disbelief.  Blaine found himself irritated with that look. 

“You know what you saw.  What would you call me?” 

“A monster?”

“You could, but would a real monster save a woman from rape and possibly death?”

Brooke stood suddenly, beginning a short circuit of the kitchen.  She touched a few items in no particular order, her head down.  She finally stopped and gave him a level stare. 

“No, I suppose not.” 

Blaine tilted his head to the side, his eyes narrowed slightly.  “Why did you ask me to come back here?”

“I don’t know.  I just needed to hear the words I guess.” 

Blaine felt a tug in his chest, like a string was attached to her and she was reeling him in.  He stood and walked carefully to her.  She watched, but didn’t flinch, her large blue eyes simply stared at him.  Blaine stopped in front of her and brushed a stray hair from her cheek.  She smelled like flowers and something woody. 

“Do I scare you?”  Blaine whispered.

“No.”  She answered firmly.  “In all honesty, you were…
beautiful
.”  Her voice trailed away at the end.

Blaine had never been a truly spontaneous man.  He thought things through, but ever since his snap decision to swing his truck onto the southbound exit and head to Williamsburg, he felt like perhaps that part of him was changing.  To affirm the thought, he ran his hands along Brooke’s jaw and into the still damp hair at the back of her head. 

“I want to kiss you.” 

“Then do it.” 

Blaine lowered his head, forcing her face to his with pressure from his hands at the back of her head.  He lips were full and soft.  He didn’t require a passionate kiss, he just needed to taste her.  It nearly proved too harsh of a demand on him, and he flicked his tongue lightly onto her lower lip before lifting his head. 

Brooke’s eyes searched his face.  “I’ve never allowed a complete stranger to kiss me before.” 

Blaine thought about it for a second, then grinned.  “I don’t think
I’ve
ever kissed a complete stranger before.”  

Brooke laughed, and just like that, all tension evaporated. 

A couple of hours later, the front door opened then slammed shut. A female voice rang out clearly. 

“Some
asshole
parked in my spot!” 

Blaine pointed to himself, and mouthed the question, “Me?” 

Brooke nodded, and giggled, as Carleigh stepped into the kitchen.  She froze when she saw Blaine. 

“Who’s this?” 

“Umm, this is my new friend Blaine.” 

“Huh.” 

Blaine stood and held his hand out.  “Nice to meet you.” 

The woman recovered and shook his hand.  “How did the two of you meet?”

Brooke licked her lips.  “He…”

“She was sick at her Dad’s restaurant earlier, I gave her a ride.” 

Carleigh looked from one to the other, trying to figure the situation out.  Her short dark hair fluttered slightly as her head whipped back to Brooke.  “Yeah, I called to see if you needed a ride.  Jack said you were already gone.” 

“I better get going.  It’s late.”  Blaine nodded to Carleigh.  “Nice meeting you.” 

Carleigh watched him with wary brown eyes.  “Yeah, you too.”  She shot Brooke a look as she also stood and followed him to the front door.  They stepped out into the humid night. 

“I don’t think that woman was happy to see me.”

Brooke made a dismissive gesture.  “She’s just still freaked out about last night.” 

Blaine’s face sobered.  “Are you ok?”

Brooke nodded.  “I think so.  Sometimes his face flashes through my mind.”  She chewed on her bottom lip.  “Do you think he died?”

“No, but I bet wherever he’s at, he has one hell of a headache.  I wish I had called the police afterwards…you know…after I was back to being a human.” 

“Yeah, I kind of wish that too.  I guess none of us were thinking straight.” 

Blaine shook his keys and smiled.  “See you later, Brooke.” 

“Will you?” 

Blaine opened the driver door, knowing he wanted nothing more than to see her again.  “Tell you what, I’ll come by in the morning and see how you’re feeling.”