Page 8 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“I don’t think she’ll leave. I think tonight scared her. But you’re right, I’ve left her alone long enough.”

Turning on my heel, I head back to Brooke, thoughts swirling. If I can convince her to change jobs... Somehow make her believe it was her idea…

I need to know more about her, who her friends are, who she might see in Winter Lake that could⁠—

Her grandmother!

Bess Parker would be the perfect person to help with this. Then there’s Bess’ sister Della. Both women are deeply embedded in the town, the social and gossip parts of it. All I have to do is have a conversation with either woman. Drop the right hints and information.

I have no idea how much anyone else knows about what Brooke’s been dealing with and it’s not my story to tell. But I can talk about my part in it. Brooke hasn’t asked me to keep it quiet—and why would she?—so if I happen to have breakfast or lunch at Della’s Dina and either of the Parker sisters are there…

Yeah, that might be a way to get Brooke to see changing jobs is a good idea without telling her it is.

I just have to hope Brooke doesn’t find out I’ve gone behind her back. And if she does, that she understands my actions aren’t about control or manipulation. I don’t want to control her but after what I witnessed tonight, what she just told us, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she’s safe.

BROOKE

It’s been more than a week since I’ve seen my ex. You would think that would make me happy. And it does. Except I can’t stop looking over my shoulder, can’t stop holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. I don’t believe Granger scaring him off the other night is the end of it. I was foolish to even think it was a possibility.

The more I think about everything, the time before I agreed to a date with my ex, the few months we dated, the weeks since I told him it wasn’t working for me, the more I know he has spent too much time focused on me to give up that easily.

Do I wish it was that simple? Hell, yes.

Do I believe it is? Hell, no.

As Chief Yunker advised, I’m cautious at work. Especially going to and from my car. I’m never alone. Not even when I use the restroom. I’ve made sure of that.

One unexpected good outcome of all of this has been reconnecting with Felix. He’s not the boy I knew in high school. The accident that almost killed him changed him in a lot of ways, and I’m not just referring to the scars on his face. Although, underneath all that, and in spite of the years since we spoke, he’s the same kind-hearted guy I remember.

And his wife? Riley is such a sweetheart. It’s easy to see why he fell for her so fast. She’s someone I can see myself becoming friends with. Good friends. Which reminds me, I need to give her a call or send a message to see if there is anything I can do for them now that Felix has gone home.

It was great to see him go, but my days aren’t quite as full as they were now that he’s been discharged. I talk to some of the other patients when delivering their meals but I miss spending my lunch hour in Felix’s room talking to him and Riley. Now I work through lunch, spend that hour surrounded by people. I don’t want to be anywhere my ex might be able to find me alone.

“So, any plans this weekend?”

I smile at Michelle. She’s the other good thing to come from this situation. “No. We’re supposed to be getting a cold snap Friday night so I was thinking of picking one of the books on my TBR and hanging by the fire.”

“Oh, that sounds so good.” She laughs. “There’s no way I can do that with three-year-old twins running around.”

“You love it.” I’ve worked with Michelle for more than a year and until the last week, I didn’t even know she had kids. But I can tell by the way she talks about them—and her husband—she loves the chaos.

“I do. I wouldn’t swap them for even five minutes of reading.” The grin on her face falls and my gaze swings in the direction she’s looking. “I think you’ve got a flat tire.”

She’s right. A cold shiver works its way down my back and I glance around. I can’t see anyone else out here but my skin crawls and the hairs on my neck stand on end.

“Do you have a spare?” She moves closer to my car.

I do. But I’m not sure I want to change the tire. I don’t like the idea of being out here on my own even if I’ll have a tire iron in my hands. “Yes.”

“All right.” Michelle pushes up her sleeves. “Let’s get it changed so you can be on your way.”

“Oh, no, I can’t ask you to⁠—”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering, and we haven’t talked about it”—she looks at me pointedly—“but I know shit went down with the guy you were seeing. I’m not leaving you out here on your own.”

The relief that floods my veins has my legs going weak and I have to put a hand on my car for support. I don’t even get thank you out when her arm is wrapped around my shoulders.

“We’ve got this. And if we don’t, I’ll call Dan to come and do it.”