“Is that a dog?” I tensed, not sure if I should stand my ground or run.
“Hades is a wolf. Gus is actually one of his pups, part sled dog and part wolf. The two of them get together as often as they can to wrestle. Works for me since it tires Gus out.” Levi let go of the collar, and both Hades and Gus rubbed their noses against my belly.
I reached out and ran my hand over the wolf’s back. He was softer than I expected and more friendly than a wild wolf should be, even if he was used to people.
“Gus has got a whole set-up in the garage. If you don’t want him in the house, he can stay out there.”
“Doesn’t he get cold?” I shifted my attention to Gus. His giant tongue swept over my hand.
“It’s heated. He has his own dog door and can come and go whenever he wants. Makes it easier if I’m gone for a long time during the day or end up not coming home overnight.”
I glanced up at him and wondered how often he stayed out all night. Kyle always said his younger brother got around, and if their mom ever wanted to plan a wedding, it would be up to the two of us. I’d been so stupid to think we could have a future together.
“I don’t mind the dog at all.” It might take me a little while to get used to having such a big dog around, but this was his home, and I was the outsider.
“Let me know if he starts to get to you. He can be a big attention hog,” Levi said.
Gus nudged his nose into my belly like he wanted more love. Apparently, he wasn’t too shy to ask for exactly what he needed. No beating around the bush with him. After spending the past few years on pins and needles around Kyle, it was kind of refreshing.
Hades bounded off into the woods when we entered the cabin. As Gus trailed behind us, Levi gave me a quick tour and showed me the spare bedroom where I’d be staying. Unfortunately, it was right next to his, but I wouldn’t be there long. The bedroom sat at the back of the house and looked out over the valley below. His place seemed comfortable enough but was missing the personal touches that made a house a home. It looked like somewhere he stayed from time to time, not somewhere he enjoyed being. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t planning on sticking around long.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asked after he’d set a fresh set of sheets on the double bed. He arched a brow, and I let my gaze linger just long enough to get a good look at him. Hisblondish hair was too long, and a thick layer of scruff covered his cheeks. On someone else, it might have looked too rough, but Levi totally made it work. He was taller than his brother with broader shoulders and a lot more muscle thanks to working in construction. He cleared his throat, making me realize I’d been staring.
“Actually, can I borrow your phone for a few minutes?” Kyle had kept mine, another way of exerting his control over me.
“You don’t have a phone?” His blue eyes narrowed even as he handed it over.
“Not yet.” It was on the growing list of things I needed to get as soon as I could. I turned toward the bedroom he’d said was mine. “Do you mind if I make a quick call?”
“Go ahead. I’m going to jump in the shower so take all the time you need.”
“Thanks.” I slipped into the bedroom and tried not to think about there being a naked man under the same roof. The cheap flip lock on the doorknob wouldn’t prevent a guy like Levi from getting into the bedroom if he wanted to, but it made me feel a tiny bit more secure.
I pulled up my bank’s website in a private browser and logged into my account. Kyle didn’t know that I had a savings account in addition to the checking account I’d combined with his when we moved in together. The tight band around my chest let up when the info popped up on the screen and showed the balance had been untouched. I only had a couple thousand dollars, not nearly enough to move across the country, but it was a start.
CHAPTER 3
LEVI
The sun peekedout from behind the clouds as I stepped onto the front porch after making a quick trip into town. I wondered if Brooklyn was awake yet. I hadn’t seen much of her after I’d brought her back to my place yesterday. Once she’d returned my phone, she’d disappeared into the bedroom, and I’d left her a note saying I was going into town to meet up with a couple of friends at Ace’s bar. Truth was, I didn’t want things to be any more awkward than they already were, so I’d left Gus in charge of protecting the homesite and stayed out late to avoid her.
The smell of bacon greeted me as I opened the front door. Usually, I skipped breakfast and got by on a travel mug of coffee. My stomach rumbled, and I couldn’t shrug off my jacket fast enough.
Brooklyn turned as I entered the kitchen. Her long, blonde hair piled on top of her head, and she had on one of my old t-shirts and a pair of loose-fitting gray sweats. My mouth went dry. She was absolutely stunning. Heat coursed through my veins as a wave of pink swept over her cheeks.
“I hope you don’t mind. I found these in the dresser and didn’t have anything else to sleep in,” she said.
I swallowed the lump lodged in my throat. Seeing her standing in my kitchen, wearing my clothes that were way too big for her, gazing up at me with a pretty pink blush on her cheeks, did something to me. I cleared my throat, trying to chase the feeling away. “Sorry, I should have thought of that last night.”
“No worries. Do you want something to eat? I made plenty for both of us.” She held a spatula in one hand and turned back toward the stove. Gus sat next to her, his eyes following her every move. “It’s just bacon and eggs.”
A wisp of smoke coming out of the toaster caught my attention. I rushed over and yanked the plug from the outlet, but it was too late. The ear-piercing shriek of the smoke alarm on the ceiling sounded.
“Oh no!” Brooklyn flipped on the vent fan over the stove and waved her arms around to dissipate the smoke. “I should have been paying closer attention.”
“Hey,”—I reached for her arm— “It’s okay.”
As soon as my fingers touched her, she flinched. My stomach dropped at the flash of fear in her eyes, and the urge to hunt down my brother flooded through me.
