And really, why would Audrey want anything to do with me? She had to still be mourning the loss of her husband.
After everything she’d been through, the last thing she needed was another man with a military past full of baggage blowing up her life.
“But for what it’s worth ...” I half turned with a grin. “This brother thing? You’re a natural.”
Chapter Three
Audrey
Being placed in one of the two honeymoon suites at Silver Ridge Retreat, which my ex-husband owned, was probably the epitome of irony. Nothing like spending the night alone in a room designed for romance, especially after a break-in at my home where my ex had to come to my rescue.
Thank God for him being there in the nick of time. Thank God for a lot of things. Including the fact I had a safe place to stay and could be near my son, even ifsafealso meant a little awkward thanks to sharing a roof with Trevor.
The guest rooms were tucked in one wing of the house and away from Trevor’s living quarters, so I wasn’t sleeping right next to him, at least.
His sister, Eden, had a cute cabin at the back of the property, where their parents had lived when they ran the place. Her boyfriend often bunked with her. He was the sheriff and the first to arrive at the scene of the crime last night when Trevor had called him.
I took a seat on the edge of the four-poster bed, which would remain unused for its intended lovemaking purpose, and clutched my phone to check my last text.
Trevor had unlocked my cell using Face ID while I was asleep. He’d warned me to switch to a numerical password, and I’d dismissed his advice. I should have listened. He’d contacted my brother despite my wishes.
Ryder had enough on his plate. The last thing I wanted was to add to his burdens.
I pressed my free hand to the side of my head where that bastard last night had clocked me with his gun, sending me into unconscious no-woman’s-land for a few minutes, only to wake up with Trevor shaking me and no bad guys in sight.
The ibuprofen the doctor had insisted I take after Trevor forced me to see him to rule out a concussion hadn’t done much to help. The dull, pulsing ache was even worse this morning.
But I’m alive.I wasn’t seriously hurt and hadn’t been taken. Chase was safe and hadn’t lost his mother. And my home wasn’t haunted. That eerie sensation I’d felt hadn’t been a ghost. More like my instincts warning me of real danger.
Ryder:I’ll be there tomorrow with Seraphina and Reed.
Ryder:In the meantime, Alex will watch you until then. I’m sorry I won’t be able to come today myself.
I stared at the screen, fingers hovering, unsure how to respond. How to convince him not to come.
Me:Someone broke in. Burglary gone wrong. Just bad luck. Story of my life.
I wanted to believe that, at least.
The nagging chill crawling up my spine from knowing those men had bypassed Trevor’s advanced security measures told me otherwise.
I decided to delete thestory of my lifeline before hitting send. No need to give Ryder more fuel for questions I didn’t want to answer. He barely knew my story. Just bits and blurry pieces.
We’d only seen each other a few brief times since Christmas, and my baggage wasn’t something to unload over a short weekend or a phone call.
I kept telling myself I was waiting for the right moment to share more, but maybe I was afraid to open up.
Me:All that matters is Chase is fine.
His reply came instantly.
Ryder:And That You Are Fine, Yes?
I snorted softly.
Me:Easy with the caps. I can hear you from ... wherever you currently are.
Ryder:Unfortunately, I’m in Wyoming freezing my ass off. And sorry, this brother thing is new to me.
