Tears sprang to Brianna’s eyes, surprising her. She realized they were for Brock, the thought of him getting hurt. Of course, she didn’t want her brother hurt, either, but the reality of him ending up in prison or dying young had been the background music of her life for so long now that it no longer took her by surprise.
“He’ll be all right,” Uncle Sonny said. “But Brian…” He shook his head at the battle he’d lost long ago.
Hannah stuck her finger up in the air as she listened on the phone. “Yes, all right.”
They heard raised voices coming from in front of the store. The police had arrived. Brianna’s body tensed as she prepared to hear gunfire. Uncle Sonny hugged her like she was a little girl again who didn’t know if this time was the last she’d see of her parents. April rubbed her hand up and down her back.
Voices rising. Shouts. Then finally the slam of a heavy car door and an engine starting, then growing distant. Uncle Sonny loosened his grip and Brianna turned to look at Hannah, who nodded at them.
“Okay. Thank you. Yes, a follow-up would be great, thanks.” Hannah disconnected and sighed. “Brian’s in custody. I’m sorry, Brianna.”
She shook her head and shrugged. “I am, too. I always am.”
The bell rang over the front door a couple minutes later and jogging footsteps grew closer. Brock appeared in the hall, his face full of concern.
“Is everyone all right?” His gaze landed on Brianna and softened. And there it was in his eyes, the thing she always hated to see—pity.
She wanted to shrivel up and disappear, just vanish. Or maybe magically rewind the week and never take her fiddle down to the river. Never meet this amazing man who knew for sure now that she came from trash. She’d stay in her lane, work a double-shift at Riversong where she belonged instead, and continue to play in secret where no one could hear her. She’d keep quiet. Brian lived loud enough for both of them.
“We’re fine, man,” Uncle Sonny said. “Good job.” Which was the highest praise her uncle ever gave anyone. Well, except for the Stéphane Grappelli comment. Comparing her to the grandfather of jazz violin had gutted her.
Brock reached out and touched Brianna’s arm as if she were made of spun glass. She kind of hated that.
“I’m fine.”Don’t cry. Do not cry. You will not cry. Okay, you will cry later, alone. She clutched her great-great-great grandmother’s violin case to her chest and pulled away from her uncle. “I need to get to dinner with the others. I’m sorry for everything.” She scooted past Brock—which was a challenge considering how much of the doorway he took up—and fast-walked down the hall.
“Wait up.” Brock caught up with her. “I’ll walk you there.”
“That’s okay. I’m fine. Danger’s over, right?” She pushed the front door open even as she heard her family calling her name behind her. Brock stayed behind.Good.And then she heard the door open and he caught up with her again halfway through the parking lot.
“Brianna. Please.” He was a step behind her.
She stopped and spun around. “You don’t need to do this. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. This is the water I swim in. Everybody knows already, so no big deal, right? You saw how those customers scattered? They were regulars. They knew what was about to go down. And they did the smart thing and got the hell away from me and my family as quickly as possible. You should too.” She turned and started walking again, holding back her tears.
“Like hell I will, Brianna.” He grabbed her arm, firmly but gently, and brought her retreat to a halt. “Like hell am I walking away from you.”
She looked up into his deep blue eyes, dreading what she’d see there. More pity? Contempt?
No, it was worse than that. She saw what looked like love. God help him.
“Brianna—”
“You don’t want this. Trust me,” she said softly. “You don’t want to be the guy they whisper about behind your back, the one they suddenly shun because they can’t figure out why he’d ever hook up withherand all her problems. You’re new to town; you have a chance to find someone good, someone with a nice, quiet family. Don’t waste your reputation on me.”
Those blue eyes darkened. “I’ll decide what I want and what I don’t want. I don’t give one good God damn what other people think. If they can’t see whoyouare, and that you aren’t anything like your brother, that you’re sweet, and kind, and funny, and so damned talented, then they’re stupid and small-minded and I don’t need their shit.”
He grabbed her hand in his. “Brianna, I wish you could see what I see in you. Your light shines so strongly when you let it. I can’t look away. I won’t. Give me a chance. Please. Trust me.”
What?Hewanted a chance fromher? She suddenly saw them standing there as if she were an outsider—this huge, hulking man gripping the hand of a tiny woman as if she were the strong one. The absurdity almost made her laugh, and that stopped her from wanting to run away. She thought he’d be angry with her, that he’d feel like she wasn’t worth it if he knew about her brother. Her parents.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mention my brother sooner. I wasn’t trying to hide anything or,” she shook her head, “maybe I was, but it’s not that I don’t trust you. He’s just not a daily part of my life anymore. I guess I was hoping he’d stay that way.”
Relief filled Brock’s eyes. “Hey, I get it. And it wasn’t totally out of the blue. April told me about him.”
Her mouth shaped itself into an O. “Iknewit when I walked up to you two that you were talking about me. God, she’ssucha gossip.” Brianna planted her face against his sternum. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his chest.
He put his arms around her, the greatest feeling in the world. “What are you sorry for? I get it. Okay, I was a little confused at first as to why you hadn’t mentioned you had a twin brother, but the second he walked into the coffee shop, I got it. And now I know why you ordered a virgin Margarita at dinner. You’re afraid of going down that same path.” He sneaked his hand under her chin and tilted it up with his finger. “You and he are nothing alike and you’re trying to build your own life away from him. Got it.”
Relief flooded through her. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
