“That’s a joke, right?” But he winked.
He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head. “Seriously, I don’t ever want you to think that I paint you with the same brush as your brother. You may be twins, but he chose his path and you’ve chosen yours and those are two very different directions. I haven’t met your parents—”
She noticed him cut off a word and wondered if that word was ‘yet.’
“—but just knowing the rest of your family now, it pisses me off a thousand times more to think that anyone,anyone, calls you trash. You are not trash. You will never be trash, Brianna, and neither is your family.”
She smiled and looked up at him through her lashes.I’m falling in love with you. But the words wouldn’t pass her lips. Not yet.
But soon.
Chapter 14
Brock drove Brianna and Valkyrie to the festival grounds. When they got to the gate, Jake, Kyle, and Wolf were already waiting for Brock just inside the wooden structure, which reminded him of a short, covered bridge. Two long tables had been set up on either side of the openings to check bags for weapons, illegal drugs, or anything else that didn’t belong on the grounds. Check-in had just opened and people were queued up for their wristbands at a different structure outside the gate. Even though the music festival officially started the next day, people were allowed to roam around the grounds, shop the vendors, and play in the river.
Kyle and the police department had stepped up security now that the crowd was gathering, but the atmosphere was still light and fun. Most of the attendees were families with kids, just there to have a good time. Local amateur musicians brought their guitars and other instruments to jam in the shade. Everyone’s things were checked on the tables, including Brianna’s purse and fiddle case. She had a meeting right away before they loaded up everyone into three vans to visit a park for part of the day so she petted Valkyrie after Brock turned the dog’s leash over to Kyle, and gave Brock a long kiss before heading on through and into the festival grounds.
Wolf grinned. “I was gonna say you missed a good little concert at the ranch last night with Rachael singing and Jake on guitar, but I guess you don’t mind.”
“Yeah, I was where I’m supposed to be.” And he wanted to stay there. Every minute he spent with Brianna, whether it was giving her pleasure, talking, laughing, listening to her music, or holding her all through the night, convinced him more and more that she was The One. He hadn’t had that connection with his previous girlfriend and always knew it wouldn’t be permanent, so he wasn’t that surprised when she’d broken things off. But with Brianna, the attraction was instantaneous and complete. Like Wolf said, he’d never in a million years admit to believing in love at first sight, but now he realized that’s what it was. From the moment he saw her in the river, Brock knew—knew—she was his. He wasn’t just falling in love with her—he was already there. And there was no place he’d rather be.
“Uh-oh, Pup.” Jake nudged Kyle. “He’s got The Look.”
“Yes, yes he does,” Kyle agreed. “Damn it all.”
“Boss, I’m good. Solid,” Brock said. “I’m on it.”
Kyle grinned. “I’m not pulling you from the job, Badge, so unknot your panties. You’ll be…” Kyle’s attention was stolen by raised voices at one of the tables. Brock turned and sure enough, good old Jerold was causing a scene.
“Sir, we cannot let you in with that,” one of the volunteers said. She looked distressed, trying to be firm but at the same time nice. But Jerold didn’t deserve nice and he proved it.
“I have an open carry permit so I am well within my legal rights to bring this wherever I damn well please, you old cow.”
Shit. The men jogged over to the table, where other festival-goers were now backing away from the quickly-brewing fight. The volunteer put her hands on her hips, all traces of nice gone. “What did you just call me?”
“You heard me, Bessy. Now give—”
Brock had his hand on the pistol lying on the table before Jerold could get another word out. “The fuck?”
Jerold sneered at him. His eyes were red-rimmed as he wiped his nose. “Get your fucking hands off my property now before I call—”
“Call who, me?” Sergeant Williams stepped up behind Jerold. “There are no weapons on the grounds now or ever unless you are with security or law enforcement and you are definitely neither.”
Jerold paled, then his face flushed with anger. “And I wouldn’t trust any of you to babysit a rabid squirrel. I’m armed because it’sdangerousaround here, since you can’t seem to do your job.” Jerold stabbed a finger into the sergeant’s chest. Williams’ eyes flared but he refused to take the bait. He crossed his arms instead.
“What exactly are you implying, Mr. Glass?”
“One of the contestants is trying to sabotage me, and we all know whosheis.” He looked pointedly at Brock. “Not only will I be carrying, but I will be complaining to the people in charge of this joke of a festival that there is clear favoritism going on.” This time he looked at Jake before turning back to Williams. “But that’s the least of my worries, when my life is in danger.”
People were obviously trying to ignore Jerold while at the same time listening in. Moms pulled their little ones closer and others shared looks. Brock, Jake, Wolf, and Kyle formed a half-circle around Jerold and Williams while the volunteers directed people to the other table.
“How exactly is your life in danger, Mr. Glass?” the sergeant asked. The other men perked up their ears and Brock tried to remain calm, even though he wanted to break the little man in half like a spent toothpick.
Jerold crossed his arms. “You let a raving-mad felon go who has connections with the same low-class bitch who’s trying to sabotage me. I suggest you do something about that.”
On either side of him, Kyle and Wolf grabbed Brock’s arms before he could go through with his mental threat. He didn’t even have time to process that Brian was apparently back on the street—all he saw was a nail that needed hammering.
Jerold smirked when he saw that he’d gotten to Brock, which did more to calm him than being physically held back.Fuck him. Brock took in an eight-second breath, held it, and breathed out at the same pace, just as he’d been taught. In the meantime, he listened to Jerold carry on his tirade at Williams.
