And, sure, I’d hoped to ease into my indiscretions, maybe shoot the shit for a few minutes at least, but these emotions have been roiling inside me all morning, and the way Lori looks at me, like she genuinely cares, I cover my face with my hands as a sob bubbles out of me. “I made a total fool of myself last night.”
“Oh, honey!” Lori coos, and soon enough I’m wrapped in her arms, feeling nothing but safe, even more tears spill out of me.
I’m blubbering like a giant baby, but I can’t find it in me to stop.
Lori rubs her hand over my heaving back. “Oh, you let it out, and then you tell me everything, sweetie pie.”
Once I finally manage to stop crying, I do tell Lori everything. And I meaneverything. Not just about last night and how I made a complete ass of myself, but I tell her about what happened in Oklahoma, I tell her about my ex, Simon, I even tell her about what happened back in Missouri when I was fifteen.
Lori never once pities me. She never judges me. She just listens, holding my hand the entire time. And I always thought Imight regret telling someone all my deepest, darkest secrets. But I don’t. And I feel lighter, like a big weight has been lifted off my chest. Like I can finally breathe.
Lori shifts, crossing one long, slender leg over the other while never once letting go of my hand, her face contemplative as she gazes out over the water.
“You like him, don’t you, baby?”
I wince. “I mean…” Huffing a sigh, I shrug. “I don’t know. I think so. It’s been so long, I… maybe. But I can’t. I’m not allowed. This…. This is a job. I’m getting paid, Lori. And Brookes said it himself. The reason he chose me was because there was no risk of him falling for me. But… he didn’t stop to think that maybe I might fall for him.”
Lori purses her cherry-red lips, making a thoughtful sound. “Do you want to know what I think?”
I nod, although with the way she’s looking at me I’m not so sure.
“The way he took care of you in Oklahoma, even Jonesy noticed the way he was smiling at you when we watched him play on the TV. And how he protected you last night, risked everything and stood up to those Royale foolsandBlake… it sounds to me like that man might have caught feelings that he doesn’t know what to do with.”
I quirk a brow, not buying that for one second.
“Trust me, baby, if there is one thing I know, it’s men.” She flashes me a cocky grin.
I can’t help but laugh, not doubting that in the slightest.
“I have an idea,” Lori says, her smile scheming. “But it’s going to require another shopping spree.”
“Oh, great…” I mutter, jokingly.
She playfully smacks my thigh. And, with a giggle, I listen to exactly what she says. Because frankly, I think I need all the help I can get.
CHAPTER 26
BROOKES
Ididn’t want Poppy flying without me. I wanted to keep an eye on her, make sure she wasn’t in any pain. The last thing I want is her stuffed into the confines of a commercial flight. So, she came with me on the jet to Texas where she was able to spread out and recline, but since the night on the beach and the morning after in my kitchen, things between us have been strained as hell, so the in-flight atmosphere was steely, and cold, and really fucking quiet since neither of us spoke more than a few words to one another.
I’ve been trying to stay professional. At the end of the day, this is a working relationship after all, but it’s proving more and more difficult because in the rare moments we have crossed paths, I get this uncontrollable urge to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, but I know I can’t do that because… well, because despite the conflicting emotions swirling through my chest every time I think about her, this isn’t real, and come October, it’ll all be over.
When we arrive at our hotel, the lobby is bustling with people—golfers and golf fans alike, obviously in town for the tournament. It’s pure chaos, and as tour security escorts us through to the VIP check-in, I keep my head down, shielding myface with my ball cap as best as I can from the fans snapping cell phone photos of me, my hand never once straying from Poppy’s.
“Howdy, and welcome to the Vedanta Frisco, y’all.” The man behind the counter looks up, his eyes widening when he realizes who I am. “Oh… um… Mr. D-Devereaux, sir.”
I clear my throat, shifting awkwardly. “Please, call me Brookes.”
“Brookes, sir.” The man stumbles over his own damn breath, looking from me to Poppy and back again, cheeks turning red like he might pass out or something. “Let me just bring up your reservation.”
I glance back at Poppy, meeting her eyes. But she doesn’t offer me any emotion whatsoever, masked by that same veil of indifference she’s been wearing since the morning after the beach.
“Ah, here we are!” The man grins, tapping a few things into his computer. “I have you in our beautiful one-bedroom corner penthouse suite, overlooking the?—”
“I’m sorry—” I interject, leaning in and holding up a finger. “Did you say one bedroom?”
The man’s smile wavers. “Uh, y-yes, sir.”
