Cerise went up to the boy and squatted beside him, waiting until he lifted his head to look at her. “It’s okay, Finn. I haven’t told you this, but I grew up in a girls’ home too.”
“Really?” His eyes grew wide at her revelation, and she smoothed a hand across his brow.
“Yep, my parents died when I was about your age. I was put into care and, yes, I went to some nice homes, but then some awful ones too. I got close to being adopted a couple of times, but something always seemed to happen.” He laid his hand on her cheek, the gesture touching her soul in its sweetness and innocence. “I understand what you’re going through, Finn. But I want you to know that you will always have a place here in my home. Always.”
Even if she couldn’t adopt him, she would make sure that he was safe.
Take Brodie up on his offer and your chances of getting Finn are better. You know it’s not going to be a hardship. You really like the guy, and his kisses set you on fire.
Cerise shut down her inner thoughts, but she couldn’t deny that the more Finn said, the more she wanted to ensure that her adoption application had the best possible chance. She would take Brodie up on his offer of them dating and presenting a united front. As her inner voice said, it wouldn’t be a hardship at all.
Ed rummagedthrough the kid’s drawers in his bedroom. There wasn’t much in them, but there had to be something somewhere that would let him know where the kid was staying. Poppy wasfucking hopeless. She wasn’t even that good of a lay, but the second he saw the letter and she confirmed she was the kid’s trustee, he wanted to get his hands on that money.
Fuck, the amount listed would mean he could get out of fucking Texas and start over somewhere else. With the amount of money that kid was going to get, he could live comfortably for years.
Now all he had to do was find the kid and get rid of him. Marry Poppy, then get rid of her and, as her husband, he’d get the money. He could put up with the bitch for a year.
Slamming the drawer shut he wandered over to the wooden table by the kid’s bed. Opening the drawer, he found what he was looking for.
“Perfect.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The musclesin his shoulder screamed as Brodie hefted the saddle off his horse and carried it to the tack room. He was glad the day was over. He couldn’t wait to go home, shower and then collapse in his bed. After working the fire until the early hours of the morning, he’d arrived back at the ranch in time to get ready for his workday. Once he got the horse settled and everything done for the day, he climbed into his truck, started it so the cab could cool down after being in the sun all day, and rested his head on the steering wheel.
Thank God he only had a short drive home; otherwise, he may have taken a nap in his truck. He startled when someone tapped on his window. He looked up and found Mitch staring at him.
Brodie lowered the window, hoping Mitch wasn’t about to tell him he was needed for something else around the ranch. He didn’t mind doing overtime, just not tonight. “Hey Mitch, what’s up?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. You okay?”
“Yeah, just tired. I got called out to the wildfire and by the time I got back, it was time to start my day here. I’m about to head home and collapse face down on my bed.”
Mitch chuckled. “I know all about those days, but you know all you have to do is talk to Stu, the foreman, and explain that you’ve been out for the HVFD, and he’ll give you a couple hours off so you can rest up.”
“I know, but I haven’t been here long enough, and I don’t feel right asking for the time off. Besides this was the first time it’s happened. I’ve been lucky that most of the calls have happened when I’ve got the next day off.”
“Right, well, I’ll tell Nadia to let Cerise know that you’re okay.” His voice was full of speculation and Brodie was too exhausted to try and decipher the hidden meaning.
“Just spit out what you’re trying to say.”
Mitch sighed and shifted from one foot to the other, as if he was uncomfortable with what he had to say next. “Nadia said Cerise was worried that she hadn’t heard from you. I know you guys spent the day together yesterday, I’m guessing you were with Cerise when you got the call?”
Shit.
Brodie reached into the center console where he’d thrown his phone when he got into his truck. When he’d arrived at work it had been too early to call Cerise, and then he’d gotten busy and had forgotten to contact her. Geez, he could’ve fired off a text. But he’d wanted to hear her voice and that was why he wanted to call.
He tapped the screen, but it remained dark instead of lighting up. “Battery’s dead. I meant to call, but...” He shrugged, knowing he didn’t need to explain everything to Mitch.
“Okay. Just when you get some juice in your phone, message her and let her know you’re still alive. I think Nadia said Finn was worried too. The girls met up for a coffee this afternoon or maybe they talked on the phone. I don’t know. I was at the medical center, working.”
“Understood. I’ll call when I get back home.”
“Okay.” Mitch tapped the window.
“And?” Brodie prompted.
“I’m probably overstepping my boundaries here, but Cerise is Nadia’s best friend and Nadia is my life. So, I need to say this, and I hope you’ll understand where this is coming from.” Mitch paused and Brodie braced himself. Seeing as Cerise didn’t have any family and she was best friends with Mitch’s fiancée, Brodie guessed he was about to play big brother with him. He’d listen to whatever his friend was going say and take it in the manner in which it was being given—from a place of caring for a woman they both liked and respected.
