“Brick?”
His mother’s voice brought him fully awake. “Mom?” Through a crack in the curtains he could see daylight just breaking behind the mountains. He untangled himself from Mo to sit up. She sat up as well, concern in her expression as she turned on the night-light. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s your father,” his mother’s voice broke. “He’s had a heart attack. I’m at the hospital with him.” The words hit him like thrown stones. “Your uncle Jordan is here with me. We’re waiting to hear word on his condition. The rest of the family is on the way.”
“Mom, is he...” Brick realized he couldn’t say the words. But she wasn’t listening. He could hear voices in the background. He felt his heart drop. What was happening? “Mom? Mom?”
“The doctor says they’re flying him down to Bozeman to the ICU. I have to go. You can meet us there.”
Brick disconnected and looked at Mo.
“I HEARD,” MO SAID quickly, squeezing his arm. “Go.”
He turned to pull her into a hug for a long moment before he released her and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Come with me?”
“Brick, I’m the last person your father would want to see—let alone right after a heart attack.”
“You know that’s not true,” he said as he pulled on his jeans and looked around for his boots.
“I’ll follow you to the hospital for an update. Then I have to go to Billings. Until I have those papers and that key in my hand...” When she’d come back into the apartment last night, she’d told him everything Thomas had said. He’d insisted that the two of them would go to Billings first thing this morning.
“I know,” he said, turning to look at her. “I just don’t like you going alone. Even with the Jeffrey Palmers under arrest, they can still get word out to their...associates. You’re in danger if they fear the evidence your sister found is more damning than what the feds already have.”
She shuddered, well aware of how powerful the men were—and what kind of friends they must have made in the money laundering business. Also, she didn’t want Thomas figuring out a way to get into the box without her. She had a bad feeling that she needed to be there when the box was opened.
“Once I have the papers and whatever was in that safety deposit box...”
“I know. Just be careful and call me as soon as you have everything and are safe,” he said.
“I will.” She climbed out of bed to kiss him, pressing her body against his as if to memorize the feel of him. He groaned and kissed her hard, bunching the fabric of the sheet she had wrapped around her as he held her to him. She didn’t want him to let her go and that told her how afraid she was that something would keep them apart. “I’ll call you later to find out how your father is,” she said.
He gave her another kiss and released her, though with obvious reluctance.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he pulled out his phone and called the marshal’s office to inquire about her car. “You don’t have to do that.”
He smiled at her and mouthed, “Yes I do,” as he asked that one of the deputies bring her vehicle to his apartment. “Just leave the keys under the mat. Thanks.” He disconnected. “I’m not leaving you high and dry without your car.”
“Stop worrying about me and go. I know how anxious you are to get to your father.”
Brick nodded as he pulled on his boots. “Be careful and hurry back to me.” His voice sounded rough with emotion.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I will.” She touched the tip of her tongue to her lower lip, remembering their night of shared intimacy as he recovered his shirt.
As he started for the door, he stopped to look back at her as if hating to leave her. She knew the feeling. Being in his arms, she’d felt free of pain, her heart lifting, her blood a welcoming hammer in her veins. She would have given anything to never leave this bed, never leave this man.
What surprised her even more were the tender feelings she felt for Brick. She’d gotten close to him in a matter of days, something completely unheard of for her, especially with a man. Now he didn’t want to leave her any more than she wanted him to.
“Don’t worry,” she quickly assured him. “I can handle this on my own. You just worry about your dad. I’ll call later to see how he’s doing. Once I have whatever Tricia left, I’ll be back. My prayers are with your dad and the rest of your family. Call me if you need me.”
His gaze softened in the early-morning light as he opened the door. “I suspect I am always going to need you.” He looked as if he wanted to say more.
“Don’t worry. We’re not done. Whatever it is you want to say to me, there’ll be time.”
Brick picked up his Stetson. “I forget that you’re always right. Hope you are about this.”
“I am.” And he was gone.
She stared at the closed door until she could no longer hear the sound of his pickup engine. Even then, she didn’t want to move. She still felt wrapped in last night’s lovemaking. Brick had been a generous, thoughtful lover. He’d made her feel things she’d never felt before. Afterwards, they’d lain in each other’s arms, needing no words.
They’d been spooned together when he whispered next to her ear, “You were right. I’m crazy about you.”
She’d smiled and reached back to touch his stubbled cheek. “You’re going to get tired of saying that.” He’d chuckled and pulled her closer and she’d closed her eyes, drifting off into a sleep free of nightmares.
Still warm with the memory, she headed for
