“I also know wherever she is, she was a lucky girl. No one cared for me when I was a teenager, alive, the way you still care for her now.”
A lump of regret lodged in his throat, making it hard to speak. “She’ll never know that.”
She put her hand over his, her fingers caressing his in a gentle motion that sent a calming sensation down his body. “I’m sure she knew. She just thought she’d have more time. We always believe we have more time.”
Brooks picked up the phone, listening to the voicemail from his mother’s caretaker. He’d paid her to warn him whenever something happened to his mother. A couple of times already, she had—when his mother had been hospitalized with a flu, and when she’d been asking about him. He counted on Vanessa more than his own father to keep him updated on his mother’s health. Hi, Brooks, I’m sorry to bother you so late. I’m calling because your mother fell after her bath. She slipped on the rug. We took her to the emergency care, and she broke her leg but didn’t get injured anywhere else. She’s okay now, but asked for you, and since your father is out of the country, I thought I’d let you know in case you have time to visit her.
He rubbed his eyes, frustration stinging behind his lids. His mother had fallen and broken her leg. Poor Mom. Even though he’d held her guilty by association so many times, one look at her and the anger melted away. And now, besides paid help, she had no one—where the fuck was his father? Probably on a tropical beach with a woman half his age.
“What happened?” Alexa pulled the ties of her silky robe together.
He rubbed his temple. “My mom fell and broke her leg. I have to go see her.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm. “Will she be okay? Was that the doctor?”
“No. Her caretaker, Vanessa. She’s at the hospital recovering.”
Alexa enfolded him in a tight embrace, one he wished to never let go. “Can I do anything to help? Do you want me to call the pilot or is there anything else I can do?”
“Come with me,” he said, his lips working faster than his brain. Damn, this was supposed to be no-strings-attached, but the idea of Alexa coming with him soothed him like a cozy, well-worn quilt on a cold winter’s night.
She withdrew her arms from him and took a step back, furrowing her brows. “That’s big, Brooks. I mean, I think you’d probably be better off going without me.”
Disappointment trickled down his spine, but he didn’t retreat easily, his eyes searching for hers. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She bit her lip, and an emotion he couldn’t read darkened her gaze. “I know, but I’d hate to impose.”
“You’re not. I asked you as someone I know and someone I care about.” He stretched to his full height. Damn it, why lie to himself anymore? Why lie to her? He cared about her, and if she came with him to Texas, this had zero to do with finding closure to his sister’s death or the male auction. She knows it, too. That’s why it’s so hard for her to say yes.
“I…” She glanced around, folding her arms. A pang of pain shimmered in the depths of her eyes, like a part of her wanted to give him a different answer but couldn’t. “I can’t go. I’m sorry.”
A knife sliced through his heart, cooling his bloodstream. He cleared his throat, pacing around, searching for his clothes. “I understand,” he lied, picking his shirt up from the floor and whipping it on. “I have to go, but I’ll get in touch when I’m back.”
“Let me know how your mother’s doing.”
Why don’t you come with me and see for yourself? He swallowed the bitter words, and simply nodded. Wasn’t fair to put this on Alexa. He shouldn’t have asked her to fill in for a girlfriend by going with him. She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in a conventional relationship or commitment. Hell, she wasn’t conventional—and if he were to remind himself of that, maybe it wouldn’t hurt. He should cling to the problems that could arise from being seen with her rather than the amount of joy it gave him. But every damn day it became harder.
He grabbed his shoes and slipped them on. For the first time, her rules for their relationship really fucking sucked.
…
“Honey. Can you please get me some water?” his mother asked, and Brooks grabbed the bottle from the counter and poured some in the plastic cup, then gave it to her.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked. He’d been in Dallas for two days, and his mother remained in the hospital while they performed other exams to make sure she could go home. Her blood pressure had spiked, so her doctor switched the dosage and preferred to send her home after a clear improvement.
“I feel better,” she said with a slow smile. “I’m happy you came. Vanessa said you were in Nevada.”
“Yes. Of course I’d come.” He kissed the top of her head, and reality punched him in the stomach. How many more times would he be called? When would he get the dreadful call that the last person he cared for in his family had passed? Then he’d truly be alone. And the one person he wanted by his side refused to be with him.
“Your father is arriving tomorrow. He went on a hunting trip in South Africa.”
“Right,” he said tightly, barely moving his lips. He doubted his father had made this trip alone, but he’d never say it out loud. Throughout the years, his mother had had enough chances to leave his father, but had always stood by him. “Dr. Anderson said if your blood pressure is stable, we can have you home in a couple days.”
“Good. I miss my cats. How’s Duke?”
“Duke’s good,” he said, thinking of his
