Page 37 of Hearts Storm

So that’s why she left. Why she disappeared without a word. Because she saw my former hook-ups texts and jumped to conclusions.

I should feel better about it. She judged me without giving me a chance to explain. But all I feel now is a hollow ache in my gut.

“What else did she say?”

Brex shifts in his seat, posture transforming into a subtle tension in his shoulders that wasn’t there before. “Not much. She was pretty closed off about it.”

“And?”

Challenge flashes in his eyes, almost as if he’s daring me to react when they meet mine. “And then she let me walk her home.”

Fucking shit. I know that look.

“Did you fuck her?”

His nonchalant shrug makes me growl in frustration. “No. Pretty much everything but. You could’ve at least told me how beyond phenomenal she was at giving head. Best blowjob of my life.”

Jealousy hits, sudden and vicious, until I can barely breathe. Images of Brex’s hands on her, his mouth on her skin, the same moans and gasps I dragged from her throat filling the air.

I brush it off. Push it down. Lock it away.

Because Brex just got back after being gone for close to a month. And he hasn’t mentioned Reyna once since last year. Not a word. Because I told him not to. I shut down every conversation about her, every question, every casual mention. I made it clear: talking about her was off-limits.

My guess? He hasn’t seen her since that night in Portland. Doesn’t even know she’s moved to Lakeside. Doesn’t know she’s been living right under our noses for weeks now. And he definitely doesn’t know she starts work here tomorrow.

Because I haven’t told him.

“Well... About that⁠—”

A knock at the door cuts me off. “Enter!”

“You wanted to see me, Captain?”

Thankful for the interruption, I motion for Dave to come in. “Yeah. I need a favor.”

I shoot Brex a look. “We’ll talk more about this later.”

With a heavy sigh, he gets up. “Whatever. I’m gonna head over to Summit. Need to work off some steam.”

Motioning for Dave to take a seat, I mentally shake my head, dreading the conversation Brex and I are going to have about Reyna.

As captain, it’s highly recommended that I keep my hands off her. However, there are no rules in place in regard to employee fraternization. And that’s what worries me.

Brex has it bad for her. And, unfortunately, so do I. So we need to figure out what we’re going to do about it.

Soon.

seventeen

I’ve been in Lakeside for a little over a month, and I still can’t believe this is my life.

The small town sits nestled between the mountains and the lake, with quaint shops lining Main Street and friendly faces everywhere you turn. It’s the kind of place where neighbors wave as you walk by, with a local diner that serves a cherry pie à la mode I would sell my left kidney for.

My cottage is on the edge of town, a small but cozy two-bedroom with a wraparound porch that I’ve filled with plants and a rocking chair I found at a yard sale. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s mine. The first real home I’ve had since... well, ever.

Standing in front of my bathroom mirror, I’m trying to tame my hair into something somewhat professional when my phone buzzes from its place on the counter.

SASHA