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A look of alarm crossed her face and I stopped a few inches from her. She shifted on her feet and her scent tickled my nose, weaving its way through my system. Brinley had always loved lavender and that had apparently not changed. Its soft, delicate, floral smell had always soothed my crazy spirit and calmed me.
Just like she had with her sweet personality.
Sucking in a breath and dragging the intoxicating aroma into my system, I closed my eyes for a second to get a grip on how being near to her made me feel.
“Brin,” I whispered, eyes still closed.
“You have to go.” Her strangled voice had my eyes snapping open.
I’d ask myself where things went wrong between us, but since it was my fault, I knew exactly when it happened.
“Just give me a minute.”
She was slowly shaking her head back and forth when Zander came running back into the room.
“Are we going now, Mommy?”
“Yup. Did you go to the bathroom?”
“Mommm.” Zander rolled his eyes and drew the word out in exaggeration. “I’m not a baby.”
“Nope, you’re a big boy. Let’s get going then.” She pulled the door open wider and I got the hint. But not before her son put her on the spot once again.
“Can Rowan come with us to the store?”
If I thought her eyes were alarmed before, that was nothing compared to the five-alarm fire burning in them after Zander’s question. It was my turn to save her.
“Hey, Champ, I can’t go to the store right now. I got things to do, but maybe another time okay?”
“Okay,” he said, pulling on his mom’s hand.
Taking my cue, I started to move past her but paused remembering I’d forgotten something.
“I’m just down the hall. Please call me if you need anything.” I held out a piece of paper with my condo and cell number on it.
She hesitated a moment before reaching out to take it from me. Our fingers brushed one another and the contact jolted all my senses as a tingle raced through my entire system. Brinley pulled her hand back as if she’d been bitten by a snake.
My eyes met hers and instead of finding nothing but hate, something else lingered in their crystal blue depths.
Interesting.
“Catch you later, Brin,” I said as I walked out the door.
A soft intake of breath caught my ear and a smile broke out across my face.
Maybe there was hope thatOperation Forgivenesscould be a success.
ChapterNine
BRINLEY
I wokeup seriously jonesing for a cup of coffee.
Was there such a thing as a coffee fairy?
I’d forgotten to grab it at the store last night when Zander and I went. Something I was contemplating crying about when I woke up after a few hours of sleep, a stiff neck, and a mountain of worry about where our lives were headed.
My brain wouldn’t shut off. There simply wasn’t an off switch for that and it was a damn shame. Life would be a lot simpler if that was available when one didn’t want to think anymore. Which was me all night long.
