AllFreeNovel
Share Us
––––––––
Connor had finallyfallen asleep while Gavin read him a story. He’d kept asking about his mother, and it was only when Gavin settled next to the little boy with a storybook that Connor had closed his eyes.
As Gavin pulled the door closed behind him, he heard the women’s voices. Brooke. His feet carried him all the way to the living room even before he’d realized he was moving. He couldn’t wait to see her.
“...very happy with the exhibition,” Eleanor was saying.
Gavin looked around. “Where’s Brooke?”
The women shared a look. “Probably at the exhibition. She’s staying at an Airbnb close to the gallery. She was still talking to people when we left,” Eleanor said.
Gavin pointed toward Eleanor, Lindsay, and Charlie. “So what was that look?”
“What look?” Lindsay asked, winking at Charlie.
“You know what look,” Gavin nearly shouted. He inhaled deeply. “What’s wrong with Brooke? And where is she staying?”
Eleanor grinned. “Finally, he’s asking the right questions.”
Charlie stepped closer to him and hugged him. “We don’t know what’s wrong with Brooke. She thinks it was something she’s eaten. We...have our own idea. I’ve texted you her address, although she may still be at the venue.”
He was still staring at Charlie, trying to read between the lines, when Lindsay dangled her phone in front of him. “An Uber driver is on his way. The rest is up to you. Don’t mess it up, okay?”
Just then, the front door opened and Blake stepped inside. Lindsay, hand on her tummy, got up and held out her arms. “I’m so glad you’re back. Everything okay?”
Blake hastened forward and embraced his wife. “Everything is fine. I was just reminded of the whole bad experience you had with Mark Taylor.”
“He’s in jail, and I’m safe because I’ve got you,” Lindsay murmured, hugging her husband.
“Thanks for your help tonight, Blake,” Gavin said.
Blake kept an arm around his wife as he turned to look at Blake. “You’ve got good instincts. You reacted when someone else wouldn’t have seen trouble was brewing. Brooke is safe tonight because of you.”
“I didn’t really do anything...”
Blake shook his head. “You saw the bad guy; you made the call. You did what your instincts told you to do, and because of that, we could intervene before he did something nasty.”
“The Uber driver is here,” Lindsay announced.
Gavin nodded. “Thanks.”
Logan stepped forward. “You hurt her. You’ll have to deal with me.”
Gavin nodded curtly. “I’ll make sure no one ever hurts her again, that I can promise you.”
Eleanor chuckled. “Of course, you will, dear. She’s special to you.”
As Gavin left, he gnashed his teeth. What the hell was so damn funny?
––––––––
Brooke stepped outof the gallery onto the pavement outside and lifted her face toward the sky. It was a clear night but because of all the city lights, she couldn’t really see the stars. Pulling her shawl around her, she waited for the Uber to pick her up.
Michelle was ecstatic about the exhibition, the paintings had all been sold, and Brooke had also received several commissions. She should be dancing for joy and with her family to celebrate a successful opening night. Instead, here she was, on the verge of tears.
Irritated with herself, she wiped her eyes. She had nothing to cry about.
“Brooke. Babe.”
