Whatever it Takes (Healing Hearts book 3)

by Laura Farr

  “Already?” she asked with a giggle.

  “Ignore him,” I told her with a wink. “He’s got a mind of his own.” I kissed her again before gently pulling out of her. Climbing off the bed I started to make my way to the bathroom.

  “What if I don’t want to ignore him?” Turning around, I felt a smile pulling on my lips. I couldn’t help but stare at her. She lay naked on my bed, her hair wild and her cheeks flushed pink.

  “Where has my innocent Quinn gone?” I wiggled my eyebrows at her. She laughed and covered her eyes with her hands.

  “Well, no one told me it would feel that good,” she muttered from behind her hands.

  “Believe me, baby, there will be plenty more where that came from. We’ve got all the time in the world.” I came back to the bed and bent over her, brushing a kiss across her lips. “I’m going to clean up, then we can order pizza and eat it in bed.”

  “Sounds perfect.” She grinned.

  Once in the bathroom, I came to stand in front of the sink, my hands resting on either side. I’d just told her we’d got all the time in the world to be together. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I only hoped that once I’d told Quinn about Evan, that statement would still be true. I wasn’t ready to lose her. I don’t think I’d ever be ready to.

  Quinn

  Watching Brody walk naked to the bathroom, I couldn’t help but stare at his incredible ass. I’d been apprehensive about sleeping with him, but he’d made my first time unforgettable. Feeling an unfamiliar sting between my legs, I knew I’d be sore tomorrow, but it was the best kind of sore.

  Sitting up, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Spying the t-shirt Brody had taken off after we’d arrived home, I quickly slipped it on and padded across to the window. The drapes were closed, and I pulled them open slightly, looking out over the ranch. The light was fading, but I could just make out a man standing behind where the burned-out stables had once been. It was too dark to make out his face, but I guessed it was one of the ranch hands—maybe Colt or Taylor. Sensing they were looking up at the house, I took a small step back, an uneasy feeling washing over me. Feeling arms wrap around me, I screamed, not having heard Brody coming out of the bathroom.

  “Shit! You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He wrapped his arms more tightly around me, his lips coming to kiss my neck. “What are you looking at?” he mumbled against my skin.

  “Nothing. I just saw someone outside, by where the stables were. It was probably just Colt or Taylor,” I told him, shrugging my shoulders slightly. I felt Brody’s body tense behind me.

  “Colt and Taylor aren’t working tonight.” He pushed me gently behind him as he peered through the drapes.

  “Maybe it was Mason then?” I suggested. He shook his head.

  “I don’t think so. Mason mentioned he was taking Libby out.” His voice was strained and the uneasy feeling I’d felt a minute ago returned.

  “Who was it then?”

  “I don’t know, baby. There’s no one there now. I’m going to go take a look.” He moved away from the window, closing the drapes. Picking up his jeans, he pulled them on.

  “I’ll come too.” I reached for my sweats that lay on the bedroom floor.

  “No!” he exclaimed, a frown on his face. I looked at him in surprise. Seeing my reaction, he relaxed his features and came over to me. “Stay here, Quinn, please. Why don’t you order the pizza while I’m gone?” I eyed him suspiciously.

  “Who do you think it is, Brody?” My heart was pounding in my chest. Sighing, he pushed his hand through his already messy hair.

  “I don’t know. But I’d rather you stay here, where I know you’re safe.”

  “You’re scaring me,” I whispered. “Why wouldn’t I be safe out there?”

  “Of course, you’re safe, baby. I’m just hungry. I thought you could order the food while I checked things out.” He smiled at me, but he was acting weird and I had no idea why.

  “Okay,” I agreed, wondering what it was he wasn’t telling me. “I’ll come downstairs and grab the takeout menus.”

  “No need. I’ve got some in the nightstand drawer,” he replied, looking relieved I’d agreed to stay inside. He kissed me on the cheek before grabbing his phone and heading out into the hall. “If you need me, call me.” He held his phone in the air. “I won’t be long.”

  Following him into the hall, I shouted after him as he flew down the stairs. “What pizza do you want?”

  “Whatever you want,” he shouted up. “I like anything.” Sighing, I made my way back into his bedroom. Walking past the nightstand, I went straight to the window, opening the drapes again. The light had faded even more, and I waited to see Brody appear from the front of the house. I saw the illumination of a flashlight before Brody came into view. He was holding the light in one hand, his other hand holding his phone to his ear. I wondered who he was calling. Maybe he was calling Colt and Taylor to see if they were working even though they weren’t scheduled to be. I watched him walk through the scorched exercise area and around the new structure that was going to replace the stables. Whoever I’d seen out there was gone now, there was no sign of them.

  Brody disappeared from sight for a few minutes as he went up toward the guest accommodations. When he returned to view, he was no longer on his phone and it looked like he was heading back to the house. Looking up to the window he saw me looking out and waved. I waved back and closed the drapes. Finding the takeout menu for the local pizza place, I picked up my phone and dialed the number on the front. Ordering a large barbeque chicken pizza, and a side of wedges, I gave the man on the other end of the phone the ranch address before hanging up. Minutes later, I heard footsteps on the stairs, before the bedroom door swung open and Brody walked in.

  “Did you see anyone?” I asked, noticing he no longer had the flashlight in his hand.

  “No, there was no one out there.”

  “There definitely was when I first looked.” I frowned. “Who did you call?” He looked at me, pausing before he answered.

  “Colt and Taylor. It wasn’t either of them. Maybe your eyes were playing tricks on you?” he suggested.

  “Maybe, it wouldn’t be the first time today,” I mumbled.

  “What do you mean?” His eyebrows raised in question, and I looked at him, biting down on my lip. “Quinn…” he warned. “What aren’t you telling me?” Sitting down on the bed, I fiddled with the edge of the t-shirt I was wearing.

  “When we were in Marble Falls this afternoon, I thought I saw someone…” I trailed off. “When I looked back, they were gone. It probably wasn’t who I thought it was. Just my mind playing tricks on me,” I rambled.

  “Who was it you thought you saw?” He pulled my fingers from the hem of his t-shirt and held my hand in his.

  “Evan,” I said quietly. I watched as his face filled with anger and just from holding his hand I could feel his whole body go rigid.

  “Where? When?”

  “When we were outside the gift shop, waiting for your mom and dad. I thought I saw him go into the grocery store up the street. Like I said, when I looked again, he’d gone.” I lifted my eyes to his and saw his jaw tic. “It couldn’t be him though, he has no idea where I am.” I was trying to convince Brody as well as myself. Brody remained silent and after a minute or so of him saying nothing, I squeezed his hand.

  “Do you think it could have been him?” I asked, panic beginning to set in as he hadn’t immediately tried to reassure me that it couldn’t have been Evan. “Brody?” I whispered. Sighing, he moved closer toward me.

  “After what we’ve just shared I wanted to wait until tomorrow to talk to you about this, but now that you’ve told me you think you saw Evan…” He trailed off.

  “Talk to me about what?” My stomach churned with nerves as I waited for him to say something.

  “When you first told me what Evan had done, I had Ethan, a friend in the police department in town, run Evan’s name through t
heir database. I wanted to see if he’d ever been in trouble before.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you.”

  “Did your friend find anything?” He nodded.

  “Yeah, baby, he did.” He raked his hand through his hair. “He called me earlier. Evan’s wanted for a triple homicide, Quinn.”

  “What?” I whispered, fear gripping my stomach. “Are you sure?”

  “I wish I was wrong, sweetheart.” His face was etched with worry and I’m sure mine mirrored his.

  “Who did he kill? Was it the guys he owed money to?”

  “Ethan said it was some local drug dealers. Could that be who he borrowed the money from?” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his chest.

  I nodded, inhaling his familiar scent, a scent up until a few minutes ago I’d associated with feeling safe. Now I didn’t know if I’d ever feel safe again. “Where is he now?” I was terrified to hear his answer, but I needed to know.

  “They don’t know, baby. Ethan wants to come and talk to you tomorrow. They knew you lived at the address where the bodies were found. They thought something had happened to you too.” He held me tightly and I knew he was thinking how lucky I had been to get out alive.

  “He killed them in the house?” A sob escaped my throat as tears ran down my cheeks, and I found myself crying against his chest.

  “Shhhh,” he muttered into my hair. “Please don’t cry. I can’t stand it.” Leaning against his chest I realized how stupid I’d been. I’d allowed myself to get swept up in my relationship with Brody, fooling myself into believing I could make a new life for myself here with him. I should have known Evan would catch up with me. He blamed me for everything that had happened. There was no way he was going to leave me to get on with my life.

  I’d brushed off thinking I’d seen Evan earlier in Marble Falls, but now Brody had told me what he’d found out, I was sure it had been him. Just like I was sure it had been Evan I’d seen through the bedroom window earlier. If that was the case, then he’d found me, and everyone I knew was in danger.

  Brody

  I held her as she sobbed against my chest. I’d seen no sign of anyone outside when I’d been to check. That didn’t mean no one had been there though. I’d spoken to both Colt and Taylor; neither of them were on the ranch. I couldn’t get hold of Mason, but I was sure it wouldn’t have been him.

  Sniffing, she lifted her head, her puffy red eyes meeting mine. “It was him in Marble Falls, wasn’t it? And outside a minute ago? He’s found me.” Her voice was thick with tears and her body was shaking. She was terrified.

  “We don’t know that, sweetheart. He’s got no idea where you went when you boarded that bus.”

  “It was him,” she insisted. “I know it was.” She pushed out of my embrace and climbed off the bed, standing on shaking legs. Looking at the floor, she whispered, “I have to go, Brody.”

  Jumping up, I pulled her against me, my fingers brushing her jaw as I slowly lifted her chin. “No, Quinn! You need to stay here. Where would you go?”

  “Away from here.” I looked at her, my heart breaking. This was what I’d been afraid of. Her running from me.

  “You belong here with me. We can face this together,” I told her, hearing the desperation in my voice.

  “I don’t belong anywhere, Brody.” Fresh tears ran down her cheeks. “He’s always going to find me.”

  “That bastard is your past, Quinn.” I paused. Taking a step back, I picked up her hand and placed it over my heart. “I’m your future.” She looked at me for a few seconds before dropping her head onto our joined hands.

  “You don’t know how much I wish that were true.” Her body wracked with silent sobs before she took a deep breath and lifted her head. “Evan is my present. Until that changes, I don’t have a future.”

  “Quinn—” I started.

  “No, Brody,” she interrupted, taking a step back, her hand falling from my chest. “While I’m here, with you, everyone I’ve come to care about is in danger. I can’t stand the thought of anyone getting hurt because of me.” She paused. “I have to go.”

  “I’m not letting you go, Quinn.” Closing the gap between us, I picked up her hands again. “I love you. You are it for me. If you think I’m going to let you walk away because you’re scared, then you’re wrong.” I’d never imagined saying those three words to someone; it wasn’t ever something I’d wanted before Quinn. Now I was ready to fight for her. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Quinn.” I watched as her eyes went wide.

  “You love me?” she asked in disbelief. Smiling, I nodded.

  “Yes, baby. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered.

  Hearing those words made my breath catch in my throat. “So, you’ll stay?”

  “Brody, I’m scared.”

  “I’m scared too.” I brushed my lips across hers. “But I won’t let anything happen to you. We don’t even know if Evan has found you, or if he’s even looking.”

  “Maybe he hasn’t found me, but he will be looking. If it’s not today he turns up, it will be another day. He’s dangerous, Brody. That’s what scares me the most.” She paused and dragged in a shaky breath. “If it was him out there, he knows I’m here.”

  “I’m going to call Ethan first thing in the morning, get him over here. Just promise me you won’t go anywhere? No more running.” I could hear the begging tone in my voice, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t above begging her to stay. When she remained silent, my heart sank. “You can’t spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, Quinn.” I felt like I was losing her. After surprising even myself with the depths of my feelings for her, I just couldn’t watch her walk away. “Do you want to stay?”

  “God, yes!” she exclaimed throwing her arms around me. “I want to stay more than anything.” I held her tightly and breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing her say she wanted to stay, gave me hope that I could hold on to her. Her reasons for wanting to leave only made me love her more. Knowing she was prepared to leave to keep that bastard away from the ranch, and everyone on it, only proved to me what an incredible person she was.

  “Then stay,” I said simply. “Evan’s a wanted man. It’s only a matter of time before he’s picked up. Then all of this will be over. You’ll never need to run again.” She looked up at me, hope in her eyes.

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  “You’ll stay?” She nodded, and I leaned down, kissing her head. “Thank God,” I mumbled against her hair.

  “We need to let your parents know what’s going on though, Brody.”

  “Okay we’ll speak to them tomorrow.” Just then the doorbell rang, and Quinn jumped. “It’s just the pizza, sweetheart. I’ll be right back.” She nodded as I dropped my arms from around her. Jogging down the stairs I grabbed the pizza from the kid standing on the porch, quickly looking around what I could see of the ranch before heading back inside and locking the door behind me. There was no sign of anyone hanging around, but knowing Evan could be out there, I wasn’t about to leave the door open, so he could walk right in. Stopping by the kitchen, I grabbed two beers from the fridge before making my way back upstairs.

  Pushing the bedroom door open, Quinn was sitting on my bed. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she was biting her bottom lip. I knew her instinct was telling her to run, and I knew her feelings for me were the reason she wasn’t. As much as it was inappropriate with all that was going on, I wanted to go all caveman on her and pound my chest. Let everyone know this woman was mine and that she loved me.

  Lost in thought, she hadn’t heard me come in. Slowly I crossed the room, dropping the pizza on the bed. “Everything okay?” Turning to me she smiled and nodded, patting the bed next to her.

  “I’ve decided we're going to forget about Evan for tonight. The most amazing man is in love with me.” She paused and leaned over, brushing her lips against mine. “I don’t want to spend another minu
te talking or thinking about that bastard.”

  I grinned. Though I knew she was putting on a brave face, I was more than happy to forget about him for tonight at least. “An amazing man, hey?” I asked, teasing her.

  “Don’t let it go to your head.” She rolled her eyes, before bursting out laughing. She looked so beautiful when she laughed. Her whole face lit up and her eyes sparkled. “Let’s eat! I’m starving.” Dragging my eyes off her, I opened the pizza box, offering it to her. My eyes dropped to her bare legs, and it was only then I realized she was wearing my t-shirt. Growling, I put the box down before she could take a piece and gently pushed her back on the bed.

  “What are you doing?” she cried, as I positioned my body to the side of hers, one leg nestling in between hers. Her breathing hitched as I dragged my fingers up her thigh, over her hip and under my top. She wasn’t wearing any panties and my fingers swept up over her ribs, brushing the side of her breast.

  “Seeing you wearing my clothes makes me fucking crazy,” I told her, my voice husky. My finger found her nipple, and as I circled it she let out a low moan, arching her back into my hand. Her t-shirt was pushed up, and I lowered my head, swirling my tongue around her pebbled nipple. Lifting her hips, she ground her pussy against my leg.

  Releasing her nipple, I lifted my head. “What do you need, baby?” Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were closed. Slowly opening them, she shook her head. “Gone all shy?” I teased, kissing her while tracing my fingers over her stomach and between her legs. Dragging my fingers through her wet folds, she moaned into my mouth, raising her hips off the bed. “What about this?” I whispered against her lips, pushing a finger inside her, my thumb circling her clit.

  “God! Yes,” she moaned, her hands fisting the sheets. Adding another finger, I pumped both inside her, my thumb still circling her clit. Knowing she must be sore from earlier I gently removed my fingers, and she whimpered.

  “I’ve got you, sweetheart,” I assured her. Kissing down her body, I settled between her legs, my tongue licking through her heat before seeking out her engorged clit. Circling it with my tongue, I held her legs down as she bucked against me. Her one hand was tugging on my hair while the other remained fisted in the sheet. Reaching a hand up, I found her nipple, rolling it between my fingers. Her breathing hitched as I sucked her clit into my mouth. Her legs began to twitch and I knew she was close. Gently pushing two fingers inside her she exploded, moaning out my name as she came. I continued to suck on her clit as she rode out her orgasm. She pulled on my hair when it became too much, and I sat back on my heels watching her.