Gravitate (Brooklet Dreams Book 3)

by C. A. Harms

  There was also the irritation that Chloe had not told me about the things she had been going through.

  I’d seen them all watching me, each wanting to ask but holding back. Part of me was thankful because these guys were family of my girl; I knew they too would like to make someone pay. But then another part of me felt like if I didn’t get this shit out soon, I was going to explode.

  “Why do you look like you’re about to kill someone?” Terrance leaned in, and then when I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, he quickly retreated. “Seriously, what the fuck is up with you? You look nuclear.”

  “Just a bad night.” More like a bad couple weeks, with the exception of my time with Chloe. I felt like we’d grown closer, spending more time talking and getting to know one another. Thankful that she was able to look past the lie and knowing that I’d never pull that shit again. Trying to not taint our relationship with shit I thought she didn’t need to know almost had the opposite effect I was hoping for.

  Hearing a beep from my gym bag, I paused and grabbed for my phone. An unknown number showed an image attached.

  “What the fuck?” It’s too late to hide it; the image filled my screen, and Mike got full view.

  “Why in the hell are you getting nudes of some chick’s tits?”

  I closed the image and threw, not tossed, the phone into my bag before turning around to face him. Only now, with his loud booming question, I had all three of them looking at me with snarls.

  “Before the three of you decided to go all big fucking brothers on me, you should know that this bitch has been harassing Chloe. Now it seems that she’s going for a new tactic.”

  “Who’s messing with Chloe?” Rhett dropped the weight in his hand, and Terrance jumped out of the way before it landed on his foot.

  “Holly.” Mike knew who I was referring to right away. He’d heard all about her from start to finish after I’d dodged the bullet and our session was interrupted the night outside the bar. None of them had been given any details about the most recent events, though. Chloe had been handling it all on her own, which of course only pissed me off all over again. She kept it from me, but she kept it from all her people, too. She truly was alone in this, but not anymore.

  “She works with Chloe, and for weeks, since she and I started dating actually, the nut job has been giving her shit. She’s cornering her at the office, making her life hell, and—”

  I paused, wondering if I should hold off with the rest of what I had.

  “And what?”

  I should have known they’d demand to know it all. I couldn’t blame them; I felt it, too, that need to protect. The desire to shelter her from everything harmful. The knowledge that until now I’d failed in every aspect of doing what I should have been doing from the start.

  “She flipped the switch and somehow convinced the docs and the office that Chloe was the one harassing her. Now Chloe is on a leave, a forced leave.”

  Rhett was fuming, his nostrils flaring and his eyes blazing. Mike’s fists tightened at his sides, as if any moment he was going to release the anger and punch anything within reach.

  “She never said anything about any of it to anyone.” Fuck, that burned my chest. “She kept it all inside, pretending everything was great.”

  “My momma taught me to never lay a hand on a woman,” Terrance snarled as he cracked his neck from side to side. The muscles in his shoulders and upper arms coiled with tension. “I’ve never actually considered the possibility,” he took in a deep breath and his stare locked on mine, “until now.”

  I understood exactly what he meant. A woman should never feel the wrath of a man; it was what had been taught to me from day one. Women are delicate and should be treated as such. Respect, love, and kindness, anything more was forbidden. I was pretty sure none of those rules applied to a devil such as Holly. The woman was nothing but evil, she was ruining the life of the woman I adored and something had to give.

  ***

  I slipped in the front door behind Mike and Rhett and remained quiet, taking all the time I was allowed to just observe before being noticed. I was supposed to be helping a guy from the station move into a new place, but at the last minute something came up with the apartment. So I joined the guys for the Sunday dinner at the home of Gran and Gramps. Everyone gathered, laughing and taunting one another, enjoying the closeness that was provided. There was nothing about these weekly dinners that felt anything shy of wholesome and fun.

  I paused in the entryway of the dining room and immediately located Chloe as she stood near her mother and aunt. Each of them watched her close, and a part of me wondered if she’d finally decided to let them all in on what had been taking place with her.

  When Ben saw me from across the room and I guessed noticed the way I was watching his daughter, he decided to join me.

  I felt him at my side before he even spoke.

  “Do you love her?” It was a question he’d asked me once before, but the difference was this time I did not hesitate to reply.

  “More than I could ever explain.” It was true; every day I was with her, even when I wasn’t, I felt myself growing more attached and falling harder and faster than I could stop, even if I’d wanted to. Chloe was not the kind of girl you could stop yourself from falling in love with. Everything about her was pure and alluring. She was perfect. In my eyes, there was no one that held a candle to her. I understood in that moment that loving her meant I had to help her, even if she didn’t want that help.

  “Do you mind stepping outside with me for a minute?” Looking away from Chloe, I found her father watching me close. “I need to tell you something.” His jaw tightened, and he offered nothing more than a quick nod before I turned around and walked back out the door I’d just entered. I could practically feel the heat boiling off her father, and all I kept thinking to myself was I knew exactly how he felt. I was a ticking time bomb, and he was about to join me.

  “I’m not gonna like what you’re about to tell me, am I?”

  “I’m afraid not.” I assumed he thought that in some way I was about to hurt his little girl, and he was gearing up for a battle. I knew he had no idea that instead of fighting me, he was about to stand beside me and fight the same war instead.

  For the next ten minutes, I filled him in on everything I knew about what had taken place from the start of Chloe’s and my relationship. I had a feeling that she hadn’t shared everything with me, because during our talks she had a hard time looking me in the eye. But I shared all I knew, and by the look on her father’s face, I understood what he was feeling without even having to ask.

  “What are we gonna do about this?” I was surprised by the question, though I could sense instantly that denying his impulse to storm off and take care of it on his own was a struggle. Ben Rigdon didn’t ask for help, especially when it came to his daughter and wife, or any family member, actually. He was an act now and think later kind of guy. You just didn’t mess with the people he loved, or any sane person should refrain from doing so if they wanted to maintain function of their legs. But there he stood, holding back, waiting for me. I had to respect that; I knew without a doubt it was killing him to not jump in his truck right now and go make someone pay for his daughter’s heartache.

  “I’m gonna make this right,” I assured him. “I know there’s more she’s not telling me, and all I’m asking is for you to give me a little more time to figure out the rest.” His chest heaved as he did his best to hold himself together. “I won’t let anyone hurt her. I just knew you needed to know what was going on. She’s stubborn and she’s been keeping this all in, holding onto it for herself. Not anymore.” I didn’t look away from him. I needed more than anything for him to understand how serious I was about his daughter. I was in love with her. I had to make him see that.

  “All I can give is a little.” I understood exactly what he meant. “I won’t allow anyone to hurt my girl.”

  “Neither will I.”

  Chapter Thi
rty-Nine

  Chloe

  My back arched, my breasts rising to meet his lips. I loved how attentive Landon was in bed. It was always like a sensory overload. He never focused on one central area; he was everywhere. All hands, mouth, and mmm, just everything.

  Shifting his hips ever so slowly as he continued to move inside of me, the soft whispers in my ear as he kissed along the side of my neck. I was close, so close, my toes curling, my fingernails digging into his back.

  “Let go, Kitten,” he encouraged, pushing in deeper and lifting my leg at just the right angle. “Give in to it.” Another thrust before slowly pulling back. “I’m close.” His movements picked up, grinding against the one place I needed him most with each entry. My core tightened, I fisted the sheet at my side, and all at once I ignited. Hearing his deep groan, the gratified growl as he too released was empowering. Nothing was more satisfying than knowing I was the one that made him feel this way.

  Landon Layne was mine; it was about time that someone else figured that out, too. I was finished with the nice girl act. I was over allowing her to walk all over me.

  “What are you thinking about?” Regaining focus, I looked up to find Landon watching me with a worried expression.

  “I was thinking that you need to recover fast because I really want to do that all over again in about thirty minutes.” He hesitated, and I knew without a doubt that he wasn’t fully buying it. “This twenty-four hours of not having you near feels like so much longer.” That wasn’t a lie. I hated shift days; they were excruciating.

  “When are you gonna talk to me?” Landon still had me pinned to the bed, the weight of his body resting between my thighs. His strong chest pressed to mine, and each of his arms propped up at my side, holding me captive. There was no escape. “I know there’s more, I know that the shit at the office isn’t all you’ve had to deal with, and I just want to know what else she’s put you through.”

  “I’ve told you.” I held his stare; he didn’t need to know it all. Besides, I wasn’t even sure it was all related to Holly. It could just be a coincidence.

  Landon pressed a soft kiss to my lips, and I closed my eyes, hoping that he’d drop it, only he didn’t. “Baby, I’m worried about you. My past is fucking with you, and that hardly seems fair. I can’t just let it go. I want to help. I want to fix it. Maybe if I go talk to the doctor—”

  “No.” I pushed against his chest, only he didn’t move. “I can handle this. I don’t need you finishing it. Do you think you going in there and telling them about you and Holly having a past is going to fix this? It’s only going to make me seem like the crazy jealous girlfriend, and that is exactly the angle she is going for. I’ve got this.”

  “Chloe, I—”

  “I said I’ve got it.” Landon rolled off of me when I gave him another nudge, and I hurried to crawl out of bed. Finding my way to the bathroom, I flipped on the water and stared ahead. Holding my hand beneath the spray, I waited for it to get warm and then stepped inside once it was at the right temperature. Allowing the water to roll over my body, I tried to calm myself and felt my body tense when Landon stepped in behind me. He didn’t let it stop him from moving in close behind me and pulling my body against his.

  “I’m sorry.” He kissed my shoulder and allowed his lips to rest there for a few seconds. “I…” He paused, and I closed my eyes tightly, silently wishing he would just let it go. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to waste our time together talking about Holly and her crazy. I wanted us, just him and me. “Look at me.” A slow intake of breath, I let it out, and carefully turned in his arms. With a finger under my chin, he tipped it up and our eyes locked. “I can’t help wanting to protect you.” He kissed me before I could say anything in return. “I love you.” My eyes shot open wide, and I stared at him. There was nothing more than serious devotion hidden there. “I’m in love you, and the idea of anyone hurting you drives me mad.” My body trembled and I could feel my eyes well up with tears. “I just want to make everything right.”

  “You do.” I cupped the side of his face, and he leaned into my touch. “Those three words make everything better.”

  Rising up on my tiptoes, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his mouth to mine. “I love you, too,” I whispered, and suddenly I was lifted and pressed to the shower wall.

  Slowly and with great skill, Landon entered me once more. There was nothing frantic or rushed about his movements. He was making love, sealing our confession of love, and I had never in my life felt more treasured than I did in that moment. This man was my everything.

  ***

  “I’ve spoken with several of the staff.” I stared at the doctor who I had worked for since I graduated school. He was never truly the inviting type, quiet and broody was more of the perfect description, but we’d never had an issue, either. Until now. “It would seem that several of them have picked up on the tension between you and Holly.” So he was on a first name basis with her now, interesting considering I was still Ms. Rigdon.

  “I’ve decided that it’s in the best interest of my practice to let you go.” Until now, I’d never noticed that he had a unibrow.

  “Wait, what?” I leaned in a little closer, sure I’d heard him wrong.

  “Holly has made great attempts to be a part of the team and you…” I wanted to punch his old ass right in the nose. “You’ve been distant, and quite frankly, you’ve never attempted to befriend anyone here. With the exception of your friend who left months ago.”

  “Stephanie,” I stood, “her name was Stephanie. But I guess you only manage to remember the names of those who offer you special treatment. Forgive me, Doctor, but I have more dignity and self-confidence than to stoop as low as Holly. I don’t need to sleep my way through life, I have my pride, and I will never compromise that.”

  “I think you’ve misconstrued the situation. I’ve never for a second asked you—”

  “You don’t have to. I know the way things work. A whore wears her stripes on the outside, free and clear for all the dirty men to see. Holly came in here flaunting them to you, to Dr. Andrews, and any other man she can.”

  “I think this conversation is over.” It was his turn to stand.

  “That’s where you are wrong, Dr. Reynolds.” I grabbed my purse and placed one hand on the top of his desk, staring him directly in the eyes. “This is nowhere close to being over. By the time this is over, you’ll be faced with a lawsuit and the entire town of Brooklet will know exactly what kind of man you are, including your wife, who I am sure by then will be thankful to finally know what a piece of scum she is really married to.”

  I was shaking, my body riding the high of pure adrenaline. I pushed past all the employees who I now knew were all under the spell of Holly. I had no desire to say goodbye to them. Had I waited until my scheduled meeting Monday, I would have been faced with more than just a skeleton crew. I was thankful that I’d chosen to pop in on Saturday instead. I didn’t need a bigger audience; this was humiliating enough.

  By the time I reached my truck, my heart was hammering in my chest and my hands shook so uncontrollably that it was almost impossible to place my keys in the ignition.

  After several attempts, I ended up dropping them to the floorboard, and that’s when everything broke free. Tears flowed. I sobbed, thinking of the mess my life had become in such a short time. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d ever cried so hard.

  I knew I could go to my father and he’d make everything better, or attempt to. Part of me wanted to run to him, share everything, and let him be my hero. I knew there would be a lot of heads spinning when Benjamin Rigdon stormed through Brooklet on a mission. Only I couldn’t; I wouldn’t. I wanted to be treated as a grown up. I wanted him to understand that I wasn’t the little girl with pigtails anymore. But I will admit, right now I sure wanted my daddy to make it all just go away.

  So instead, I found myself driving to the only person who had the ability to just hold me and make everything else di
sappear.

  Walking up to the station, I saw the large garage door open and a few of the men standing at the side of the truck. It was an unusually warm day for December, and all that was needed was a light jacket. Even that may have been a little much. Most of the guys wore t-shirts and pants, leaning up against the firetruck and laughing. As I got closer, I was able to see what they were laughing and smiling at, and it was just another kick to my already destroyed ego. She was everywhere.

  Holly looked up just as I paused in the doorway, and instantly her eyes gleamed and a smile covered her lips. “You looking for Landon?”

  All I could do was stare at her. Honestly, what I wanted to do was hijack the truck and drive over her again and again to ensure she would never again show up in my life in any way. Problem was I couldn’t move or speak. That strong, confident, taking charge of my life speech I’d given myself a short time ago, it was gone. The moment I was fired, that girl was crushed. And now the beating just continued.

  “He may still be in the shower.” The way she said it made my skin crawl.

  I walked toward the stairway, ignoring them all, and stopped at the bottom looking up toward the upper floor. Feeling sick to my stomach, I paused and found a row of lockers with a long bench before it. Taking a seat, I lowered my head to my hands and focused on breathing.

  “You okay?” I jumped at the sound of a man’s voice and looked up to find Nolan standing a few feet away. “Looking for Layne?”

  “Just waiting here.” I avoided his questioning eyes and looked around, wondering exactly where I was.

  “If you just need to leave something for him, his locker is right there.” Nolan pointed behind me. “He may be awhile. I could go tell him you’re here if you want.”