Oh, Jesus, was I in love with her? God, I didn’t need that on top of everything else, and at the same time, the idea of loving her felt good. Right. Good God, I was so fucked up.
I was considering another beer or maybe switching to something stronger when there was a knock on my door.
I stood, wondering if Brooke locked herself out. I opened the door, thinking about pulling her to me and kissing her senseless and finally showing her what sex could be like in a
bed. Maybe I’d teach her how to suck my dick like she’d asked. But it wasn’t Brooke.
“Shelley.” Jesus, what was she doing here?
She sent me that wide smile that had beguiled me the first time I met her back in high school. “Can I come in?”
We shared only one class all through school, U.S. History. If I’d taken it at a different time, would she and I have ended up together? As much pain as she brought me, though, I couldn’t be completely regretful of my time with her. We’d had some fun. We’d given each other our virginity and were fairly sexually explorative. She was shallower and more ambitious than me, which ultimately led to our divorce, but for a time, she and I had been happy.
Even so, I wasn’t interested in reminiscing or restarting something that died years ago. But I couldn’t send her away, so I opened the door to let her pass.
Her gaze scanned the room. “Nothing has changed.”
I looked around, thinking that couldn’t be right. I saw signs of Brooke everywhere. Yet as I looked around, Shelley was right; the house was much the same as when she left it. I wouldn’t have thought I could feel more guilt where Brooke was concerned, but the pesky feeling rose. I should have invited her to make changes. This house was her home now. At least, for the time being.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, refocusing on why Shelley was here.
She turned to look at me. “I’ve come to make you reconsider running for governor.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. No can do. Once I’m done being mayor, all my focus will be on the ranch.” And Brooke. The thought made my heart jump, but was it in excitement or fear?
“Mo, the ranch will always be here. The people of Nebraska need you. They respect how you stood up to the current governor over that prison issue—”
I rolled my eyes. Yes, eventually, I did put my support and considerable work behind stopping Stark and helping the farmers, but that was due to seeing what the farmers needed as well as helping Sinclair for when she made her run to be mayor. Initially, I’d been for the prison. Something like that would appear wishy-washy and would likely be used against me in a run for the governorship.
“You’re a folk hero and need to ride that wave of support right into the governor’s mansion.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you, Shelley? I’m not interested in any home other than the one I’m standing in right now.”
I didn’t invite her to sit or offer her a drink, hoping she’d get a clue and cut this visit short, but she simply stared up at me with the disappointment I’d come to know well during the last years of our marriage.
“It’s a pity you lack ambition. There’s so much you could do if you’d just put your mind to it.”
“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I quipped.
She huffed out a breath. Then, her face morphed into that sweet, beguiling smile I’d fallen for long ago but now knew was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “The governor’s mansion will have something you once wanted very badly.”
“I can’t imagine what.”
She flinched, slightly, but then ran one manicured nail down the front of my chest. “Your wife.”
I was out of practice in dealing with Shelley. But in my defense, she was using slightly different tactics. The last thing I’d expected was for her to kiss me, and yet, there she was, pressing her lips against mine. It took me a moment to realize that was happening. I jerked back, my gaze catching something by the door.
Oh shit.
Brooke stood in the open door, her eyes at first wide and then, fucking hell, filling with tears.
“Brooke, honey, what are you doing here?” Shelley asked. “Is everything okay with your dad?”
“She’s bringing some paperwork Frank wanted me to have.”
I was really going to hell now. This was my chance to let Brooke know that this was her home, that I cared for her, and I’d just blown it. At the same time, Shelley knowing the real-deal at this point was a recipe for disaster. Then again, it would definitely put her off me for governor. How was it that I was constantly getting myself between a rock and a hard place?
“Thanks for stopping by, Shelley, but as I said, I’m not interested in being governor. You’ll need to find someone else.” I nearly suggested she contact Stark. They seemed well-suited to each other. I ushered her around Brooke and out the door.