And, as far as I could tell, she’d obeyed. Tucker said she was hung up on me, but she wouldn’t betray her father. No, I was the one who betrayed Frank.
“Then he said he’d ruin you if I saw you again,” she finished.
I was already ruined. But as I looked into her beautiful eyes, I realized it wasn’t my reputation or even my financial future that was in tatters. It was my heart.
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Even after Sinclair read us the riot act and threatened to ruin him, he wouldn’t budge,” she said.
“Sinclair? What?”
Brooke’s eyes filled with tears, and my heart tore to see it. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’d have to pay the money back if we didn’t stay married for a year?”
Her use of past tense on being married made me wonder if Jeannette had found her and gotten her to sign the divorce papers. I shrugged because I didn’t have a good reason for not telling her. I supposed, at the time, I didn’t think it would be an issue because I hadn’t planned on falling for my best friend’s daughter.
“I’m sorry, Mo. I really am. I told my dad I’d fulfill the agreement. It wouldn’t be right for you to lose everything after all you’ve done.”
This time, my heart twisted. She wasn’t hung up on me. She just wanted to do the right thing so that I didn’t have to pay back the money. If she came home with me, it would only be to keep me from losing my money. I considered that if she did come with me, I’d have a year to win her heart again, but I’d still have the same problem with Frank. And right now, she seemed resigned to the fact that whatever had started between us was now dead.
“Is that why you’ve come for me? You want me to finish the deal so that you don’t have to pay back the money?” She said it like she was disappointed.
Tucker peered into the kitchen. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He looked from me to Brooke. “What is taking so long? You love him. He loves you. Now kiss and make up.” He turned back to the living area, mumbling under his breath.
Her round eyes were filled with hope again. “Is that true?”
I realized that it was now or never. I had to come clean with my feelings for her. It was possible she’d still choose Frank’s wishes over mine, but I had to tell her the truth. I’d regret it if I didn’t. I’d go through life wondering what might have happened if I choked at this moment.
I put my beer down and moved to her. I pushed a stray strand of her blonde hair out of her face.
“Yes.”
34
Brooke
My breath stalled in my chest. It appeared that my biggest dream was coming true. Mo was saying he loved me. Sort of.
“I have for a time but have been an idiot about it,” he said.
“Oh, Mo.” I launched myself into his arms, holding on to him and making a silent promise to never let him go. His arms came around me, and tears came to my eyes as I savored him holding me.
“I’m sorry, Brooke,” he said. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. That Frank hurt you.”
“All that matters is that you love me.” I lifted my head to look into his eyes. “Because I love you, too, Mo. So much. For so long.”
His smile was sweet. “I can’t imagine why.”
“Then, I need to do better at letting you know why.” I pulled him tight again. But then I realized that many of the same issues existed, mainly my father’s disapproval. “What about my dad?”
Mo looked into my eyes, and I saw so much love there, finally, that I thought my heart would burst from my chest. He said, “I’m sorry to lose his friendship. And I’ll admit, I’m not looking forward to what he might do, but if I had you—”
“You do have me, Mo.”
He smiled. “Then that’s all that matters. I plan to resign from office on Monday, and so you’ll be stuck with a rancher.”
“Resign? Why?” Was Sinclair forcing him out? That didn’t seem right since she appeared to be defending him when she showed up at our house.