Brandon believed he was treading water in quicksand just being alone with Shelby. One misstep and he would drown. “I’m sure Justin has packed the fridge and cabinets. He’s not one to miss a meal.”
“I’ve seen that firsthand,” she said meekly.
She’d been with Alex. That had already come to light. Had Justin gone back to the old sibling foolishness and gotten in her pants already? Knowing his little brother’s rep, he bet he’d at least tried.
Brandon’s mind brought up an image of that terrible day when Ashley had broken things off with him. It wasn’t his brothers’ fault that his relationship with her had ended. They’d stopped the old antics once they knew how serious he was about Ashley. What had killed things between them had been his fault alone. He’d cared for Ashley. It might’ve been enough had he been able to say those three words every woman deserved to hear. He couldn’t after she’d told him how she felt about things between them. Her confession that she still found other men attractive had given him the out that he needed. He had never loved her. Not really. Not like his pop had loved his mom. How could he have lied to Ashley by saying that he did? Their breakup had been more like a sigh of relief than anything traumatic. She’d left Elko for a job in Destiny, Colorado, shortly after the relationship ended. He hadn’t seen her since.
“Make yourself at home.”
“You’re quite the host.” Shelby walked around the cabin in an apparent daze. She was clearly still reeling from the news that Lucille was in surgery. He wanted to assure her that things would be okay, but with Dirty Byrd on the case, he was worried how things would turn out.
“Would you like something to eat or drink?” he asked.
“Mind if I just sit?” She was shaking slightly. “I’m really not hungry or thirsty.”
“Is it too cold in here?”
“It’s fine, Brandon. Thank you.” She sat on his mother’s rocking chair. God, Shelby looked so suited here. “How long has this cabin been in your family?”
“Dad’s granddad built it. Probably almost a hundred years.”
“I’m surprised it’s in Silver County and not Elko.” Her gaze moved around the space. “It’s beautiful, Brandon.”
“Mom always loved it,” he said, moving to the armchair closest to her. “The reason it’s in Silver is Pop’s granddad worked in the mine.”
“Your great-grandfather was from Wilde?” She smiled.
He shrugged. “I suppose he was. I never thought about that before.”
“I bet you haven’t.” She started rocking back and forth. “Bad blood between Elko and Wilde.”
“Not as much
as you would think. High school rivalry has caused much of that,” he told her, as a part of his mind began working on his next legal step for her. He hoped it wouldn’t be long before Justin found Lucille’s friend. The dangerous fog surrounding Shelby might be lifted by what Trixie knew. “I don’t know much about my ancestry. Apparently he died in a cave-in.”
“I bet that’s when the Champions left Wilde and moved to Elko.” She blinked her long lashes, and he felt his hunger for her grow inside him. “What about your mom’s family? Where are they from?”
“Somewhere in Philadelphia, but I never knew any of them.” He stood up, needing to put a little space between him and her, pronto. He needed to quell his lust and fast. “They didn’t approve of Pop, but you had to have known my mom. She wasn’t about to let them dictate who she married.”
“I think I would’ve liked your mother.”
“She would’ve loved you, Shelby. I’m sure of that.” He looked down at the beauty mere inches from his fingertips. Damn, her curves were just the way he liked a woman’s body to be. “I’ve got to eat. I’m starving. I can scramble eggs like a top chef. Bacon? It’s hit or miss.”
“It sounds wonderful. The last meal I remember was at the diner. What time is it?”
He looked at his iPad. “Almost midnight.”
“No Dirty Byrd yet.” She sighed one of those sighs that reached into him and grabbed at his heart.
“It’s going to be fine,” he lied but knew that was what she needed to hear at the moment.
“I can tell you’re concerned. Why else would you rush me up here to the Wilde woods to your family cabin? You think Byrd has a case, don’t you?”
“Not yet, he doesn’t. We just have to wait for Justin to get to Trixie.” He got out a pan, hoping his act of nonchalance would help her to relax. God knew his insides were churning and his mind was whirring. He had to figure this out for her. He had to protect her. She didn’t deserve this. Not one fucking bit. “Hard scramble or soft?”
He turned around and opened the fridge. It was fully stocked, as he knew it would be. Justin would not be short on provisions. He pulled out what he needed for their meal.
“Hard, please.”