McKenzie Cousins Box Set 1

“I’m not sure.” He takes my hand and intertwines our fingers. “I feel guilty for not helping her, but if she is doing drugs then I don’t want to be responsible for her buying more. If she isn’t, and just spending, then I don’t want to help her with that.”

“You did the right thing.” Michael wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Do you want me to find out what she’s up to?”

“I want to say yes, but I don’t want whatever it is to rub off on you, or me for that matter.”

“Did she answer about doing drugs?”

“No.” I pull my lower lip between my teeth. “I think I need to call my dad and let him know about her visit and why.”

“Maybe he knows. After all, didn’t we leave him going through her account?”

“Yeah. I asked before we left but Mom and Dad changed the subject.” I shrug.

“Let’s forget about her for now, okay? Let me take you out to dinner, and then we’ll come home and I’ll make sweet love to you so that you’ll never want to leave me.”

With a slight gasp, I climb onto Michael’s lap and curl into him. “I love you, Michael.” I cup his jaw. “Why would I ever want to leave?”

He doesn’t reply, but pulls me down to meet his mouth.

52

/> Michael

“No need to ask why you look so happy?” Charlotte comments walking into my office.

“I’ve never been happier,” I agree. “She’s told her boss she’s going to work remotely if they’ll still have her. She didn’t want to lose Brooke so she has it her way.”

“So she’s moved in completely, huh?”

It’s been two weeks since I came home with Brooke and I can’t believe how easily she’s fitted into my life, and with my family. It’s as though she’s always been around. My home certainly wouldn’t be the same without her in it.

“She’s living with me, and we’ll go within the next month to close her apartment up and bring her things back here.”

“That’s quick,” she comments, looking sad. “Charlotte, it isn’t quick if you just know…and I know. I’m not letting her go. Thankfully, she loves Lexington and she gets on well with the family. She thinks Aunt Sabrina is a hoot after she witnessed her after a grandma cocktail.”

I laugh at the look of horror on Charlotte’s face. “You should have seen her. She’d only had half a glass apparently. Lucien took her home.”

“I’m really happy for you.” Charlotte says as she moves toward the door.

“Charlotte,” I call. “When are you going after your guy?”

“I’m not sure I am.” Her shoulder’s sag. “I thought about it after we spoke, but what if he loves his fiancée and I ruin that?”

“And what if he’s only going ahead with it because he feels he has to, and not because he wants to? What if he fell in love with you as well because it sounds to me like you weren’t the only one involved that night. Don’t sell yourself short.”

She exhales on a shaky a breath. “I think I’m just scared Michael.” Her face falls and tears start to flow down her cheeks.

Rushing to her, I pull her into my arms and close the door. She holds on to me while she sobs her heart out, which makes me want to have words with this Tanner Jackson.

It feels like it takes forever for her to get herself together and when she does she drops on my sofa, so I pass her the box of tissues. “Here, you need to mop up.”

“Thanks,” she winces. “God, I didn’t know that was going to happen,” she says, embarrassed.

“Charlotte, I’m your twin, if you can’t cry in front of me, then who can you cry in front of? You obviously needed it.”

“I do feel a bit better.”

“There you go then, Michael’s shoulder to the rescue again.” I say and am rewarded with her smile.