Page 26 of Light on Love
“Already handled,” Floyd answers.
“And the bodies?” he asks, his tone more apprehensive this time.
“Dropped them at the county morgue in town along with the abandoned truck we found. Figured it’s what they arrived in. We stopped by the sheriff’s house after and then called the number you gave us. Even though ours was an unfamiliar number, that Ireland guy answered first ring like you said. We relayed the message to intercept the county’s investigation. Floyd also cleaned up the arsenal you left scattered across the porch before you two came down. Your firearms are all back in their safe,” Grey responded solemnly.
Brett nods with appreciation. “I can’t thank you guys enough. Honestly, I—” he says to them, tightening his grip on Laurel and searching for the right words.
“We’re here for you, son. You know that’s how it works ‘round here,” Floyd says, looking from Brett to Laurel. “And that includes you, Laurel.”
“I am so thankful for how you have all let me disrupt your lives, how you helped me tonight,” she offers, emotion tugging at her voice.Brett nuzzles into her neck as Grey nods.
“We’re happy to have you here,” Floyd replies with a wink. If the men were bothered by the task of moving dead bodies, they don’t show it.
“I am curious though,” Grey says, “it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that they came so soon after you got that folder. I mean someone really didn’t want you using it. Right?”
“Yeah, I think it’s connected too. Seems like I need to tell the captain about my mole theory before I complete this profile.”
They fall into comfortable silence, all watching the sunrise together. Every so often Brett leans in to kiss Laurel, as if a few hours ago he wasn’t sure he would be able to do it again.
15
Cooper arrives with breakfast, courtesy of Mary, and a barrage of questions, courtesy of him. He asks about the explosions and what triggered them. He asks about why he was called to stay with Mary in the middle of the night. And he asks where Brett sent Floyd and Grey off to.
The older men are careful in what they share with Cooper, and Laurel smiles when it reminds her of how her older brothers would try to guard her from things when she was younger. She feels a familiar pang of guilt at the thought and how she’s hidden what she is going through from Charlie and Stephen. But when Cooper starts his line of questioning about the fact that Brett is wrapped around Laurel, the guilt is swept away by her efforts to stifle a laugh.
“Come on,” Cooper is saying, waving his hand at them. “We aren’t going to talk about the fact that they’re sitting there like that?”
Brett levels Cooper with a stony gaze and responds dryly, “didn’t Floyd and Mary teach you not to ask personal questions.”
“We certainly did. But I think you brought this on yourself,” Floyd says with a chuckle, as if he’s watching brothers bicker. Cooper doesn’t seem to be phased by Brett’s tone or glarethough, and Laurel feels soothed that he has people who can see him as more than a dangerous, deadly, weapon of a man.
“It’s been obvious to all of us since she got here! So did you finally just man up and tell her you’re into her?”
Laurel takes the bait, “what was obvious when I got here?” Cooper’s face splits into a full grin and when he opens his mouth to respond, Brett cuts in.
“Coop, you’d better remember who holds your fate around here before you answer that,” he warns, quirking an eyebrow in challenge. “You want permanent shit duty?”
Cooper leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “I think she’d be happy to know,” he mumbles, but leaves it at that.
Laurel turns to Brett. “I do want to know,” she whispers to him, peering up through her lashes. He squeezes her waist and leans down to plant a soft kiss on her lips.
“I think you already know,” he whispers back.
—
It’s midmorning when the ranch-hands retreat to their respective homes. Laurel watches them disappear around the side of the house before she wraps her arms around Brett’s neck and sighs. She breathes in his scent and lets herself focus on the steady rise and fall of his chest against her. Slowly, she traces a finger down the jagged scars from his ear to his jaw and when she reaches the end, she lifts her head back up to see his rich brown eyes watching her, affectionately amused.
“Thank you for saving me,” she murmurs.
“All that matters to me is that you’re safe,” he responds, but then his jaw tightens, and he breaks eye contact with her. Taking his chin between her index finger and thumb, she pulls his face back towards her.
“Tell me, please.”
Brett doesn’t answer for a moment, and when he finally speaks, his voice is strained. “If I’m being honest, selfishly, I like being the one responsible for that. I like taking care of you and I don’t want to risk your safety in anyone else’s hands. Wanting to be the one to take those lives, does that make me as bad as them? I don’t take it lightly, ending a life. I carry the weight. But they wanted to hurt you, they wanted to take—” he swallows hard, “your life. You mentioned the guys at the base thought they had to prepare you for how bad I am, described me like I’m some monster. Maybe they didn’t exaggerate,” he finishes hoarsely.
“Brett, listen to me. You are not bad; they came here and attacked you. You are the bravest, strongest person I have ever met, and you should never be ashamed of your abilities. You’re also considerate, and so selfless for putting yourself through what you have just to protect others.”
Brett doesn’t answer, his jaw clenched and throat bobbing as she continues. “And now you’ve been asked to put yourself through it again, to let your home be attacked. You agreed even though you’re out of the service and without a team. You agreed in order to protect me.”