“She’s here with her, so yes.”
“Good.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better.”
“And how are you and Sky?”
Brock hesitated. “What do you know about that?”
“Word gets around fast.”
“Apparently... I’ll let you know.” Another question burned in his mind. How much had Abby told Sky about why they were at the center. Sky wasn’t surprised at all to find Brock and the other men so physically drained. Abby must have come up with some kind of excuse.
“Well, good luck. I need to run. Talk to you soon.”
She hung up before he could get another word out.
Brock went to toss the phone on the couch but stopped when he saw he’d received a text. Swiping the screen open, he quickly read it. It was from the fire chief, telling him Doug was released from the hospital yesterday.
Brock shook his head in disbelief. Good news all round. It had to be a sign.
He hoped his luck would hold now that it was time to have that talk with Sky. Hauling himself up off the couch, he headed for the kitchen but heard another text come in. This one was from Zeke.
What in hell?
Zeke’s message read, “Rhys Dillon = Vampire. Crazy, but will bring proof next time.”
Brock had heard enough crazy talk from Zeke to know this was probably bullshit. No one in Sparks knew a thing about vampires. Sure, there were wolf shifters, but vampires? Shaking his head, he put it out of his mind. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air. Sky busily mixed something in a bowl. Whatever it was, there was a spot of it smeared across her cheek.
“It’s almost ready.”
“You didn’t have to do all this for me…but thanks.”
Sky blushed. “I can’t guarantee it tastes any good, except for the bacon, and maybe the coffee.”
“It’s better than anything I can manage.”
While Sky checked on the bacon, Brock took the opportunity to move behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I need to tell you a few things.”
“Go ahead.”
“Mom’s doing better. I just talked to Abby. The doctors are still running tests, but looks like she’ll make a full recovery.”
Sky looked up at him, eyes all lit up. “Really? That’s great! You must be so relieved. Does Brianna know?”
“Yes…I also need to talk to you about Rhys Dillon.”
“Brock, please…”
“It’s not what you think.”
Sky looked uncertain. “Okay,” she slowly said. “I need to finish this up while we talk or it’ll burn.”
“Sure. I’ll get myself a coffee. Smells like it just finished brewing.”
Brock grabbed a cup of black coffee and settled into one of the kitchen chairs facing her.
“What’s this about?,” she asked, looking back and forth between him and the pans on the stove.
“Dillon was running a string of meth labs.” Sky snapped her head up and stared at him, mouth wide open. Brock couldn’t tell whether she believed him or not. “That’s why I lost it in the parking lot. Well, part of the reason.”
“What’s the other reason?”
“Seeing you talking to him.” Her face still unreadable, she gazed back at him. “Are you surprised about Dillon?”
“Yes. I mean, my God... It’s crazy. I never thought he was into anything illegal.” She stared straight into his eyes. “You need to know nothing happened between us.”
“I know.”
“He showed up unannounced at the saloon when you saw us. I told him not to contact me again, and he said he wouldn’t.”
Brock took a sip of his coffee. Sky had made it at just the right strength. It slipped down his throat and rejuvenated him, just the taste of it having a positive effect. “He definitely won’t be contacting you. There’s a warrant out for his arrest. He’ll be behind bars soon.”
Sky’s eyes went wide. “God. Wow.”
“There’s more.”
“About Rhys?”
“No.”
Sky took a few steps toward the stove and quickly flipped the bacon.
“Sky.”
“Hold on. How do you like your eggs? I know I’ve made them scrambled for you before, but that’s only because I’ve never made them any other way. I can try, though.”
“Sky.”
She opened the fridge and pulled out the egg carton. “Poached? Over easy? Just tell me and I’ll figure it out.”
Brock stood up and pushed his chair back. “Sky. Stop.”
He was behind her again when she turned around, looking up at him with those eyes that had a way of melting his heart. They were inches away now. Her scent filled his nose, and suddenly food was the last thing on his mind.
“I’ve neglected you. I’m sorry for that. You need know how important you are to me, and this is the first time I’ve come out and said it.”
Sky’s eyes brimmed with tears. “It’s okay.”
“No. It’s not. I pushed you away. I was…afraid. You deserved a whole lot more than this kind of treatment.”
Brock took the egg carton from her hand and set it on the counter, then he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
22