Love's Suicide (Love's Suicide #1)(118)

I had to keep reminding myself that Bobby’s alcohol addiction wasn’t directly due to Brooks. For a while there he’d even thought Brooks was dead. I don’t know how much more someone could be out of the picture than that.

Danica was a blessing to have around, always keeping B occupied in and outside, while I hobbled around, trying to put my house back in order. She’d done most of the scrubbing and picking up the little pieces, so I wouldn’t have to.

I didn’t even realize how late it was until I heard a vehicle coming down the driveway. It was too difficult to make my way over to the window, so I sat there in my chair waiting for him to come inside.

I knew it was Brooks, because he never let me down. I just didn’t know he’d been coming with gifts.

He walked through the door with both hands full of bags. “Hey. Now, before you freak out I just want to say that I did my best picking out something you’d like. If it’s no good, we’ll take it all back and pick out something else.”

He sat the bags down on the coffee table and leaned over to kiss me. “You didn’t have to buy me anything.”

He started walking back outside, but turned around to answer. “If I’m going to be living here, then I need to pitch in.” He winked before walking outside and I was left sitting there, speechless.

I started pulling things out of the bags, realizing that he’d gone to a store and bought things to replace what had been damaged. The first thing I noticed was how close to the originals he’d gotten. Danica must have been sending him pictures all day long and never telling me.

I started opening the packages that contained new curtains, when he came walking back in with more bags. “I can’t believe you did all this. Did you take off early?”

“No. I ordered it all on the computer and it was ready when I got off. Mom suggested it.”

I laughed, thinking about Danica and her love for shopping. “This is pretty amazing. I can’t believe you did this.”

Brooks sat the next couple of bags down next to me. He ran the back of his hand over my cheek. “I’d do anything to see you smile, Kat. Put your feet up and start opening packages. I’ve got to go back outside and help my buddies with something.”

“Your buddies?”

I had no idea what he was talking about. B and Danica were outside. I could hear them playing near the swing set.

Then I saw the door swing open and two men in fatigues holding one end of a mattress. They nodded when they saw me sitting down and I smiled politely.

In came Brooks with one other guy helping him. The moment I saw him my heart rate increased. The butterflies in my stomach were getting stronger as he made his way with the mattress to our bedroom. I was in awe over him, and the things that he did for me and for us.

In a matter of minutes, they were then carrying the large full-sized throw rug out of the house and bringing in another still wrapped in plastic. I sat there, listening to them talking while moving things around. I knew what they were doing, but I couldn’t believe it. It was just outrageous.

I waited until he saw his friends out before getting up and making my way into the bedroom. Brooks came over and picked me up, carefully laying me on the new mattress. “So, how does it feel? The internet said it’s the most sold bed in America. The rug is even softer than the one we had to throw away. It matches all the new bedding. Mom picked them out based on what you had before.”

I closed my eyes and let my body sink down in the memory foam. It was the utmost comfortable thing I’d ever laid on. I leaned up on my elbow and looked at him. “It’s great, but there’s just one problem.”

He looked concerned, as if he was going to have to return it. “What? Too soft? I know some people like a bed to be firm.”

“No. It’s too comfortable. I don’t see how you’re ever going to get any action, when I fall asleep as soon as my back hits the bed.”

Brooks began to laugh at my comment. He pulled me close against him and looked down at my lips. “Am I allowed to kiss you or are we still waiting?”

I closed my eyes and prepared for his lips to make contact with mine. “Waiting only prolongs the inevitable.”

He kissed me slowly, brushing our lips together and then pulled away. “I don’t think I have to worry about you falling asleep on me. I know ways to keep you alert and ready.” Just as he ran his hands down between my legs, I heard the door open and shut and our daughter’s voice.

We both sat up and prepared for her presence. Danica let her climb up to hug Brooks. “Hey, Daddy will be outside in just a second. I need to talk to Mommy about something first. Go on with Mom mom and I’ll meet you there.”

She hopped down and went running back outside. Danica smiled at him as if she knew a secret that I didn’t. I felt overwhelmed for a second, thinking that he was getting ready to, of all times, ask me to marry him.

I pulled away and must have gotten a shocked look on my face. “What’s wrong with you?”

I put my hands up in front of me. “Don’t you dare do it. I need time, Brooks. I can’t just spit on a grave that hasn’t even been dug yet.”

I watched his face change, and as he realized what I’d been thinking, I discovered that my assumption had been way off.

I felt so stupid.

He shook his head. “Look, now I get that you’re worried I’m going to push you, but I won’t push for that. Kat, I will wedge myself so far into your life that you won’t be able to get rid of me, but I wasn’t going to ask you what you think I was. In fact, I wasn’t going to ask you anything.”