Touch of Red (Tracers #12)(34)

Wow, magic? Owen?

Lin laughed. “You should see the look on your face. You didn’t know your brother was a girl magnet?”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“So, back to the cop. Are you two serious?”

“No.”

Lin pulled back. “Alrighty then.”

“We’re not dating. Last night was random. We’re really just friends.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

Lin shrugged. “That’s not the impression I got.”

Brooke watched her as she took a sip. Lin was a clinical psychologist—potentially another PhD in the family—and Brooke was curious to get her take on things. But she had to be careful because anything she revealed could ultimately get back to Owen.

“The thing is, Matt and I just broke up, so the timing’s all wrong.”

“That was, what? Three months ago?”

“Four, actually. But that relationship started right after things ended with me and someone else, and that was part of the problem, I think. I rushed into something new when I should have given myself some time.”

“So, now you want some breathing room.”

“Exactly,” Brooke said. “I don’t want to do that all over again. I don’t want to repeat the whole cycle.”

“What cycle?”

“My cycle. The thing I keep doing. Everything starts out great, and then I wake up one day about a year in, and everything’s all a mess, and I wonder, ‘How the hell did I end up with this guy who’s all wrong for me?’?”

Lin watched Brooke carefully, probably analyzing every word and no doubt diagnosing something dysfunctional about Brooke’s MO with men.

Lin tipped her head to the side. “So, do you believe Sean’s all wrong for you?”

The question surprised Brooke. “No. I mean . . . I don’t know, really. He’s just . . .”

Sean was different. He was strong without being overbearing. And he respected her space. But he also seemed determined to wait her out, even though she’d told him this thing between them wasn’t going anywhere.

Maybe I like where it’s going.

Brooke didn’t know if she believed that, not when he got that hungry look in his eyes, that look that made her insides all warm and fluttery.

He seemed resolved to wait, as though he knew that she’d ultimately change her mind. She should be annoyed, but instead she felt anxious.

What if he was right? What if he hung around long enough and she caved in to this burning attraction between them?

Then, once again, she would have taken no time to stand on her own before plunging into something new. She didn’t want to do that this time. She wanted to prove to herself that she didn’t require a man in her life. She didn’t need rings and picket fences and all that other stuff her friends had. She was fine on her own.

“Well?” Lin prompted. “He’s just . . . ?”

“He’s different. At least, I think he is. We don’t know each other all that well.”

“He wants to change that, I’m guessing.”

“The thing is, the timing’s not right.” And that was putting it mildly. Up until recently she’d thought Matt might finally be moving on, but now she knew he wasn’t. She thought of the beer bottle and had to stifle a shudder. That was so his style, sneaking into her house just to prove he could rattle her. The whole thing was a power trip.

She didn’t want to think what he’d do if he thought she had a new boyfriend. That would make a bad situation worse.

Brooke shook her head. “I don’t really want to get into anything right now. It would be a big mess.”

“What’s a big mess?”

They turned around to see Owen standing in the doorway looking groggy and disheveled.

“My love life,” Brooke said.

Her brother winced. “Do I need to hear this?”

“No.”

“At least tell me it doesn’t involve Matt.”

“It doesn’t. I told you, we’re over.”

He shuffled to the fridge and grabbed a jug of orange juice. “Does it involve Sean from last night?”

“No. It doesn’t involve anyone. I’m officially single. In fact, I’m thinking about joining a convent.”

“Good. Music to my ears.”

? ? ?

Sean figured he’d be the only detective working Sunday morning, but Callie’s personal vehicle was in the lot behind the station house. He parked beside it and found her at her desk in the bull pen, staring at her computer.

“What brings you in on a Sunday?” Sean asked.

She leaned back in her chair. “Same as you. This case is a bitch. I hardly slept last night.”

Sean had had the same problem, but his lack of sleep had more to do with Brooke. “I went by the doughnut place.”

“Yeah, me too. No sign of the redheaded kid.” She sighed. “I’m beginning to wonder if this mystery witness really exists.”

“You better hope he exists. He’s our only lead. Jared Doppler’s girlfriend was in for an interview yesterday, and she backs his alibi.”

“Yeah, and how firm is she?”

“I’d say firm.”