Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(81)

“Aw, his arm, you know—still iffy. Come on.”

“You okay with the horse, Mike?”

“You bet,” Mike said. “Your girl here can show me what to do.”

“Ah, Mike—this is Brenda. Brenda, Mike Valenzuela, friend of the family.”

“Nice to meet you,” Mike said, extending his hand to the young girl. She accepted it limply, silently, surprise and worry still etched on her face.

Mike watched over his shoulder as Paul led Tommy away, an arm around him as they walked up the hill toward the house. Brenda dismounted and led the horse toward the stable.

“Brenda, don’t panic. No one knows I’ve talked to you about anything. All right?”

“Sure,” she said nervously.

“Easy does it,” he said. “Tommy’s a good catch. Don’t cut and run because of me. I’m not saying anything to anyone. I’ve seen your folks at the bar ten times since we talked and haven’t breathed a word. I told you, our conversation was in confidence.”

“Yeah, but you’ve been all over that school. People are talking.”

“Yup,” he said. “And they’re talking to me, too. Listen, there’s something you ought to know about your boyfriend here—I’ve been getting to know him and I think he’s solid. If there’s stuff you’re worried about him finding out, it might be better coming from you—but that’s just my opinion. I think he’s a tough, fair kid. He’s not going to get anything from me.”

As she was leading her mount into the stable, she stopped. “You know more than you’re saying. Don’t you?”

“Yup,” he said.

“You know who it was?” she asked without giving him any specifics. But he already knew the specifics. He could continue to play dumb with her or he could go out on a limb and hope it paid off.

“Yup.”

“Will you tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t have a victim. Can’t make an arrest or prosecute a crime without a victim. And just like I’m not telling anyone what you said—”

“Is there more than one person who could be that victim?” she asked.

He looked into her eyes steadily. “What do you think?”

“Oh, no.” Tears gathered in her eyes—probably as the possibility of more girls going through what she’d been through flashed through her mind. “Oh, my God.”

“Yeah, this isn’t pretty, is it? Anytime you want to talk about this, work through it, you know how to reach me. I’m not asking you to do anything, but I want you to try to trust me a little. I’m going to give you some space, and I’m never saying anything about your personal life, or my relationship with you unless you give me the okay. Get that? Let’s take care of the horses. And act like we just hit it off. Huh? Instant friends…”

“I don’t know how to do that,” she said, emotional.

“Sure you do. We’re going to have a nice dinner, a visit with the Booth family. I’ll introduce you to Brie—you’re going to love her,” he said with a smile. “I bet she was a lot like you when she was sixteen. Good grades, nice boyfriends, great family.” His smile deepened. “You’ll be fine. You gotta trust me a little, Brenda. I never sold anyone out.”

“What if you never get a victim so you can make an arrest?”

“I’m gonna get him anyway,” he said. “I’m trying to come up with ideas that don’t involve you.”

They got the saddles off and the tack out, then began brushing the horses. After about ten minutes she said, “Thanks. Mike.”

“Hey, Brenda, I think we’re on the same side. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

It hadn’t yet been two weeks that Brie had been in Virgin River, but to Mike it felt as if they’d been together forever. No matter what the evening held, whether supper at the grill and a quick walk across the yard to the RV, or dinner with the general and his family, when they were finally alone the door was barely closed before they were in each other’s arms. They hadn’t slept in a stitch of clothing since Brie’s arrival and probably never would again. Mike thought about her all day and made long, slow, delicious love to her almost every night. Then there were the mornings…

“No one has this much sex,” she whispered to him, breathless and satisfied.

“Even I never had this much sex,” he admitted, just as breathless.

“It’s a honeymoon, that’s what it is,” she told him.

“I’ve been on two honeymoons, and they were nothing like this.”

“Well, I’ve been on one, and it was nothing by comparison.” She giggled. “You’re amazing, Mike,” she told him.

He rose over her and looked deeply into her eyes. “You’re a passionate woman, Brie. You have a powerful libido. It’s a good thing you chose a Latino.” He grinned. “We have a reputation for being able to handle hot women like you.”

“You handle me, all right. Do you think this is going to wind down anytime soon?”

“If nature takes its course, it will. That’s why I’m taking advantage of you right now. I know what’s coming in the pregnant days.”