Chapter 7 - Brooklyn

Luckily, Brooklyn knew where she was because she’s driven this way for years.

She knew that there was a bed and breakfast down the street that she might be able to squeeze into tonight. It would take even more money, but luckily Brooklyn was hyper-focused on budgeting, so she knew she could afford one night of trouble followed by the tow in the morning.

Despite having lived in southern Seattle for years, the mud and constant rain was something she still wasn’t used to.

When she grew up in California, they would only have one crazy storm season for a couple of months. Buckets and buckets of water would relentlessly fall from the sky for long periods of time before it would all be over for the year.

Right now she would have done anything for that weather.

Her thin flats were repeatedly sucked into the mud covering the street. It took a considerable amount of effort to lift and move her feet forward, but she did so relentlessly.

Brooklyn quickened her steps, barely clinging onto her flats as they suctioned into the thick mud. Her flat slipped from her foot and she had to stop and dig it out of the mud pile before continuing. She gave up on replacing her shoes and just held them in her hand the rest of the way.

The mud squished between her toes and her nose curled in disgust. She hated mud.

The bed and breakfast came into view just as her toes were turning numb. Brooklyn rubbed her wet hands together and placed them on her nose, trying to keep it warm in the freezing rain.

She felt so wet she was sure it seeped down into her bones.

She was relieved to reach the front of the bed and breakfast and let out a long breath.

Brooklyn took the shoes in her hand and glanced around, trying to find somewhere to rinse them and her feet off so she could go in without tracing mud. She caught sight of the gutter spout and made a b-line for the rushing water.

“Brooklyn?”

Her heart stuttered wildly and she let out a small shriek in surprise at her name.

Warmth instantly flowed through her at the raspy voice.

Brooklyn looked up from the gutter and made eye-contact with those mesmerizing golden eyes. Hunter was half-way up the steps in mid-stride as he looked her over.

Brooklyn felt like she was frozen as she looked at him. His shirt was wet, though not drenched like her clothes undoubtedly were. The wet fabric clung flatteringly to his broad shoulders, his height accented with his wet jeans. His shoes were covered in mud, but not nearly as much as hers were.

She couldn’t believe she was standing in front of the hottest guy she has ever met, covered in mud and drenched from head-to-toe.

She probably looked like a mess.

“What happened to your shoes?” Hunter asked again, the raspiness of this voice mesmerizing to her.

Brooklyn looked down in her hands and saw the soaked footwear lifted out of the rush of water. They were still caked in a thick layer of mud and Brooklyn would be surprised if they were ever able to dry off again.

“They’re covered in mud.” Brooklyn looked down at her feet, wishing she could just disappear. Mud was thick between her toes and piled high over her ankles, almost completely hiding her fair skin in the brown mush.

Hunter chuckled softly, the sound sending hot sparks straight down her spine. “No, I mean what happened to your car? Why are you walking?”

Of course that’s what he meant.

“Oh. It broke down again. Vincent wasn’t answering, so I had to walk. The tow trucks are already closed for the night.”

Hunter’s face lost its humor and he looked at her seriously for a moment. Without warning, he shot his hand out in front of him.

“Give me your phone.”

Brooklyn swung the bag down her shoulder and ripped the zipper open. All her belongings were soaked, her purse having provided little protection in the rain. She hesitated before gripping her phone, which was resting against the small collection of water on the bottom of her bag.

She pulled it out and water dripped from the device.

Brooklyn let out a frustrated sigh. “I guess I need a new phone now.”

Hunter took his hand back. “Do you want me to take a look at it? Your car, I mean.”

Bad idea.

Say no, Brooklyn.

“Umm, it’s fine. You’ve already done me a favor today. Once I get cleaned up, I’m going to head in and ask for a room.”

“The bed and breakfast is actually full. They are renovating some rooms right now and only have three available, which are all full at the moment.”

Brooklyn’s eyebrows pulled together in confusion. How would he know that?

Finally, it clicked.

He’s staying here.

Duh. How else would he have found you? Follow you here?

“Oh.” Brooklyn glanced back down at her phone before dropping it back in her purse. “Can I borrow your phone again? Maybe Vincent can come to get me.”

Heat passed through Hunter’s eyes, making her take a large step back.

Why is he so angry?

Hunter’s speaking loosened his clenched jaw.

“No. You can get cleaned up in my room. I have a couch that’s available.”

Alarms went off in her mind. “Oh, no. I can’t intrude like that. Thank you for the offer, but I can’t.”

A sly grin appeared on Hunter’s full lips. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

This is a bad idea, Brooklyn. Don’t do it.

But honestly, what other choice did she have? She was at a bed and breakfast that had no more room and there was no way she could walk anywhere else. There was nobody else she could turn to and she couldn’t get a tow truck here until tomorrow.

Sighing, Brooklyn said the words she was hoping to avoid.

“Well, if you insist.”