Page 106 of Help Wanted

They were together. And there was nothing to fear. He would see her through this trial and then, when there was nothing else standing in their way, he would tell her he was ready to take the next step. Together.

* * *

Brady showed up at Michaela’s duplex a little after three. When he told Zane he’d received a subpoena to appear in court, Zane had given him the rest of the day off.

He’d begged Mick to spend the afternoon with him. It didn’t take much persuasion. She opened the door when he knocked and ran upstairs, with him chasing behind.

“Damn, woman, slow down. I only have one foot.”

“Please! I’m not falling for that trick.” He laughed as he caught her at the top of the stairs. He picked her up and carried her the few feet to her room, throwing her on the bed and falling on top of her.

She giggled until he kissed the laughter into a low moan. As she reached for his pants someone banged on the wall with a hammer.

He jumped back at the sound, his heart rate soaring from the fright.

“What the hell?” he said over the sound of an air-nailer.

“Renovations.” She pulled him back down, catching his ear with her teeth. “They’ll be done by next week.”

“You’re getting new neighbors?”

“I guess so. I’ll have to run an ad.”

He pulled back to look at her.

“You’re a landlord?”

“I’m going to try it. My father is an investment broker.” She shrugged it off and then her eyes went wide. “I just had a great idea.”

“What is it?”

“The place would be perfect for Hunter.”

“You want Hunter and me to move in next to you?”

She shook her head slowly, a crooked smile on her lips. “I want Hunter to move in next to us.”

Oh.

He felt himself pulling away both physically and emotionally. He knew how he felt for Mick. She was great, and he’d never been so happy with a woman before. He’d been ready to tell her he wanted to commit, that he loved her, but shacking up? That was more than he was ready for. It meant more than just sharing the things he wanted to share and having a standing date every weekend.

Living together meant day in and day out. It meant her seeing him when he was in pain, or when he was dealing with bad memories. He wouldn’t be able to hide the truly frightening things.

No way were they ready for that. And if she left, where would that leave him or his brother. It wasn’t safe for Hunter to get too attached. He’d lost enough in his life already.

Brady shook his head.

“Thanks for the offer, but we’re not ready for that.” He’d meant him and Mick weren’t ready, but she misunderstood.

“It would be perfect. Hunter would have his independence, but we’d be right here if he needed us. He’s ready, Brady.”

“I’ll make that decision if and when the time is right. It’s not right.” He stood and ran his hand over his hair. He felt trapped. “I need to go.”

“Go? What’s wrong? It’s okay. We don’t have to do it. It was just an idea.”

An idea that would continue to grow until it became a reality. While she might brush off the idea of moving Hunter in next door, she was thinking of Brady moving in with her. She was at that level and he wasn’t. No matter how much he might want it, he couldn’t just slip into a normal life.

He panicked.