Free I Run to You by Eve Asbury Page A

me—.”
    “Just—don’t,” she grit.
    “You were more mature in some ways than me,
then Brook. You made a difference in my life, but I’m the dumb ass
who threw it away.”
    “Shut up.”
    “I am. I will.”
    He saw her hand reaching for the shift. He
murmured before standing, stepping away though, “With you, I would
have made love for the first time. The only thing I had known was
sex for the sake of it. I regret how I destroyed your faith in me,
in what we had. And I regret— for myself—that I never got to
experience that either.”
    He stepped back, seeing through the window
that her face was flushed, her hand not steady as she tried to
shift to reverse.
    “I love you, Brook. I always will.”
    Her head whipped in his direction, her eyes a
deep, aching, violet. “You sonofabitch,” she whispered. “You
self-indulgent, sonofabitch.”
    She turned and in seconds was backing
out.
    The little VW slid as she U turned on the two
lane. Gears were grinding when she floored it, heading down the
road.
    Coy turned. It was sundown now—but light
enough to see Madeline standing a few feet from him.
    “You heard?” He walked slowly up to meet
her.
    “Yes.” Her eyes, so like Brook’s, searched
his face. “You and I have come to an understanding.” She reached
out and touched his arm. “I do understand youthful mistakes.
Screwing up our best chances. I didn’t say anything, the things I
wanted to say—years ago, for Brook’s sake, I didn’t beat the shit
out of you— for tearing her apart like you did.”
    Coy rasped, “I’m sorry, Madeline.”
    “I know.” She sighed heavily and dropped her
hand.
    Arms folded around her middle, she supplied,
“But for Brook’s sake this time, I’m going to say this, whether
she’d want me to or not. Let her live her life, and love whomever
she will, Coy. I want her home. I want my daughter here. Among all
of us. I am selfish, completely selfish, about it. Don’t do
anything that will keep Brook from building the life, having the
kinds of experiences, any grown woman her age should.”
    Coy nodded. He could not challenge that. He
had no right to.
    Madeline turned and they walked toward the
steps together.
    Mitch was there. He drew Madeline down to sit
between his spread knees. He handed her a mug of coffee, then
looked at Coy, who stood watching them. People were leaving,
walking around them, but Coy had not felt anyone else really, since
he had seen Brook.
     
    Mitch’s arms were loose around Madeline. It
was a protective, his lovers, relaxed way of surrounding her. His
light eyes on Coy, he murmured, “You’re not a stupid man, Coy. You
know that Rafael has a thing for her. He has waited for her to come
home. He had something for her even when you had your shot.
Therefore, the only thing I am going to say is—he deserves it. I
don’t know Brook’s private life. It is none of my business. But
whomever she dates, seriously or not, she’s a sophisticated woman
who is going to be with them—because she wants to be—and the rest
can go to hell.”
    Coy caught a small smile on Madeline’s lips
as she took a sip from her mug.
    He arched his brow and looked at his Uncle.
“She just said; fuck you, to my apologies. You think I don’t know
she’s not her own woman?”
    Under his uncles laugh Coy grunted before
heading around them up the steps. “I’m on easy terms with Rafe
Martinez, but that don’t mean I’m going to give him my
blessing.”
    “I wouldn’t think so. “ He heard Mitch mutter
when he was a step ahead.
    Coy’s last word on it was, “Coburns give up
when they’re dead. Not before.”
     
     
     

Chapter 4
     
     
     
    Brook had planned to call Sunny Monday
evening. As it happened, she ran into him in town. He invited her
to lunch at Rafael’s. Rafe was not in that day. Sunny said Rafe
bought a house two years ago, and was still renovating on his time
off.
    Brook parked her own vehicle and settled in
the passenger side of Sunny’s