Broken (Brody Brothers Book 4) Read online

  He nodded, giving her hips a little nudge. “Mm-hm.”

  “I’m totally in favor of even more,” she breathed so ardently he couldn’t help but grin.

  What a woman.

  *

  Winnie’s legs were still wobbly by the time Des walked her back to the main house, which wasn’t surprising. Come to find out, Des was a conscientious soul who believed in being prepared, which meant he had two condoms in his wallet rather than just one. That seemed like an opportunity to find out if he could give her that “even more” he’d mentioned earlier.

  Gotta love a man who knew how to take advantage of an opportunity whenever it arose.

  Nearly an hour and several orgasms later, Winnie was profoundly grateful for such a goal-oriented man. She couldn’t seem to stop smiling as she walked with him into the main house’s office space, this time uncaring that Dallas watched them with a big smile as they walked in, with Des’s arm around her shoulders and her arm around his waist.

  Hopefully this was a sight everyone would get used to.

  What she didn’t expect, however, was to find Cleo curled up in one of the office guest chairs happily shooting the breeze with Dallas like they were lifelong friends.

  “Win! There you are.” Cleo smiled brightly and bounced to her feet, her gaze ping-ponging back and forth between her and Des. “I was beginning to think you’d wandered off somewhere and got eaten by a cow.”

  “Last I heard, our cows are famous for being range-fed vegetarians,” Des drawled before his eyes narrowed on her. “You’re Cleo, right? I saw you at your mom’s store the other day.”

  Cleo all but glowed. “Good memory. And you’re Des.”

  He did one of those manly chin-lifts. “You and your mom looked after Winsome when she was alone in the world and needed someone to give her shelter. I won’t forget that. I gotta get going, baby girl,” he added to Winnie, who felt as fluttery as her friend looked. He bent and kissed her, one big hand coming up to cup her cheek before he straightened to his full height and glanced at his sister. “Make sure these two behave themselves.”

  “You know me—I’m all about good behavior. Whatever that is.”

  “Right.” With a resigned sigh he headed for the archway, only to turn back at the last minute to lock gazes with Winnie. “Don’t go visiting Panda without me, understand? The Bachelor Pad’s got too many idiots around who might not know you’re untouchable, so if you want to see Panda, text me. I’ll get to you eventually.”

  “Got it.”

  “Good.” With a wink, he was gone. Beside her, Cleo didn’t move until the sound of the front door closing reached them.

  “Panda? Bachelor Pad? Untouchable? All of this must be explained to me immediately, or I’m going to explode.”

  Never had Winnie wanted the Darth Vader ability to choke off her friend’s words like she did at that moment. “Um… later, Cleo.”

  “Don’t mind me, I promise I won’t listen too much.” Dallas’s bright smile vanished when the phone rang, and she gave the offending instrument a dirty look. “Damn, just when we were getting to the good part. Cleo, ask her about why she has hay in her hair,” she added hurriedly before snatching up the phone.

  “Wow, you do have hay in your hair.” Cleo lowered her voice even as Winnie ran frantic hands through the long ropes of curling hair to find it. “And I’ve got to say, that skirt’s looking a little, uh, worse for wear. What the heck did you sit in?”

  Oh, man. “Come to find out, haybales have a lot more dirt in them than you might think.”

  “So you’re saying you had a little roll in the hay?” her friend snickered, only to gasp when Winnie stared at her. “Oh, my God. You had sex with Des Brody? In hay?”

  “On hay, actually. I need to change,” she muttered, sending a furtive glance Dallas’s way. When she saw Des’s older sister was immersed in the now-familiar wrestling match with the dreaded bull binder, she sent up silent thanks before making a beeline for the stairs. Great. Twice in one day, taking the proverbial Walk of Shame in front of her man’s sister.

  Her man.

  Even now, giddy happiness made her head spin until she felt drunk.

  “You’re not getting away from me that easily.” Determinedly Cleo matched her step for step as she marched herself up the stairs. “Wow, will you look at that chandelier? It’s as big as my Beetle. And this staircase is like something out of a movie set. We should be wearing Scarlett O’Hara dresses to do it justice.”

  “Thank God hoopskirts are out of fashion. It’s way too hot for that kind of crazy business.” Determinedly Winnie led the way into her bedroom, not stopping until she reached the closet and pulled out the ombre t-shirt dress. “Speaking of fashion, you should know that all the Brody brides have seen this outfit and they like it, so I guess that means I’ll be getting it into the shop once I can get back to all my equipment. Also, I don’t do a lot of maternity fashion, but one of them is pregnant, so my head is swimming with ideas. Do you think your mother would be willing to get into the maternity business? She doesn’t do a lot of a maternity stuff, does she?”

  “I’m not sure about that, but I am sure you’re trying to avoid having the roll-in-the-hay conversation, and you’re not going to get away with it.” Closing the bedroom door behind them, her friend turned and nailed her with a hard stare. “Spill, girlfriend. You literally had sex with a Brody in a haystack?”

  “Like I said, it was on a haybale, and only now am I realizing how uncomfortable that can be.” She went to the standing mirror by the closet and moved her dirty skirt just enough to look at the scratches on the backs of her legs. “Funny how the movies never talk about how rough that kind of activity is on the skin.”

  “Winnie, focus.” Her friend bounced over and spun her around by the shoulders. “You had freaking sex with a freaking Brody.”

  “Stop saying it like that.”

  Cleo blinked. “Like what?”

  “Like Des’s first name—his very identity—doesn’t matter, and that all you can see is the Brody name. That’s not like you, and it’s beneath both you and Des. He matters as a person, okay? He’s not just a Brody, and he sure as hell isn’t interchangeable with his brothers. He’s… special. And incredible. Strong as steel both inside and out, and so honorable and good he takes my breath away. But even more than that, he’s so sweet he actually made me cry out of sheer happiness, when I’ve never done that in my life. Des gave me that happiness, so I need you to look at him and respect him as Des, and not just any other Brody.” She took a deep breath and searched her friend’s vaguely stunned expression. “Okay?”

  “Okay.” It came out faintly as her friend did some face-searching herself. “Wow. And here I thought a Smiley would never be able to see past the name Brody.”

  “Yeah, well, things change.”

  “And so have you. I totally get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “I get that you’re in love with him,” her friend said, staggering her even as Cleo’s hands gripped hers. “That’s so amazing, Winnie. I’m just sorry I didn’t realize your feelings went that deep. I promise I won’t ever again make it sound like you’re just trying to get with any of the Brody boys, because that’s obviously not it. You love Des, don’t you? So much that you don’t even care that he’s a Brody.”

  Winnie took a calming breath before nodding. “I can’t stop thinking about him, and I’m at my happiest whenever he’s around. He’s the reason I can’t stop smiling, and I trust him with every last part of me. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

  “That’s definitely love, and I couldn’t be happier for you.” With a laugh, her friend threw her arms around her and squeezed tight, only to pull back with a gasp only a second later. “I might be happy for you, but I’m not sure that’s going to be the case with your grandma.”

  “Granny?” Winnie stared at her, baffled. “What does she have to do with anything?”

  “Your grandmother is actually t
he reason I’m here, girlfriend. Since Mom and I were already planning on closing up the shop on Friday for the trade show in Dallas next week, we decided to just close a few days early while all that ductwork installation is going on in the building.”

  Winnie frowned. “Okay, thanks for letting me know I don’t have to show up for work any time soon. But what does that have to do with Granny?”

  “I’m getting to that. So there we were bright and early this morning, figuring out what we wanted to pack up for the trade show, when your grandmother shows up to see you. But of course, all she found was us, and your empty apartment. I take it you haven’t told her you’re staying here at Green Rock Ranch while the A/C is being installed?”

  She groaned and smacked her forehead. “In all the hullabaloo, I forgot to let her know where she could find me.”

  “Forgot?”

  “Maybe I sort of intentionally forgot. Whatever,” she added with an aggravated flail of her hand. “I called her yesterday to see how she was doing, and she never mentioned she was going to drop by.”

  “I got the impression she was there to check on you. She was talking with my mom when I stumbled in on the conversation, but apparently your grandma was over at the diner with Rufus when someone told her you were staying at Green Rock.”

  “So, naturally she zoomed right over to Cleone’s to see for herself,” Winnie groaned, shaking her head. “There are times when life in a small town really sucks.”

  “Yeah, even if you don’t know what you’re doing, someone will be sure to tell you all about it,” Cleo sympathized before slanting a brow her way. “What are you going to do?”

  “The only thing I can do—look her in the eye and tell her the truth. But first, I need to change, and this T-shirt dress isn’t going to do it.”

  “Armor when going into battle is always a good idea,” Cleo nodded wisely.

  Chapter Sixteen

  A battalion of butterflies churned in Winnie’s stomach as she parked outside Rufus’s detached garage, where the property’s mother-in-law apartment had been put to excellent use by Granny.

  As Winnie had begun to make more money at Cleone’s Closet as a designer and gained a devoted following for her online store Passion for Fashion, she’d made sure her grandmother’s place had all the upgrades, from a remodeled bathroom, complete with a walk-in tub that she adored, to a large HDTV with surround sound, to the adjustable bed she’d talked about wanting for literally decades.

  As Winnie headed up the walkway, she reminded herself over and over that no matter how disappointed Granny would be in her, at least she knew she’d tried her best to be a good granddaughter.

  “Winnie.” Her grandmother opened the door with a beaming smile, and the familiar scent of banana bread wafted to Winnie like a gentle hug. “Don’t you look adorable. Come on in.”

  “Thanks, Granny.” Nervously she smoothed a hand over the white culottes with the zebra trim, grateful now that she’d taken the time to put her hair up in a high bun with a few curling tendrils to soften the look. At least she looked composed and put together, even if she didn’t feel it. “Is that banana bread I smell?”

  “Of course. When you called, I wanted to make sure you had some to take home with you. I know how much you love it.”

  “You’re the best.” She only hoped her grandmother would think she was worthy of such a gift by the time Winnie was ready to head home. Which reminded her… “Speaking of home, I’ve been told you know that home isn’t referring to my apartment at the moment, correct?”

  “Silly rumors. You know how small towns are.” Tottering on her canes, Granny led the way into the small, sunny kitchenette, its bay window now almost completely taken over by the lush pots of countless, thriving herbs. “People hear one thing, and before you know it a scandal’s broken out. I’m not bothered because I know you. You’re a good girl.”

  A good girl who had fading welts on the backs of her thighs because of how she’d spent the morning with Des. “I, uh… I honestly try to be, Granny.”

  “Of course you do. Have a seat while I get the tea.”

  Oh, boy. Granny had the Blue Willow out. This was setting up to be serious business. “That looks heavy, Granny. Please, let me do it, and then we can…” She gulped, then wondered if her grandmother heard it. “We can get down to business.”

  “Thank you, Winnie. These old bones aren’t what they used to be. I’m lucky to have a granddaughter around who looks in on me from time to time.”

  The guilt worsened, and she gnawed on her lower lip as she loaded the teapot, saucers, cups, sugar and creamer onto a tray, then added napkins and a plate of sliced banana bread before moving to the table. “You’ve seen me so much the past couple of weeks, you’re probably getting sick of me.”

  “That could never happen. I just want to see you often enough to keep up with what’s happening in your life.”

  How nice that Granny kept giving her openings to tackle the subject at hand. “The biggest thing happening in my life started with a temporary change of address.” She poured the tea and doctored it up the way she knew her grandmother liked. “Cleo told me you know about this, yes?”

  Granny hesitated as she accepted the cup and saucer. “I don’t actually know anything. Birdie May Huntoon dropped by my breakfast table at Mabel’s Diner and wanted to know how I felt about my granddaughter living in sin with the youngest Brody boy, if you can believe her cheek. I set that old busybody straight in no uncertain terms that you lived over Cleone’s dress shop, but she pointed out all that construction going on up where you live. That’s when Rufus and I decided to go over to check things out.”

  Winnie took a moment to pour her own tea. “That construction is a ductwork system, and it’s being installed for an air-conditioning unit for the building. There are also going to be solar panels that’ll apparently have that building running with green efficiency.” Stall, stall, stall…

  Granny nodded, looking a bit confused as to why she was babbling about solar panels. “It certainly sounds like Cleone is doing quite well for herself, to pay for all that.”

  Here we go. “It was paid for by Des Brody. He was worried I might die of heatstroke up in my apartment. I thought that was unbelievably sweet of him, if a little… unorthodox.” It was downright insane, but that was how the Brodys rolled; when they wanted something done, they just did it and didn’t bother to ask for permission along the way.

  Granny stared at her a long moment before she picked up her spoon and stirred her tea. “I see. Are you able to stay in your apartment while all that construction is going on?”

  “I could have, I suppose, but I’m glad I didn’t have to. Des offered the main house on Green Rock Ranch for me to stay in as his guest. All the Brody family have been wonderful to me, and I’ve been treated like a queen while under their roof.”

  “How nice.” Granny’s mouth tightened before she took a sip. “Do you have your own room?”

  “No one lives in the main house, Granny. All the Brody brothers have their own houses elsewhere, and the main house is used as the ranch’s business hub, as well as serving as a kind of upscale bed-and-breakfast for any important guests who come to stay at the ranch.”

  Her grandmother seemed to relax. “That sounds lovely. You must have plenty of room all to yourself, then.”

  Winnie took a breath, all the while telling herself to just let the subject go. But she couldn’t. No matter the outcome, she couldn’t hide the new reality of her life. She didn’t want to. “Granny, I know why you asked that question. You don’t really want to know if I have my own room while I’m staying at Green Rock Ranch. You want to know if I…” Just say it, coward. “If I’m having an intimate relationship with Des Brody.”

  Granny took another sip. “I know it’s none of my business, and I know that times have changed, so I promise I’m not being judgmental. Young people these days have a much more… relaxed view when it comes to things like sex.”

  Holy crap
, her granny just said the word sex. Obviously, the apocalypse couldn’t be too far behind. “I’d like to think the young people of today and the young people from your day aren’t that different when it comes to that sort of thing.”

  A surprisingly girly chuckle escaped her grandmother. “And I would like to think you’re right about that.”

  “Which is why,” Winnie forged ahead, “I want you to know the whole truth. And the whole truth is, yes—I do have a room all to myself at the main house. But I didn’t sleep there last night. I chose to spend the night at Des’s house. Not on the couch, and not in a guest room. I spent the night with Des.” She paused long enough to wonder if the refrigerator had always been this loud. “So I guess Birdie May was right about that whole sin stuff. I’m sorry you had to suffer any embarrassment because of me.”

  “Hm. Well, piffle to that.” To her absolute shock, her grandmother took another sip of tea, then reached over to place a piece of banana bread on a napkin so she could hand it to Winnie. “The day Birdie May Huntoon can upset me is the day you can put me in a home. I was simply worried about you, and I had no idea what the truth was. But you’ve told me what the truth is, and you seem happy enough with it. Are you?”

  “I am.” She took another deep breath, heard it tremble, and let it out along with all her pent-up tension. “Des Brody makes me happy, Granny. Just today that man made me so happy I cried. I didn’t know anyone could be so happy they cried, but that’s what he did. I can’t tell you how precious that is to me. How precious he is to me.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” With a tremulous smile, Granny reached over to cup her hand over Winnie’s. “My girl is in love, isn’t she?”

  “I know it sounds crazy,” she laughed, while the flood of relief at her grandmother’s lack of reaction was so vast she nearly burst into tears. “Of all people, I never thought I would fall for a Brody. I never believed I could fall for anyone, especially considering my… well, my background.”

  “You have no background to hang your head about, so don’t you ever forget that, little miss.” Granny squeezed her fingers, a gesture as comforting as a hug. “You are a heaven-sent gift, as far as I’m concerned, so you can do no wrong in my eyes. But wrong can be done to a sweet soul like you, Winnie. That’s my only worry.”