know? Cade’s dead—by his own hand. He chose to take his own life, just as if he’d taken a gun and shot himself. This way, he ended up taking four innocent victims with him. Not to mention the ones behind. Yourself…Harvey. Me. Cade chose his own path in life, Reyna, and it led to death, however unimaginable that may be.
“But you’re still so young. Far too young to give up living. In time, you will move on with your life. You may even find love again.”
Reyna shook her head denying those words immediately. “No. No, I can never go through that again. I can’t. I don’t ever want to feel this much pain again.”
He moved closer to her, inches away. She could feel the tension inside him once more. Brody hadn’t liked her answer and she didn’t understand why.
“Reyna, I know you’re hurting, but believe me, it will pass in time. You can’t stop living. Do you honestly think if it had been you who died instead, that Cade would stop living? I know he was your husband, but he was also my friend and I know him too well to believe that. Cade was my friend but for the most part, he was extremely selfish.
“You weren’t the one who died in that accident, Reyna. You’re still alive. You need to accept that you have to move on with your life. Time will ease your hurt but you have to do your part as well. You can’t stop living.” She felt his hands on her arms once more turning her to face him. “It’s okay to hurt. Don’t let it destroy you. You have far too much to live for to let that happen.”
Brody pulled her gently into his arms and Reyna went too willingly. He felt so strong. Brody had so much strength to offer. It might be wrong, but for the moment, she needed to be close to someone who was strong to make her feel alive again. She needed Brody’s strength more than she’d ever needed another human’s touch before him.
Reyna moved closer, her arms going around his waist. She could feel his tension coming between them once more before Brody slowly untangled her arms. Reyna was surprised to find reluctance in his eyes before he released her.
“I’m sorry…” She turned away fighting the rejection she felt at that moment. Friendship. That was all there would ever be between them.
“I’m sorry…we should just get this over with. I know I must be keeping you from…something. We can do this tomorrow if you’d like. I don’t want to interfere with your plans. That is, I mean, I’m sure you must have much better things to do with your Friday night than this?”
“Reyna, what exactly are you trying to say? Do you really think I would plan a date with another woman on tonight of all nights? That I’m thinking about someone else while I’m with you? That really doesn’t say much for your opinion of me, now does it?”
She turned back to Brody surprised once more by the anger so clearly visible in his blue eyes. He resented her intrusion into his private life.
“Do you really think I can’t take time out of my busy personal life to help a friend? I’m not sure I want to know what Cade told you about me. I do have other things that need my time other than going out with the countless women you seem to think I date. Somehow, I manage to find time for work and friends as well.” He smiled back at her and once more, all the anger in him disappeared. This was the Brody she knew and loved.
That smile alone could turn her day completely around. Brody made her feel special just by being close to him. She hated thinking about the time when they would no longer be this close.
Something a little too disturbing was