Granted, it could’ve been worse. Much, much worse. So for that he was grateful.
But now he just wanted everyone to leave so he could tuck her in bed and hold her for the rest of the night. Hell, for the rest of the month he’d be content just to have her in his arms, listening to the sound of her breathing, the beat of her heart. Anything to reassure him that she was safe.
His stomach churned.
With the threat out of the way, would Cheyenne still want him there? Would she be eager to get back on the road now that she didn’t have to worry about some crazy stalker disrupting her life?
Those were questions he didn’t have answers for, and truth was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know them. As grateful as he was that she was safe, letting her walk out of his life wasn’t something he could wrap his mind around.
“We’re gonna head out,” Z said.
Brendon kissed Cheyenne’s forehead and told her he’d be right back. When she nodded, he released her and pushed to his feet, following Z out onto the front porch and closing the door behind him. That effort instantly failed because RT and his brilliant ideas had kicked the damn thing in, so the latch didn’t connect in the jamb.
Well, he wouldn’t be leaving Cheyenne alone tonight, that was for sure.
At least it was something.
“So what’s next?” Brendon asked his friend.
“He’ll be arrested, booked. As for charges, I don’t know what they’ll pin him with. Whatever it is, I doubt he’ll be comin’ after her any time in the near future.”
Brendon hoped the fuck not.
“Between you and me,” Z added, “RT had a few choice words to say to the guy. Let’s put it this way, if he does come after her again, he’s a bigger dumb-ass than I thought he was. RT’s threats tend to stick with you.”
After meeting RT, Brendon was inclined to agree with Z. He damn sure wouldn’t want to be on the guy’s bad side. Considering the guy had three brothers and a father who’d been noted as a serious badass, Brendon definitely had no intentions of pissing any of them off.
“I’m not sure I can thank you enough for this,” Brendon told Z.
“It’s what I do. It’s what I live for.”
Brendon watched Z, studying his face. The guy was significantly different from how he’d been in high school. Then again, they all were. But this man, he was hardened more than most. Somehow he’d managed to keep his sense of humor, but there was still something dangerous that lingered in Z’s dark brown eyes. He couldn’t imagine all that the guy had seen in his line of work. What Brendon had experienced with Cheyenne was more than enough drama for him.
“I’m hopin’ you’ll be back in town sometime soon,” Brendon told him. “Dinner on me next time you’re around.”
Z smiled. “You got it, bro.” Z’s eyes darted toward the house. “You might not see it yet, but you’ve got somethin’ special there.”
“Trust me,” Brendon said quietly, “I see it.”
Z nodded. “Don’t go and do somethin’ stupid and fuck it up.”
Brendon chuckled. “That’s my goal, no more fuckups.”
“And let that ol’ twin of yours know that if I don’t get an invite to the weddin’ I’m gonna come back here and kick his ass.”
“Will do.”
“Same with you,” Z added. “When you go and put a ring on that little gal’s finger, I expect to hear about it.”
Brendon smiled, but he couldn’t respond. As much as he wanted exactly that, he wasn’t sure it was in the cards. He and Cheyenne had some things to work through, but now that the threat to her was gone, there wasn’t anything left to do but figure it all out.
Z clapped Brendon on the back and moved to the steps. “I’ll catch ya later, man. It really was good to see you, although next time, let’s try hangin’ out without all the damn stalker bullshit.”
“Good plan,” Brendon told him, placing his hand on the post that held up the roof, watching one of his oldest friends walk away.
A second later, there was a soft hand on his back and Brendon looked to see Cheyenne standing beside him, waving at Z.
“All good?” he asked her.
“It will be.”
Brendon wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his side.
He wished he felt as confident about that as she did.
chapter THIRTY
The next morning, Cheyenne woke alone and instantly her heart cracked open, the stress from the night before not helping the amount of anxiety that coursed through her veins. It was the first time in nearly a month that Brendon hadn’t been the first thing she saw when she woke up. He’d been there when she had finally drifted off to sleep only a few hours ago, so she figured he wasn’t far. At least she hoped he wasn’t.