Personal Assistant by Sterling Rex

Author:Sterling, Rex
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

Starry Night

The sound of chirping crickets rose above the cool night breeze that swept across the pool deck. Overhead, a billion stars gleamed under a night sky devoid of clouds or even the light pollution from Atlanta off in the distance.

I reclined on the chaise lounge and stared up into the sky, wondering just how pissed off Reggie would be with me right now. Then again, he never much cared for Peter, so maybe I was doing him a favor?

“Sorry, Reg. Forgive me?” I eyed the heavens, not expecting a reply when one came.

“Forgive you for what?” Brooke said from where she crossed the pool deck with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her eyes were bleary with sleep and her hair was slightly disheveled from where she fell asleep on the couch.

“Nothing,” I said. “Well… it’s something, but not for you to worry about.”

Brooke frowned and when she reached me, she crawled onto the lounge chair with me and stretched out beside me, wrapping her arm and the blanket with it around both of us. “Tell me.” She leaned in and kissed me softly on the cheek. “Why did you leave me alone on the couch?”

I slid my arm around her shoulder and drew her in tight against me. “You looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you. I came out here to cover the pool and then I saw the stars. One thing led to another, and here I am.”

She rubbed my chest with her palm and gazed at the starry sky. “Sometimes I lay out here so I can feel closer to daddy.”

I chuckled softly. “Guess who I was talking to?”

“You’re asking daddy to forgive you for being with me?”

“Something like that.” I ran my fingers through her silky hair and kissed her softly on the crown of her head. “He would hate me for being with you.”

“I think he would surprise you,” Brooke said. “Daddy knew how I felt about you.”

That surprised me and I gazed down at her face, where she had nestled her head in the crook of my shoulder. “You’re kidding?”

“At first, he thought it was just a crush, but as the years went on and my feelings didn’t change….” She shrugged. “He made peace with it.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Tell you what? That I was secretly in love with you?” She let out a muted laugh. “Baby, I tried so many times.” She sighed and rubbed my chest. “I chickened out every time.”

“Reggie, making peace with it isn’t the same as condoning it,” I said.

“The day before he died, he encouraged me to pursue you,” Brooke said.

“Come on.” I let out a belly laugh. “That’s not true.”

Brooke glared up at me. “Daniel Pierce, are you calling me a liar?” Her southern accent flared, and her green eyes flashed a warning.

I swallowed away a lump forming in my throat. “No, ma’am.”

Her expression softened, and she resumed her position, this time sliding her leg across mine. “I would never lie about daddy’s dying words.

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