Forever in Love by W. Lynn Chantale Page B

stopped in the bedroom door to watch her jerk on a pair of sweats. “Bonnie?”
    “Don’t talk to me right now. You walk into my life, twice now, when I’m the most vulnerable and earn my trust all over again.” She snatched her purse from the dresser, rummaged through it a moment and placed a small rectangular object on the surface before she grabbed her cell from the nightstand.
    Dread knotted in his stomach as he realized what she placed on the furniture. He couldn’t let her walk away, yet he couldn’t bring the words necessary to prevent her.
    “I’ve never given you cause and for you to think some mess like that now—” She huffed. “There’s enough food in there for a week, so you won’t starve. I know you were going on the road again and thought you’d like something home cooked.”
    He caught her hand as she passed. “Where are you going?”
    She shook him off. “Somewhere to cool off. I’m very good at taking care of myself or have you forgotten?”
    “Don’t.”
    “I cannot stay here and you don’t trust me. This relationship won’t work if you can’t trust me. And you’re gone for long stretches of time leaving me alone. How is that going to work when you drag in weary from a long trip I’m happy to see you and you what, accuse me of seducing the postman or the UPS man or some younger or older neighbor? When I’m with you, I’m with you. When you’re not here, I’m still with you. The differences in our ages will always be there and there will always be some guy who will wish he were you.” She blinked rapidly but a tear still slipped beneath her lashes. “And lack of trust is not an issue I want to deal with if I marry you. I love you, but maybe I’m in love with a dream.”
    She rose on tiptoe, pressed her lips to his and before he could grab her and hold her close, she was gone.

Chapter Six
     
    Bonnie hit the button for the seldom used garage door opener and parked her vehicle inside. The large gate rumbled and clattered as it slid closed. She sat in the car waiting until the wave of tears subsided. When the door on her right opened she scrubbed the heel of her hand over her eyes and exited her vehicle.
    “What are you doing here?” Dexter stood on the threshold in a tee and pajama bottoms. A bat rested on his shoulder.
    She ignored his question and stared at him. “What was that?”
    “What was what?”
    “A bar fight with a drug dealer. We’re not in the ‘hood anymore.”
    “He grabbed you and you looked scared,” he countered. He scrubbed the heel of his hand over his face. “What was I supposed to do?”
    He had a point, but still. “Do you even know who that was?”
    “Yeah, a guy who scared and beat up my sister.” He shrugged.
    He was deliberately being vague. A smile flirted with her lips. It was hard to stay angry with him when he was only being the loving, overprotective little brother. At over six feet there was nothing little about her younger brother and she knew he could handle himself in most situations, but against a guy like Cool-Ade...she didn’t want to see her brother hurt.
    “I thought you were staying at Buck’s.”
    “Don’t change the subject.” She pushed past him into the laundry room and dropped her bag on the floor.  “You got arrested. Arrested!”
    “Bonnie I’m grown. I made my choice fully aware of what those consequences would be.” He touched her arm. “You wanna tell me why you have flour in your hair and you’re here at four in the morning.”
    “I live here.”
    “Okay, but you’ve spent more time at Buck’s than here.”
    She crossed into the kitchen and flicked on the light. “Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat?”
    He grasped her shoulders and forced her to sit in a chair. “Now I know something is wrong. What happened?”
    “He doesn’t trust me.”
    “What?”
    She used a knuckle to wipe away a tear. “It doesn’t matter. It’s been a long day. I’m gonna go to