Well I remember, I remember, don't worry

How could I ever forget?

It's the first time, the last time we ever met.

-Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight"

Panama City Beach, Florida

Brooke

"Ugh," I groaned as I rolled out of bed.

And by rolled, I mean literally. Rolled.

My stomach was getting to be so big that I couldn't see my feet... but I had to admit I was happy about it. I actually loved being pregnant – the morning sickness hadn't been terrible, Luke waited on me pretty much hand and foot, and I loved eating for two.

"Brooke? Are you awake?" Luke called from the kitchen.

"Yes, I'm rolling out now," I called back, standing up and stretching.

"I'm making waffles!"

I grinned as I pulled my pajama shorts on. "And that's why I'm having your baby!" I shouted, and I heard him laugh.

When I padded into the kitchen, Luke was putting a waffle on a plate for me. I crossed the room to kiss his cheek, and he grinned. "Here ya go, B," he said, and I took the food gratefully, sitting down at the table and putting butter and syrup on it.

"Thanks, Luke. You're too good to me," I said as I took a bite.

He shook his head as he sat next to me. "No. You deserve everything in the world, and I intend on giving it to you. And our daughter," he said, leaning over and rubbing my stomach protectively.

I put my hand over his. "That's because you're amazing."

He smiled and we ate in silence for a few minutes until he finally spoke. "Hey, how's Rachel?"

I shrugged. "We haven't talked too much in the past couple weeks. She's been so down, but she hasn't really wanted to open up to me. But Jessica sent me a text and told me they went out for laser tag the other night, so at least she's getting out of the house."

Luke cocked his head to the side. "Did you say Jessica sent you a text?"

I nodded. "Yeah, weird, I know, but we have bonded a little bit over our mutual love and concern for Rachel. I mean, she's the one who's there with her all the time, so I need to know what's going on. Plus, Jessica is pretty cool."

Luke shrugged. "Well, good. That's not how things usually work out between an ex and a current girlfriend, but hey, props to you guys for being mature," he said, getting up and taking both our plates to the sink.

"Well, we figured that since I'm having your baby and she's basically living with Parker, we could move on from the past," I said, pouring myself another glass of orange juice.

"Touché," he said, closing the dishwasher and starting it. He walked over and kissed my forehead. "I have to go to a budget meeting with Dad this morning, so I'll be home a little later. Are you working today?"

I shook my head. "No, but I have to run a few errands."

"Be safe," he commanded as he put his fingers under my chin and lifted my face to his. "Okay?"

"I will," I assured him. "Stop worrying."

He leaned in to kiss me gently. "You're my entire world, Brooke. And you're carrying the next piece of that world in your belly. So I'm always going to worry."

I smiled. "Fair enough. Now go to your meeting. Have a good day and tell Adam hi from me and granddaughter."

"Will do," he said, picking up his briefcase and heading out the door.

I shook my head. I supposed with everything we'd been through, he'd always worry, but I hated the stress it seemed to put on him.

Standing up, I waddled to the bedroom, putting on some presentable clothes and heading down to my car.

***

I really hated coming to this side of Panama City – it was where I had met Jordan and where I had spent so much time fucked out of my mind. But the interior design superstore was on that side of town, and I also had to go to the mall to pick up a gift for Megan, one of my colleagues at Salazar Properties.

I pulled into the mall after stopping for my interior design things and made my way to Macy's, where I planned on buying Megan some Ralph Lauren Romance perfume.

But I never got there.

Because walking out of the mall at that moment was a person I never, ever wanted to see again.

Jordan.

My breath caught in my throat and I tried to turn around, but it was too late. He had already seen me.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Brooke Kane," his nasally voice rang out, bouncing off the cars in the parking lot.

I walked away quickly, but he was faster; I felt his hand close around my wrist, and I turned around, jerking my arm from his grasp.

"Let go of me, Jordan," I hissed.

He eyed me up and down and smirked. "You've really put on some weight since the last time I saw you," he remarked, stepping around so he was blocking the way to my car.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm pregnant, you imbecile," I scoffed, amazed at his idiocy. But when he looked in my eyes, I saw he was, of course, higher than a kite. That explained it. "Jordan, please, I need to go."

"Hold on a minute, Brookie," he said, reaching up to push my hair out of my face. "The last time I saw you, you had just kicked me in the balls in my own kitchen." He ran his fingers down my cheek, and I froze – I wanted to run, but I couldn't. I was just rooted to the pavement. He slid his hand around to the nape of my neck and held me in place.

"Please, Jordan. Let me go," I whispered.

"Why should I?" he hissed, leaning toward me. "You fucked me over, Brooke."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What? What are you talking about?"

"I know when you got that DUI, you snitched on me. You outed me as your dealer. I got sent to jail for months for that shit, Brooke," he said, his grip tightening on my neck.

I shook my head, truly confused. "I did no such thing, Jordan. I took responsibility for what I did. I don't know who snitched on you, but it wasn't me. Maybe it was Madison," I suggested, my voice barely above a squeak. "Come on, Jordan... I'm pregnant. Surely you aren't that fucked in the head to mess with a pregnant woman," I said, trying to keep the venom out of my voice.

At that moment, a man walked up to us and looked at Jordan menacingly before asking me, "Ma'am, are you all right? Is this guy bothering you?" Jordan's grip on my neck loosened automatically when the man spoke.

I shook my head and took that moment to step away from Jordan, and the man stepped between us. "You can just walk away now, young man," he commanded, lifting the hem of his T-shirt, showing a gun at his side. With one final glare at me, Jordan turned and walked away.

I let out a whoosh of hair and the man turned around. "Are you all right?" he asked again.

I nodded. "Now I am. Thank you for stopping and asking... that was my abusive drug dealing ex. There's no telling what he may have done."

He scowled. "What an ass. Here, let me walk you to your car and see that you get out of here."

I nodded gratefully as he walked me the hundred feet to my car and watched as I drove away.

I sent up a silent prayer for the stranger in the parking lot; if not for him, things could've gone much worse.

Luke

"Excuse me – what?!" I growled as Brooke recounted what happened to her in the mall parking lot.

"I know, I know. But nothing happened. That guy saved me," she said.

"Yes, and I wish I could thank him, but what if he hadn't been there?"

"Well, we were in the mall parking lot. Surely he wouldn't do anything out in the open like that," she said, but she didn't sound convinced.

I sure as hell wasn't. "I think you need to file a restraining order," I said, getting up to sit next to her on the couch, taking her hand in both of mine.

She looked at me and sighed. "I don't want to do that, Luke. I don't want any more drama."

"I understand, B, but what if he finds you again? He needs to know there will be consequences if he tries," I insisted.

She considered this and finally nodded. "All right. All right. But can we worry about it tomorrow?" she asked.

"Sure, but don't try and distract me from it," I teased.

She grinned and leaned in to kiss me. "I won't," she said against my mouth.

I pulled her close to me and ran my fingers through her hair, kissing her deeply. "I love you, Brooke," I whispered. "I can't bear the thought of something happening to you."

She put her hands on my face and looked at me. "I love you too, Luke. And it won't. Okay?"

I smiled and kissed her forehead.

This woman was my end and my beginning.

And I'd do whatever it took to protect her.