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My heart breaks, and suddenly, murder doesn’t seem so bad. He deserved more than a quick death, but it literally explains everything about Cole. Why he’s so secretive, why he barely talks, why he keeps to himself. No one helped him when he needed it most.
In a roundabout way, it also explains the choking, the need to control, even if it’s the life of another.
I head to him, peel his hand out from where it’s tucked under the other arm, and curl my fingers between his. “I’d help you.”
He searches my expression again, looking for the lie, the doubt. “You really aren’t afraid of me, are you?”
I shake my head. “No. You and your sister should have never been subjected to a life like that. There’s not an ounce of me that blames you for what you did.”
His shoulders relax a little. “If only the town thought the same.”
I cock my head to the side. “Do they know what Rick did?”
He shakes his head. “They don’t seem to. For all I know, and by knowing Smith, it got swept under the rug, and I was made to be the guy who was covered in Rick’s blood.”
“Jesus,” I breathe. And then I give his hand anothersqueeze. He squeezes back. “I don’t care what they think. You know that, right?”
He nods a little. “I appreciate that.”
“Does Derek know?” I ask curiously.
Lifting his other hand, he scratches at the stubble on his jaw. “He knows.”
“And he doesn’t care?”
He shakes his head again. “He wanted to stick it to his stepbrother.”
I raise my eyebrows. I knew they didn’t get along, but to hire a guy who murdered his stepbrother's cousin because he doesn’t like his stepbrother is a little cold. But I don’t say anything on that because, if he hadn’t, I’d have never met Cole. That thought makes me sad, the possibility of never knowing him.
Standing beside him, his hand in mine and the truth bared, I stare at his profile as I come to a single realization. One I’ve been avoiding. One I’ve tried denying.
I have feelings for this man. This murderer. This broken soul. This unseen soul.
And I don’t know how he feels about me. I don’t know if it’s only one-sided. Sure, there are stolen, tender touches. Sure, there are longing looks. But so far, he’s been a closed book. Maybe it was because of his secret. Maybe it’s rooted in his childhood and his only family member committing suicide. Whatever the reason, I can’t tell him how I feel. Not only is it not the right moment, but the last thing I want to do is pressure him, especially if I’m reading this entire situation wrong.
So, instead, I give his hand one last squeeze and remove my fingers from his. “Do you want me to hang out with you today? Help around the house?”
He gives me a look like I’m being ridiculous. “I don’t need a babysitter or a caregiver.”
“Right,” I say quietly. He’s been living with this on his own for his whole life. I can’t expect him to lean on me. “Well, if you need me . . .” I hold out a hand expectantly.
“What are you doing?” he asks, frowning at my palm.
“Give me your cell.”
His frown deepens, but he pulls it out of his shorts pocket, unlocks it, and passes it to me. It takes me seconds to save my number to his contacts. “There,” I add, hopeful he’ll actually use it. “Call me if you need anything.”
I pass it back to him and lean to give him a kiss on the cheek. And then I grab my tote and reluctantly turn my back on the man who opened up his secret to me.
Chapter 15
Cole Garner
I swingthe door open to the hardware shop and breathe in the familiar scent of oil and rubber. A slight stinging aroma of paint tickles my senses, which is my destination today. I start to make my way toward the familiar aisle, but as soon as I step fully into the store, I stop in my tracks.
At the register is Tegan and the friend she was with the other day. I can only imagine that this other person is Tori, the woman she’s always on the phone with. It’s hard not to hear her conversations. Tegan is a bright person, and her voice can sometimes carry if she’s excited or happy about something. It’s not a bad trait. In fact, it’s contagious.
I had almost forgotten that Tori’s new shop is next door, so it’s no surprise that they’re here, but I just didn’t expect to see Tegan so soon after this morning’s confession. I thought I’d have more time to process.
