“Intowhat?” Alexandra scrunched up her nose. “You’ve lost me.”
Colton returned. “Brigit, would you like to give this to Mojo?” He handed her a doggie treat.
Ohmygod, he’s throwing me a bone, literally.
Colton sat on the loveseat and Alexandra moved next to him.Please don’t feed each other.Taking the dessert from Colton, Alexandra took a bite. “I heard he saved your life. He’s well trained.”
Of course he told his girlfriend the real story.“Are you talking about the dog or Colton?”
Alexandra and Colton laughed. “Did you tell her?” Colton asked Alexandra.
“I’m about to.” Alexandra forked a piece of pie into her mouth.
“Please…really…I don’t…I’m not up for—” Brigit said.
Tucker popped his head in. “Goth Girl, I have to go.”
“Tucker! Why do you still call me that?” Alexandra glared at him.
After he stopped chuckling, he added, “Honeykins, what else would I call you?”
With plate in hand, Alexandra gave Brigit a tender hug. “Feel better. Colton, thanks for getting me through the holiday.” Alexandra kissed his cheek. “I love you. Will you tell Brigit for me?”
“Will do,” Colton said. “Love you both.”
Tucker and Alexandra left.
They love each other. My head is killing me, but I heard that.Brigit pulled the bed linens up around her neck. “I should probably get some sleep.”
“Brigit, do you have family I can contact? They’re welcome to visit you. Stay here, too.”
“No, no one.”
He sat on the side of the bed and cupped her hand. “Where are your mom and dad?”
“Killed by a drunk driver,” she blurted. Pain, along with the concussion, clouded her ability to think straight. She needed to be quiet.
“Is that why you were afraid to go to the hospital?” He caressed her fingers one at a time. God, his compassion was tearing her apart.
“Yes, but not because the hospital did anything wrong. My mom died of her injuries the next day. My dad woke from his coma a week later, but only survived long enough to tell me how much he and my mom loved me. His dying words were that I make the family business my own.” Brigit shuddered in a breath. She’d never shared that with anyone, yet somehow telling Colton helped ease her pain, a little.
He kissed her hand and her cheek. “I’m sorry. That’s a big hurdle to get over.”
She desperately missed his touch. But he had a girlfriend, so she tugged away her hand. “Their deaths are a heavy burden.”
His eyes grew wide. “You were the drunk driver?”
“Good God, no. I hardly drank back then and I’dneverdrink and drive.”
“I’m not following. Why blame yourself?”
“My mom and dad had been angry because I’d decided to go to grad school, rather than work at their company. They were overprotective and overbearing. I was making a stand.” She shrugged. “You know, exerting my independence. We hadn’t spoken for a month. They were on their way to visit me when they were hit head-on. If I’d listened to them, they’d still be alive and my life would have gone in a totally different direction.”
“Did you return to work at the company?”
She started trembling. “The company was bought by an entrepreneur investor. I lost it, too.” A lone tear trickled down her cheek. Before she could swipe it away, Colton tenderly brushed the tear with his thumb.
“You’ve endured so much alone.” He caressed her hand, then held it.
