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“Were you acquainted with my stepfather before this happened?” Cole visibly stiffens at my question.That’s weird.
“We’ve crossed paths on occasion,” he says in a curt tone.
Something is going on that apparently I am too fragile to know, and it’s pissing me off.
“Elaborate, please.”
“No.”
“Why won’t you tell me how you know my stepfather? What is the big freakin’ secret?”
“Mia, I’ll only say this once, since we don’t know each other well. If I say no to discussing your stepfather, the answer is no.”
“And who said that you make all the decisions here? I’m not asking, Cole. I am demanding that you tell me what the hell is going on. Please, I’m trying to figure out what happened to me. Stop jerking me around and tell me what you know.”
He hesitates, then sighs and gives in. “Ok, you win. Years ago, Richard asked for my help with a sticky situation involving his firm. We knew each other previously because his firm handles contracts and other legalities for my company from time to time. I have an in-house legal team, but sometimes I need someone with a more creative viewpoint.”
So, Richard isn’t the most upstanding character, a part of me already knew this after watching how he handled Carter, but I know he loves my mother and would do anything for her. I honestly can’t judge, since I’m premeditating a spontaneous murder.
“Well, I guess you’ve answered me on how you know Richard, but somehow I still don’t feel like I’ve gained the information I need. You aren’t going to elaborate on the ‘situation’, are you? The sticky one you needed Richard’s help with?”
“Nope. Sorry, beautiful. Lawyer-client privilege. It’s confidential.”
“You are exhausting,” I say, rolling my eyes in a semi playful way.
“Someday soon when you’re fully healed, I’d love to show you just how exhausting I can be.”
“Cole! How often have you given that line out? Save your breath, stud, I’m not that girl.”
“Don’t mistake my opinion of you, I’ve been attracted to you since the first time we met.”
“Well, that’s unsettling, I wasn’t even conscious. I’ve heard of a knight in shining armor syndrome, but this takes the cake.”
Cole shakes his head as if I’m totally missing the point. “No, no, no. Trust me, I like my women wide awake and feisty, Mia. I only mean I was attracted to you when you first walked in here today…”
“Ahhh, okay. Well, I guess I’m surprised our paths haven’t crossed more, since you know my parents.”
“I’m not very social, to be honest. I think the last time I saw them was at Richard’s firm’s fundraiser last year.” He says this offhandedly and then abruptly stops.Why is he looking at me like that?I look down to see my chest rising and falling at a rapid pace. The room starts to spin and I suddenly feel sick. Jesus, he is talking about that night, and it’s giving me a panic attack.This cannot be happening!
I stand, not knowing what to do. My insides are constricting and I feel waves of nausea. I want so much to rid myself of the vile feeling but the scattered flashbacks cling to me like demons, unresolved and terrifying. I want to run. I have to get out of here. This office is suffocating me. I don’t want to be this crazy victim person in front of Cole Parker.
I start to take a step forward when I feel his hands on me, gently but firmly holding my waist. The heat from his hands is insistent and grounding. His touch makes me stop and look up at him.
“I need to get out of here.” It barely comes out in a raspy whisper.
“Sit down. Stop making me save you.”
“Nobody can save me. I’m sorry I’ve come. I need to go.” I move his hands from my hips and stand up again, this time determined to hold steady and make my way to the door. “Thank you for taking time to speak with me. I know you’re busy.”
“Mia, your face is beet red, your hands are shaking, and your breathing isn’t right. You need to sit down. This is not a request.”
And with that, I sit. I no longer have the strength to argue. I’m wiped out.
It’s been several days since I met with Cole, since I promised to “not be a stranger,” like the most awkward person alive! I’ve been holed up in the hotel room, making the most of Pay-Per-View and the minibar.
Since finding out about Richards’s involvement and his “down low” investigators, I needed some time to process how I’m going to approach it. I’ve decided to pull the band-aid off during dinner tonight at my mother’s. She has this little family night planned for two reasons—first, an excuse to show me some of the apartments she and Alex have been looking into, and second, to drag me out of my seclusion. She doesn’t like that I haven’t left the sanctity of my suite since I saw Cole.
I was thrown by that meeting, more than I’ve told anyone, even Alex. His immediate familiarity with me, and being so drawn to him. It’s weird but for the first time in a long while I felt kind of normal, whole, like hanging out and flirting with him was the most natural thing in the world. I need a real therapy appointment. I have officially joined the looney brigade!
