by Donna Alward
“It seems so strange being inside with power while that’s going on out there,” she remarked.
“Ernest was smart and had the generator wired in. With only two houses on the island, I’m guessing it’d be the last on the list to have power restored. You could go days without it here.”
She nodded. “One time when I was small, we got caught in a nor’easter in January. No generators on the island back then. We cooked on my grandmother’s woodstove and used oil lamps for light.” She smiled fondly at the memory. “We melted snow for water and we did puzzles and played cards. Good memories.”
“It sounds perfect,” Cole said, and she noticed his smile wasn’t quite as immediate as before.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Oh, no, of course not. I’m just finding that every time you share a memory, I envy you your childhood a little more.”
“Yours was lonely. But then you met Branson and Jeremy.”
He nodded. “Yes, I did. And they saved me. Anything I learned about affection and loyalty and friendship, I learned from them.”
It sounded awfully sad just the same.
“I think we’re opposites,” she replied softly. “My family gave lots of love and support. But it’s the real world that’s let me down.”
“How so?”
She hesitated, and he must have sensed her discomfort, because he said, “Never mind. If you’re not comfortable talking about it, we won’t.”
It was a moment in which she could choose to trust him or not. They’d become friends, but she wasn’t yet sure what sort of friends. They’d made out on the beach and it had been glorious. But since then he’d been perfectly platonic, as she’d asked.
She liked that about him. Even as she thought about kissing him again, she liked that she’d set a boundary and he’d accepted it without question. She liked it a lot.
Marvin got up from the spot in front of the fire and came to her side. He sat and put his head on her knee, and her heart softened. “Marvin is not a trained therapy dog, but you’d think he was. He’s my best friend in the world.”
Cole’s gaze was steady. “If you don’t want to answer this, I’ll respect it. Is there a reason why you’d need a therapy dog?”
Brooklyn swallowed around the large lump in her throat. It had been a few years now, and it wasn’t exactly a secret. After all, it had been on the news and the communities in this part of the province were small. But choosing to tell someone was different.
Because it was telling, and not just having them know.
Cole slid over on the sofa and took her hand in his. His hand was warm, in contrast to her cold one. He chafed it a bit and said gently, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. The last thing I want is to upset you.”
She looked up at him. “Are you even real?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re rich and you look like...that, and it’s crazy that you’re this nice as well. I keep wondering where your flaws are.”
“Oh,” he said darkly, “I have them. Never fear.”
She sighed as he twined his fingers with hers. Marvin still pressed close to her knees, and she felt very comforted and protected in that moment. Something that was in short supply most of the time, even though she faked bravery whenever she was out of her comfort zone.
“It happened a few years ago, in town, in the middle of the afternoon.”
* * *
Cole held on to Brooklyn’s hand firmly, waiting for her to go on. She’d paused, and he would be patient, because he sensed what she was going to say was important. And it was unusual and flattering that she trusted him with whatever her story was. Not many people did. Only two, really. Jeremy and Branson. The truth was that other than his best buddies, Cole didn’t have close relationships. And fears? He hadn’t lied. He was 100 percent a commitment-phobe and, despite seeing it in his best friends, wasn’t sure he really believed in love, either.
But he liked Brooklyn, more than any woman he’d ever met. There was something so real about her. He never questioned her motives. She was unfailingly honest and authentic, with no hidden agenda.
And right now, a wild storm was raging outside and she was holding onto his hand for dear life. He knew he should be cautious. That he should not want to get involved in whatever personal things she had going on. But she was also letting him in, and there was something addictive about knowing someone trusted you enough to share a secret. It wasn’t something that he was used to. It was also something he usually avoided, but with Brooklyn, it felt oddly safe.
He rubbed his thumb over her hand, encouraging her to go on.
“I was home for the weekend, and I went into the liquor store to buy a bottle of wine for my mom and me. We were going to have a wine and movie night, because I was heading into finals and needed some downtime to chill.
“So I’m waiting in line with my wine, and this guy comes in. I didn’t think anything about it. I barely even noticed him. And then he walks up to the cashier in front of me and pulls a gun out of his jacket.”
“My God,” Cole exclaimed. “In a town that small? Does that sort of thing happen often? I mean, I kind of pictured a crime rate of about zero.”
“Bad things happen everywhere,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry. Go on.”
She hesitated and he waited. Not that he wanted to pressure her, but he got the feeling she needed to say it. Marvin let out a whine and nudged her leg, and she reached down with her other hand and patted his head. “Thanks, Marv,” she murmured. “Okay.” Her voice strengthened. “We all did exactly what he said. We didn’t move. The cashiers gave him the money. But they’d also hit the panic button, and once he had the money he started to freak out. So he grabbed me and dragged me outside with him.”
Cole swore. She’d been part of an armed robbery. No wonder she was skittish.
“His car was outside. I’d dropped my bottle of wine and it broke everywhere, and I had a piece of glass in the top of my foot. He opened the driver’s side and shoved me in, and then got in after me. There was a split second where I froze, but then I remembered watching a show and hearing that the one thing you should never do is go to a second location with someone, so I unlocked the door and jumped out, hoping he wouldn’t use the gun. He didn’t. He took off, and I was left there on the sidewalk.”
She was trembling now, so he slid closer and enfolded her in his arms. “You’re safe now,” he said gently and kissed her hair. His heart hurt for her. What a terrifying ordeal. “You were smart and did everything right.”
“That’s what the cops said. I was able to give a good description and a partial plate. He was arrested shortly after.”
“So you got Marvin.”
“Not at first. I went through all the victim services stuff, and some counseling, but I really struggled. I left school, which I still regret sometimes. Eventually I got Marvin, and then I came over to the island for a few days to get away. It was the first time I’d felt peace in months, so I asked if I could move over here for a while. Two years and counting and I’m still here. My grandmother deeded me the property so it would be in the family but she wouldn’t have to deal with it. Marvin’s been with me through all of that.”
Cole held her close but was gratified to see that she’d stopped shaking. “He’s quite a dog,” he said. “And you’re quite a woman.”
“I ran away. That’s not so remarkable. Heck, I still fight a lot of panic when I go into town. Waiting in line anywhere is torture. And I have a handful of places I like to go and that’s it. I’m still horribly afraid.”
“You also live on this island by yourself, run your own business and are as competent a person as I’ve ever met. Maybe certain situations trigger you, but I promise you, they don’t define who you are. The way you stood up to me when I arrived...”
She laughed, a sound thick with emotion. “Oh, Cole. I thought I was going to throw up the whole time. But this place means so much to me. There was no way I was going to give it up without a fight.”
He thought for a moment, then turned a bit and made her face him. “You listen to me,” he said. “You are brave. Being brave doesn’t mean not being afraid. It means being afraid and doing it anyway. There is nothing I respect more, Brooklyn. And I’m honored that you shared it with me.” Honored and a bit terrified, but he’d work through that.
She looked down and bit her lip. He didn’t want to make her cry, but couldn’t she see how remarkable she was? “What were you taking in school?”
“Chemistry. I was trying to get into the pharmacy program.”
He grinned. “Smarty-pants.”
She finally smiled. “Whatever.”
The wind howled around the windows and Cole realized that at some point it had gotten dark outside. “Looks like we’re stormed in for sure, now,” he commented. “I’m glad you came. I’m glad that my house is a place you feel safe.”
She turned her liquid eyes to his and said simply, “You love my dog. That’s my first litmus test.”
Did he? Did he love Marvin? He looked down at the yellow fur and big brown eyes and realized he did, in fact, love this dog. He was friendship and loyalty and love all wrapped up in one four-legged package. He was the friend that Cole had wanted his whole life, and Cole was even more glad that Brooklyn had him to keep her from being lonely. Maybe moving to the island had been an extreme reaction on her part, but she’d been through something rather extreme. Who was he to judge?
After all, he wasn’t the king of perfect life choices, was he?
“Rae and Dan will be coming over soon for dinner. You don’t mind, do you?”
Her face brightened. “No, not at all! I like them both, very much. It was one of the reasons I came up here today. I kind of liked the thought of, well, everyone together.”
“Me, too,” he said, and realized it was true. Raelynn and Dan were employees, but they were more than that to Cole.
“Hey, Cole?”
He looked into her face. Her tears had dried, but her eyes remained that steady, piercing blue that had reached in and grabbed him from day one, when he’d expected an old lady and was met with her instead.
“Thank you for listening. And for letting go of the idea of buying me out. It means a lot.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, unsure of what else to say. He had never agreed to let go of his desire to purchase her property, but now that she’d said it, he knew he could not pressure her to sell and take away her safe place. Even if it was a place to hide.
Everyone had a right to hide if they wanted to. He looked around the huge living room. Even him.
CHAPTER NINE
THE RAIN SLASHED and the windows rattled, but Cole’s kitchen was the port in the storm for the four occupants of the island. Brooklyn looked around and felt a warmth that had eluded her for a long, long time. These people felt like her friends. The class difference didn’t seem to matter, even though Brooklyn was always aware of the opulence around her.
Cole had spared no expense in updating the house, and she’d caught a glimpse of his sweater tag before dinner. She was pretty sure that it cost as much as most of her wardrobe put together. The towel he’d given her earlier had been of the finest, plushiest cotton. Cole Abbott was a man used to the best.
But he was also a lot more fun than she’d imagined.
The four of them had eaten a delicious meal of carbonara and salad that Raelynn had prepared, eating in the kitchen rather than the formal dining room. Once the mess was cleaned up, Cole had opened up another bottle of wine and suggested they play cards. Brooklyn wondered if he’d done that because of what she’d said earlier, and making her want to feel at home. Either way, the result was that they were now sitting around the kitchen table. Rae, as she asked Brooklyn to call her, and Brooklyn had glasses of Shiraz at their elbows, while the men had switched to scotch.
The game they all agreed on was hearts, and so far Dan was trouncing everyone. He never seemed to end up with the queen of spades, and as the evening progressed, the storm howled and shook the house, and Raelynn topped up their glasses once more, Brooklyn couldn’t remember a time when she’d had so much fun.
Cole’s eyes were the color of cornflowers as they twinkled at her over his cards, and she grinned back. The smile playing on his lips was mesmerizing, and she found herself staring at his mouth for too long as she remembered kissing him on the beach.
“Your turn,” Raelynn said, and Brooklyn dragged her gaze away and back to the cards in her hand.
This was the one hand where she couldn’t pass three cards to anyone. She was stuck with what she had, and she was getting tired of always ending up with a mitt full of hearts counting against her. She also had the two of clubs, so she started the hand and placed each card carefully. One after the other she ended up with hearts, and the other three were teasing her about how badly she was playing. But in the end, she played the queen of spades and reveled in the shock on their faces when they all realized she’d taken every single heart and the queen, too.
Which meant she had no penalty and they all had to count the points against themselves.
“Oh, that was sneaky!” Dan exclaimed, pointing his finger at her. “Damn you, Brookie!”
She burst out laughing. “Brookie? No one has called me that since I was nine!”
Raelynn joined in, and Cole raised an eyebrow. “Brookie,” he said, his smooth voice teasing.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned, leveling him with a glare.
He grinned and sat back in his chair. “Deal again. I need to redeem myself.”
At some point they switched to playing rummy and Raelynn got up to make popcorn. Finally, about midnight, Raelynn and Dan decided to call it a night.
“You’re sure you don’t want to stay here?” Cole asked, frowning. The apartment over the garage wasn’t powered by the generator, so they’d be going to a dark home.
“We’ve got flashlights and blankets.” Rae winked at him. “Don’t you worry about us. We won’t get cold.”
Brooklyn snorted and that set everyone laughing again. The pair bundled up in raincoats and headed out into the storm to make the short trek to their apartment.
“I had fun,” Brooklyn said. Her brain was a little fuzzy from the wine, but the evening had been long and there’d been more sipping than drinking. It was a pleasant, warm feeling brought on by the excellent shiraz and the company.
“Me, too,” Cole said. “Way more than I usually do. Cutthroat hearts was so much better than gallery openings and charity benefits.”
“Oh, that sounds dull as dirt,” she remarked.
“It is, most of the time.” He leaned against the kitchen counter and tilted his head as he studied her. “Is this what normal people do on a Saturday night?”
“Around here? As often as not. Maybe a movie. Or watching the hockey game on TV.”
“That sounds heavenly.”
“Oh, be serious.”
He pushed away from the counter and came to her. She was in the midst of picking up dirty glasses from the table and he stayed her motions with a hand on her wrist. “No, I mean it, Brooklyn. I’m so glad you came here tonight. You have this talent for making people at home no matter where you are.”
Heat rushed into her face, both from the praise and from the intimate touch on her arm. “Thank you,” she said, working hard to accept the compliment and not brush it off. He was being earnest, and she respected that.
And his gaze dropped from her eyes to her lips and clung there, while her pulse leaped and her breath quickened. They shouldn’t kiss again. It would muddy the waters. And yet...she wanted to. Tonight their relationship had changed. They were no longer casual acqu
aintances. She’d shared something personal with him, and he’d invited her into his home. They’d laughed together. Trash-talked over cards. They were real friends now.
Friends who apparently also had this buzz of attraction humming between them.
She was the one who made the first move. It only took a step for her to be a breath away from him. She held a wineglass in each hand and was glad of it, or else she might have put her arms around his neck and drawn him close. But she did lift her chin, a silent invitation, and met his gaze evenly. Cole Abbott surprised her, and in the nicest way. Maybe this would complicate things. But she’d had enough shiraz to lose a bit of caution where Cole was concerned.
“Brooklyn,” he murmured. “Be sure.”
And still she held his gaze, even though inside she was trembling.
He leaned forward. It didn’t take much, and his lips touched hers. At the first contact her eyelids fluttered closed, and she focused on the feel of his lips. How could they be firm and yet so soft at the same time? He tasted slightly of the scotch from earlier, warm and mellow and expensive. His hand curled around the nape of her neck and his fingertips rubbed the tight tendons there, so perfectly that she nearly moaned with pleasure.
But she wouldn’t. Because kissing was one thing, but losing control was another, and she was not going to lose control. Not tonight. This felt too fragile. Too...new. Different even from their interlude on the beach—deeper somehow.
“You taste good,” he murmured, nipping at her lips.
“So do you.”
They kissed a while longer, not rushing, until there was a whine at her feet.
Marvin sat there looking up at them, an anxious look in his eyes.
Brooklyn took the opportunity to step back and clear her head from the seductive haze that was Cole. “Well, hello, sleepyhead.” Marvin had curled up in front of the fire and snoozed most of the evening. “I suppose you need to go outside.”
Cole took the crystal glasses from her hands. “I’ll deal with these. You take him outside. Or if you want, we can go out together. It’s not as bad as it was, but it’s still a storm and it’s pitch-black outside.”
