by Susan Arden
Stephen’s words were like ice water to her senses and she sputtered, “I get so many messages…” Brushing her hair back from her tear streaked face, she inhaled. “It’s been just crazy.”
“Yeah. So I heard. And not merely from Brett’s life. Miller’s ready to call Ryder Bennett.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Jesus, Gillian told me and hell, we’re not about to let some asshat upset your goals, little sister.” Stephen said. “Have you forgotten Miller’s connections? His wife’s family has more money than that two-timing fool. Did you know Bennett is married? Has a wife and children in France?”
“No. Why would I care?” She wallowed in her need to go find Brett and didn’t want to think about Bennett.
Stephen’s tone kicked up. “You need to learn how to protect yourself. Better. You don’t want us to chaperone you, then you need to take the steps to get jackweeds off your back. Ignoring them isn’t an option when it doesn’t work.”
“I’ll tell Miller not to call. I got that one. And I’d better go mend my fence. I’ll be cooking some Cajun crow tonight, if anyone asks.”
“Little by little, Cory. Don’t beat yourself up about loving a guy enough to drive for over two hours to stand your ground. I learned the hard way. If he’s yours, then fight for him. But if there’s no battle, then sometimes the person you struggle the greatest with is staring back from the mirror.”
Her voice wavered. “Thanks, Stephen.”
“No problem. You’d better call the folks later to let them know you’re all right.”
CHAPTER 31
Brett stared at Cory and thought he’d lost it. Then he realized she was not a mirage. Cory had come to surprise him. God, he’d wanted to hear her voice and tell her to come over. He wanted to fly her to Dallas on the next available flight, but she’d not answered her phone. She was back home and that morning her mom had an important doctor’s appointment. All day he’d been restless, waiting to hear from her. Trying to stay seated was torture. There was only so much television a person could watch. He’d tried to put his thoughts into words and sent Cory a long email. But so far, he’d not heard a word.
Last night, she’d been out with her family watching his game. She’d texted him up until the last quarter, but he’d gotten sacked and had left his phone on the field in the hullabaloo. Raquel and Anna had been at the game helping the Devils’ trainers, an invitation by Paul for the conference championship, and they’d been inside the locker room when the field medics brought him in for treatment. The tendons in his knee were so messed up he couldn’t catch a flight home. After being treated, he used his backup cell, a number Cory didn’t know and apparently ignored, not a surprise, considering all the screwball messages she received. On the ride back home in the privately driven car, he’d been out of it in pain, and so tired that he’d slept most of the way.
His knee was still painfully swollen, and tomorrow he’d get the official prognosis the ER orthopedic couldn’t give, other than to confirm he’d sprained his ACL when he slowed down to pivot and change directions during a block. Raquel swore she’d have him ready for the big day, but only if he did exactly what she said which meant staying off his leg for the first forty-eight hours.
He’d sent Cory another email message and had spoken with Wade, but couldn’t actually get his fiancée on the line, which was bothering him to no end.
“What the heck?” He clenched his jaw, scrambling on his crutches across the patio. Raquel and Anna turned at the sound of Cory’s voice.
“Isn’t she your fiancée? Raquel asked.
“Yeah. And I don’t think she realizes who you two are.”
“How long was she standing there?” Anna asked, getting out of the tub and grasping for Raquel’s hand.
Brett reached the back fence on his crutches. “Don’t know.” With his shoulder, he pushed against the gate. It didn’t budge. Dammit. Cory had thrown it with enough force that the latch on the other side was now stuck. Turning around, he began to hightail it back inside.
“Whoa. Slow down.” Raquel wrapped a towel around herself and raced over to him. “Want us to go after her?”
“Run to the living room and click the front gate closed. At least if I can get hold of Cory, I can explain.”
By the time he came inside, Anna and Raquel were rushing back into the kitchen. “She’s not there. Must have left. Can’t you try calling her?”
Brett gripped his crutches ready to hurl them. “Wish I could.” He’d try her father one more time. Shit, this was unreal. What the heck had gotten into Cory? “I don’t know why she turned and left like that.”
“She might have seen us kissing,” Anna volunteered.
The muscles along his shoulders tensed. “She doesn’t know you’re here. I never mentioned your relationship even when I discussed you as my therapist.” He ground his teeth, picking up his cell.
Well shit, Sherlock. You think telling her that you had a pair of married physical therapists here might have been a good idea rather than let it come out as a surprise?
“We don’t have a problem with you telling the whole world we’re married. It’s not a secret,” Rachel said.
“Brett, we just need to find her and talk. This can all be explained,” Anna said.
“My fiancée is a hardheaded woman. She has to be willing to hear what anyone has to say. At this point, who knows?”
“Brett, with the media, it’s not easy to push everything aside,” Raquel said.
“Not news.” He winced, not from his knee, but the knot in his gut.” After last week, we’ve had our share. It’s tiring.” He scrubbed his palm over his jaw. What more could he do if Cory wasn’t willing to trust him?
“You’re not giving up?” Raquel asked. “That doesn’t sound like the Brett Gold I know.”
“And certainly not the one I know.” Cory’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen. She walked through the doorway, slowly at first, then sprinted the rest of the way to his side. “I’m so sorry for being a hothead.”
Cory grabbed his arm and for a split second, they stood apart before he dropped his crutches and pulled her against him.
“Baby.” He inhaled her sweet scent and brushed his lips over her face. He stared down at his wildcat. “What in the world turned you around?”
Cory glanced down, then she flashed blue fire at him when their gazes reconnected. “You can thank Stephen for talking some sense into me. Maybe you should sit down. Don’t you need those crutches?”
“I’m fine.” He smiled at her. “Just can’t believe you’re not halfway back to Annona by now.”
“Look who’s talking.” Raquel picked up the crutches. “He’s got a hard head, too. And by the way, I’m Raquel and this is my wife, Anna. We’ve heard some really nice things about you.”
“Someone forgot to mention you both were here,” Cory said, then added, “Nice to meet you both.”
“We weren’t originally supposed to be the ones attending to Brett,” Raquel said. “But we’re friends and bend a couple of the rules.”
“For once, the grapevine actually worked out in my favor. You must have mentioned your physical therapists were helping out to my father. Stephen knew. He told me I was being ridiculous and I’d end up feeling like a dumbbell. He’s right. I do.”
“Hardly.” Brett laughed. “Your dad listens real well. He asked about who was helping me and it slipped out. My contract doesn’t support acute care that’s delivered outside our team doctors and until this weekend, these two weren’t Devils’ contractors. That’s all well and good for players with large families who can help out at home.”
“Then we’re lucky that you’ve a support team who are like family.” Cory nodded over at Raquel and Anna. “Please excuse me, I’m still learning to think before acting.”
“We’ve probably all been there. Especially that one.” Raquel pointed over to Anna.
Anna shrugged. “I
won’t deny it’s hard with all the attention you get from our clients. We’d better change clothes.”
“See you all later,” Raquel said, pulling Anna by the hand. “We’re going to shower and we’ll be back in a few.”
Cory wrapped her arms around Brett’s waist. “I’m so embarrassed. But I did turn around before I completely lost it.”
“I’m not going to lie, I’m surprised you did.”
“Baby steps?” she offered.
“Gotta start somewhere. It’s progress.” Brett pulled her over to the sofa. “Come sit down with me.”
“Can’t,” she said, rattling her keys.
“What, you drove here to just see what was going on?” He took hold of her wrists. “Don’t know if I can let you leave.”
“Not exactly. Didn’t want to believe it was true. So, I brought all the fixings to make you dinner. I’m pretty green in a kitchen, but I found a recipe for some Cajun cooking. Have you eaten yet?”
“You are a surprise. I love you.” He smiled widely into her face. “No. And I’m hungry.”
“First let me take care of dinner, then I’ll take care of you.”
“I’m starving. For food and you,” Brett said, and kissed her mouth.
Cory’s brows drew together. “I’ve only one real dinner under my belt. It was Thanksgiving and no one barfed.”
“Baby, whatever you set your mind to will be impressive. But there is a point we should discuss,” he said, stroking his fingers over her hand and pulling to the sofa.
“Umm….” She sat down as though expecting to hear something dismal. “From your expression it must be important.”
Brett spread her fingers wide open and laid his palm across hers. “Do you remember what I told you the last time you tested limits?” He lightly slapped his hand on top of hers.
She stared openmouthed up at him. “But you’ve got house guests!”
He spoke with quiet authority. “Our room is on the other end of the house. No one will interrupt us.”
“Brett, surely since I’m making you dinner I—”
“A deal is a deal.” He swung his arms around her.
“Double or nothing,” she whispered.
He paused. “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“Maybe not entirely. But you need to heal.” She bit her lip in just that way that had him willing to agree to anything she proposed.
“You drive a hard bargain.” He rolled his eyes. Damn, she was something. “I’ll tell you what. To make it even more imperative that I get on my game and recuperate, I’ll take you up on double or nothing.”
“What do you mean?” she asked running her hands over his shoulders.
“If the Devils win the Super Bowl, then I get to collect what you owe me. Only double. If the Devils walk away without a victory, then we’re even. You go back to UCLA perfectly able to sit in class without a pillow.”
“Pinky swear?”
Brett grinned. “Sure. Pinky swear it is.”
He noticed how Cory frowned and then bit her lip, wrapping her pinky around his. She wore her I’ve got something on my mind expression. He wondered if she’d own it and share what was going on inside her beautiful head.
“Something is up. What is it?” he asked.
“I don’t know if I want to return to UCLA in the spring. I was thinking maybe I’d transfer to a university closer to home.”
“Nah. You love your school. Cory, you’d better come clean. I can tell something is troubling you.”
Too many emotions to count passed over Cory’s face and when she shook her head, he knew this was important. A crucible and one she’d believed insurmountable.
“Don’t,” he began, “let someone steal your dream. Not me. Not your family. And not even the tiny voice inside your head that might have doubts. Tell me the truth. You’ve shown you’re willing to trust me. Then trust me all the way. What’s changed your mind?”
She sank back against the sofa. “It’s just I don’t want to go to Paris for the summer. I wanted to spend time back home and enjoy seeing you. I want to get my degree in marketing, but I’m not so sure I want to be a big roller. I dreamed of finding my way and knowing where I fit in the world. Picking a big school in California…well, I just thought it would be so different from what I’d known that my family couldn’t possibly sway my goals.”
“That didn’t happen, did it?” he asked.
“Not how I imagined.”
“And what else?” Tell me, baby. Patiently, he remained seated next to her and vowed he wouldn’t say another word until he got a sign that she was ready. He couldn’t make her come to him. No matter how much he desired that she trust him above everyone, only Cory could lay down the tracks. Freely and of her own accord.
She began to fiddle with her skirt and still he gave her the freedom to decide. She cleared her throat. “It’s been really hard these last few weeks.”
“You’ve a tough schedule,” he agreed.
She nodded and then her chin began to quiver. It took every last ounce of his self-control to refrain from sweeping her into his arms and promise her, he’d make it right—whatever it was that troubled her. That might make him feel better, but wouldn’t empower Cory, which is what his beautiful hellcat needed.
“Remember Ryder Bennett?” she asked, her voice quavering.
His whole body tightened. His spine snapped straight as he leveled his shoulders. “Yeah. I recall him.” She seemed to be working hard to meet his eyes and he inhaled, vowing to keep calm.
“Remember that he offered the university a huge endowment, and it’s attached to Dr. Peterson and the internship for the summer. I don’t trust him. He doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no.’”
“What in the heck do you mean? Has he come to your apartment?” Brett stared at her.
“Nothing like that. It’s uncomfortable being in this position and I refuse to be stressed out. If it was part of what I wanted to do in the future, I’d have some hard decisions. But like I said, I’m not interested in going big or nothing at all. I believe there’re other ways to using a marketing degree. My family’s ranch. Opening my own business. I’m a damn good business woman.”
He ran his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “I can attest to that, Miss Double or Nothing. Tell me what’s troubling you.”
Cory met his gaze. “Maybe you want me to be a big wheel…or at least go that route.”
He reached out and gently shook her arm. “You are so off base with that one. Just want you to be happy. Can’t lie. Sure, I want you at home with me but I travel too. If you’re standing by me as I toss a ball around a field with grown men and call that a career, it would pretty much suck if I didn’t give you my complete support.”
“So you wouldn’t mind?”
“Baby,” he sighed, interlocking her fingers together. “If you want to hook up with Fortune 500 companies and call that your gig, I’ll support you. Every damn day as long as you come back to me. Always fly home to me.”
She leaned against him, hooking a hand in back of his neck. “You are the place my heart resides. I want to be right next to you. Right now, I don’t know what my future holds except you.”
“Cross your heart?”
“With both hands, eyes wide open.” Cory brushed her lips over his mouth. The buzzing in his head quieted, but not the hum under his skin.
“Darling, I need to get you naked and show you how serious I am.” He pressed his mouth back to hers.
*
At the end of the kiss, she searched his eyes. “I’ve got this familiar kick-start going on right here,” she said, bringing his hand upward and placing it over her chest so he could feel the rapid beating under her skin. “I know without a doubt, I’m one lucky woman. Mr. Gold, you’re the real deal. I want to come home to you and a house full of children.”
“You’re not alone with the heart thing,” he replied, rubbing his thumb
along the curve of her breast.
“Hope not.” She inhaled a shaky breath.
He pulled her back against him. “You know it. Love you so much, cowgirl.”
“You were right,” she whispered.
“About what?” he asked, skimming his mouth over her jaw.
Smiling, she shifted her hands, running her palms over his broad shoulders. “You’re solid gold. Never need to head to Vegas, I already won the jackpot.” Cory took his face between her hands. “I love you with all my heart, number 88.”
“Baby, I think I’ve got a place where you might get your footing to take a stand. On your own.”
“Meaning?” she asked, not fully understanding what he meant by “on your own.”
His eyes sought hers with an intensity that grabbed ahold of her to the core. “I’ve got my own issues. No use dwelling in the past. But I figured my experience could be used as a force for good. It’s where I met up with Raquel after high school and some other pretty tough characters. Might help you.”
She glanced down at her hands. Of course, she knew he had battled learning difficulties, but she’d never asked about his pain or what he did to overcome those hurdles. “I want to learn as much as I can about you and how to be just as strong.”
“Oh hell. That’s one thing you don’t lack, is strength. This might help you choose a path. Baby, I believe in you.” His fingers tightened against her back as his words flowed over and through her.
“I’m in. Sure thing.” She carefully snaked her arms around his neck and embraced him, teasing her breasts across his chest while brushing her lips over his mouth. She stopped, returned to claim his mouth with a parting of her lips. “I believe in you too.”
EPILOGUE
“Miracles of miracles. This is unbelievable,” Cory said, reading the letter from Dr. Peterson. “Her sticky note says she abhors a bully and by Christmas our department is going to be paired with a new sponsor.”
