He turned toward his downtown apartment, where his security team had already relocated all of Brooke’s clothes and toiletries. Eventually, he’d get her a double set, so she would have what she needed at either home.
Complaining about her boss evidently made her feel better, because she launched into a monologue about her day, including one client who shared every gruesome detail of her recent delivery, unaware that her counselor was newly pregnant.
“But she had the baby with her and he was adorable.”
He heard a hiss and glanced over to see her hands cupping her belly. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
“Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” She grimaced, not meeting his eyes.
“Something hurts?”
She nodded, her lower lip trembling. “I’ve been having sharp stabs of pain down here all day. I’m afraid it means I’m losing the baby.”
“That’s it. We’re going to the emergency room.” He slammed his foot on the gas and sped up, whipping across three lanes of traffic to exit the highway.
“Cole!” she shouted. “Stop! You’re being crazy!”
“I won’t let you lose the baby.”
“If that’s what’s happening, you can’t stop it.”
“Maybe not, but I’ll die trying.”
“That’s not really helpful, if you kill us all in the process,” she squeaked, one hand gripping the door handle while the other braced against the dashboard.
Though his heart still raced, he slowed the vehicle and tried to reason the fastest way to the medical center in Houston. “You’re going to see a doctor, right now.”
“I’ll get an appointment tomorrow,” she said. “I don’t want to be one of those women.”
“Who are those women?”
“The kind of women who demand special treatment.”
“You certainly aren’t that kind of woman,” he said. “Fortunately for you, I am that kind of man.” He punched the hands-free call button on his steering wheel to contact his friend, Dave Harrison, who answered on the second ring.
“Dave, I’ve got a medical emergency! Where are you right now?”
“Hey, Cole.” He was out of breath. “I’m working out, but I’m in the gym above my office. What’s wrong?”
“I’ve got a friend with a problem… actually, it’s my wife.”
“Your wife?” He used the same inflection one would expect if Cole had mentioned a pet rattlesnake.
“Yeah, I got hitched last night.”
“Well, congratulations! What’s going on with your wife?”
“She’s pregnant, but having pains.”
“Okay. How far along?” He didn’t even question that Cole’s wife of less than twenty-four hours was pregnant.
“Thirteen weeks, right?” He looked to Brooke for confirmation.
“Almost fourteen.”
“What kind of pain?” the doctor asked. “Sharp, stabbing pain? Or achy cramping pain?”
“Sharp.” Brooke answered the question herself.
“Any bleeding?”
“No.”
“First thing—stay calm. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but I want to check things out. I’ll meet you at my office in ten minutes.”
“I can make an appointment and come back during your regular hours, Dr. Harrison.”
She’d been mortified that Cole had imposed on him, accusing Cole of being rude, simply because he had money and power. Enjoying her misdirected rant, Cole hadn’t bothered to explain.
“Brooke,” Dave said as she continued to balk, “this is what I do, and I get paid well to do it. I’m a concierge doctor. People like Cole pay a lot of money so they can be seen in a private setting whenever the need arises. In addition, he’s also one of my best friends.”
“And one of our neighbors in the building,” Cole added.
“You could have mentioned that before,” she muttered, her narrowed eyes slicing Cole to shreds.
