“When is the baby due?” asked a woman wearing a bright red blouse. “And will you be present at the birth?”
Brooke wriggled out of his grasp and moved to the microphone, pointing it downward. “She’s due on December fourth, and yes, I intend to be at the birth.”
This produced another round of laughter, and Brooke stepped back, pleased with herself. The way Cole smirked, he must’ve been equally pleased.
“Mrs. Miller,” someone called out. “What do you say to the rumors that you’ve had multiple affairs since you and Cole got married on the first of June?”
Her face burned. She opened her mouth to answer, but Cole beat her to it. “It’s a bald-faced lie! Brooke has not only been faithful to me, but was also faithful to her ex-husband, Nathan Riggs. And if I’m not mistaken, he’ll be confirming that in a statement later today.”
How had Cole pulled that off? She imagined Mack lifting Nathan in the air, his feet dangling above the ground, the front of his shirt bunched in one of Mack’s huge hands. She clamped on her lips to keep from smiling.
“Mr. Miller!” “Mr. Miller!”
Cole cut off the questions, ignoring the protests. “That’s all for today, other than my written statement. Thank you for coming.”
Off on the courtyard lawn, voices were shouting for attention. Most sounded like excited fans, but a few were angry, evidently not appeased by their explanations. Brooke worried a little about leaving Cole in Houston to deal with it, but hopefully her final departure would dissipate the emotions.
Her own feelings were in turmoil, simply from being in close proximity to Cole. His touch was still charged, though she knew there was no love behind it. Her greatest fear for him now was knowing how easily he could find a woman willing to enter into a loveless marriage, simply for the sake of his money. Was that what she’d awakened in him? A desire for the stability of marriage without emotional involvement?
I’m going to be a terrible counselor.
A man in a suit pulled Cole aside for a deep conversation, and Brooke saw her chance to escape. Waddling as fast as she could, she headed for her car. As she opened the door and glanced at the back seat, packed with presents from the shower, she realized she’d hardly had time to get excited about the baby. Maybe now that she could put all this business with Cole behind her, she would have time to concentrate on her baby girl. She hadn’t even chosen a name. She intended to keep her promise to her sister, but she would probably use Harper as the middle name.
“You weren’t trying to give me the slip, were you?”
She jumped at Cole’s voice behind her.
“No.” She slid into the safety of her car, though he leaned against it, blocking the door from closing. “But you were busy, and I’m headed back to pack my suitcases.”
“You’re leaving in the morning, huh?”
“Yep. Long drive.”
She started the car, but Cole didn’t take the hint. He kept standing there, while the car dinged, protesting the open door.
“Have you changed your mind about letting Mack or one of his men travel along with you?”
Struggling to keep her frazzled emotions in check, she was willing to do anything to get away from Cole. Already, some cameras appeared to be pointing their direction. Any minute the tears would start pouring out, and her snotty, red-faced image would end up plastered all over the media.
“Sure. Whatever. I don’t care if someone drives along with me.”
“Can I buy you dinner tonight? We’ll go someplace public, so you don’t have to worry about me breaking any rules.”
“I don’t think so.”
“So you’re saying it’s a possibility?”
He winked at her, and she laughed, in spite of her anxiety. How did he always manage to do that? She knew it was a bad idea, but she was tempted to say yes, just so he would let her leave the parking lot.
“I don’t think we can, because we’d be breaking your one-and-done rule.”
Was the door alarm dinging louder with each passing second?
“Technically, this might be our first real date where I pick you up at your door and drive you somewhere.”
She groaned. “You are the master at finding a way around the rules, aren’t you?”
“That’s me.” He puffed out his chest and pointed both thumbs at himself.
“Seriously, Cole. I think it would be too hard.”
“I need this, Brooke. I have things to say to you. If you don’t agree to dinner, I’ll have to say them right now.”
He jerked his chin over his shoulder, indicating the group of reporters who’d moved down, probably hoping to eavesdrop.
“Fine. I’ll do dinner if you’ll let me leave.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.” He tipped his hat and closed her door. Then he pointed behind her, calling out, “Mack’s right there, waiting to follow you home.”
Brooke knew dinner was going to be torturous, but she hadn’t seen another way to get rid of Cole. She backed out and followed the curved lane until she reached the exit to the main street. As she waited for a break to turn right in the heavy traffic, she heard the roar of an engine and caught a glimpse of movement on her left.
The world exploded in her face.
With her ears ringing, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The air smelled like gunpowder, and her arms were stinging. She became aware of the powder covering everything and the deflated airbag in her lap. Was she injured?
Her car door was crumpled against her, the window shattered, glass fragments everywhere.
Her ribs were sore on the left side, especially if she took a deep breath, but none of her limbs hurt terribly.
