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“You aren’t?”
“No, but there is much I want to say and do to you tonight. For me and you. To remind us both we’re here, and we’re staying here, present, together. For fucking ever.” He tangles fingers in my hair. “You want to deal with this by fighting back. I do, too.” His mouth closes down on mine, in a passionate, burning kiss I feel in every part of me, and then he is picking me up and carrying me toward the bedroom.
Chapter seventy-six
Cole
Icarry Lori into the bedroom and set her down on the bed, and as much as I’d like to make love to her, now is not that time. We need to talk and she needs to come down from tonight’s high, not be taken on another one. “Are you hungry?” I ask, standing in front of her.
“Actually yes. Starving.”
“How about Chinese?” I suggest.
“I’d love that, but can we hold off for a few?” she asks. “I just want to sit in a hot bath and get my thoughts together.”
I stroke her cheek. “Of course. I’ll give you some space to unwind. We can talk over dinner.”
She catches my hand and kisses it before her eyes go wide. “Oh, God. Is this on the news? Will my mother hear about it and freak out? I don’t want her stressed. I never even told her about Roger. We had it so hush-hush and she was in the Hamptons at the time. Now, what if it’s not?”
“I’ll call her to be sure and reassure her you’re fine. If she seems worried, you can call her after your bath.”
Her body softens, tension easing from her muscles. “Thank you, Cole.”
“Go take your bath.” I step back to allow her room to get up and she pushes to her toes, kisses my cheek and heads off.
I turn and watch her enter the bathroom, amazed at how strong she is. I’d really believed that she was hiding from a meltdown over Roger, but I’m not so sure anymore. Sure, she cried tonight, but over his pain, not her fear, and her response to all of this was—she has to do more. That’s what she needs and realizing this helps me shove my own demons back in the box. I cannot love a woman and keep her by my side as I want to for the rest of my life if I suffocate her, if I keep her from her version of more.
I walk down the stairs, forcing myself to give her space. She deserves time to process what she feels, not what I feel. Once I’m well out of her hearing range, I dial Reid. “Any updates on anything?” I ask as he’s promised to make phone calls and get to the bottom of the mess.
“Still working on it and I have a stockholders’ meeting for a takeover I just managed in the morning. I’ll come to your office when I’m done.”
“Any idea when?” I ask, sitting down on the coffee table.
“After lunch. And that’s a better option anyway. We all need cool heads and more information before we make our next move. I would have told you that earlier, but I didn’t want to set Lori off in any way.”
“Right,” I say. “You’re right. Call me when you head our direction.”
“Will do,” he confirms and disconnects. I immediately dial Royce Walker. “Where is Roger now?”
“In jail,” he says. “He was evaluated. They declared him sane. He violated the restraining order.”
I press fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Who’s his attorney?”
“Marks. Donovan Marks. Do you know him?”
“I do not. Do you have his number?”
“I’ll text it to you, but I need to know your plan here.”
“Happy wife, happy life,” I say.
He laughs. “Don’t I know it.”
“Which is why,” I continue, “I’m going to find out how to protect her and help Roger. I need to know if he gets out, even if I have to pay your team to sit at the jail around the clock this time.”
“We’ll handle it,” he assures me. “I hate to bring this up, but the FBI still wants that interview with Ashley and soon.”
“It needs to be Wednesday. I need to deal with Roger and the DA tomorrow.”
