Road to Recovery (4 page)

Brooke drew her eyebrows together,
pursed her mouth, and then it hit her. “Ah, Dr. Lester,” she said
with a smirk of her own. “I’m normally there right after work
unless I have a late meeting, like yesterday.” Her shoulders lifted
slightly. “Depending on how late, I might skip the gym all together
and head home. But thanks for the warning, I appreciate
it.”

“
So—” The sound of the
beeper going off interrupted Cori. She looked down, then back up
quickly. “Crap, sorry, need to run. So much for my break. See you
at the gym today?”

“
Yes, I should be there a
little after five,” Brooke answered.

“
See you then.” Just like
that, Cori was up and out of the office, shoes rapidly squeaking
down the hallway.

Smiling, Brooke leaned over to turn her
iPod back on. Cori was so different from the other people she
normally associated with. Thinking back, Brooke couldn’t remember
any of her friends being that hyper or lively. And she, herself,
would never act that way. It wasn’t done.

Cori seemed to bounce everywhere she
went. Almost like nervous energy ready to burst through. She talked
fast, was quick to smile, and even quicker to laugh and joke. It
didn’t seem to bother her at all to stop in for a quick chat, even
though they only just met.

Personally, Brooke couldn’t remember
ever being that forward with someone. She liked to get a feel for a
person before she put herself out there.

For whatever reason, Cori seemed to
find her interesting, or maybe she was overthinking it. Cori was
obviously an overly friendly type of person, the opposite of
Brooke, who had been accused of being cool or frigid more often
than not. There was some truth to it, she knew. But she had
expectations to live up to.

Too many people saw a pretty face and
nothing else. Or worse yet, saw her name, realized who her family
was, and had certain preconceived notions of her. Thanks to her
mother, perfection was demanded at all times.

She was expected to look and act a
certain way. The way a perfect wife would be, in her mother’s eyes.
She should never have a hair out of place, always be dressed in the
most current but classic fashions. And most importantly, be able to
throw a dinner party worthy of royalty on short notice. Those were
the important things in Paula Malone’s world.

Even though Brooke didn’t agree with
any of her mother’s opinions, she wasn’t going to spite herself by
rebelling and looking the opposite of what her mother wanted. She
refused to dress frumpy and unattractive. She liked being a girl.
She liked looking like a girl. But that came with a
price.

That price meant that she most likely
had to be more rigid in order to be taken seriously, in order to
dispel the opinions of those who felt her mother was grooming her a
certain way. After years of training herself, or rather being
taught what to do and when, Brooke wasn’t sure she even knew how to
let go and have fun. After her accident she realized she missed
that in life.

Her life had been carefully mapped out
by lists and goals in order to achieve everything she set out to
do. She liked those lists. They kept her life in control. And there
was nothing wrong with being in control. At least she had never
thought so before.

But then again, all that control in her
life couldn’t have prepared her for the last year either. Thinking
there was nothing more she could do about it, she decided to stop
overanalyzing everything and get back to work.

***

“
Hey there, now that’s the
person I remembered from Friday.” Brooke looked over between reps
on the leg press at the sound of Cori’s voice. Then she looked down
at herself in black knee length bike shorts and a gray baggy
T-shirt. “Do I really look that different? I mean it’s only a
change of clothes.”

Cori laughed out loud, causing several
eyes to turn their way. “Are you serious? You went from Glam Girl
to Gym Rat in less than thirty seconds. Your hair is piled on top
of your head in a messy bun, and your shirt is two sizes too big.
How can you be the same person I saw hours ago?”

Brooke frowned. “I never really thought
of it. I guess it has to do with looking the part. When I’m doing
my job I’m a professional, so I dress to be professional. When I’m
in the gym, I’m going to get sweaty and dirty so I dress for
that.”

Hopping on the machine next to Brooke
and starting her own butterfly reps, Cori conceded. “OK, makes
sense in a logical kind of way. I guess that’s you, logical? Bet
everything has its own place in your house? Really organized
closet, color-coded too, right?” She stole a glance over, causing
Brooke look away.

Cori inhaled sharply, pressed her
elbows together, and then continued talking as Brooke’s face turned
a light shade of pink. “But what’s with your hair? Why not throw it
in a ponytail? And you washed your makeup off. There isn’t a bit
left on your face. Who does that? Washes their face before a
workout?”

Feeling self-conscious, Brooke defended
herself. “My hair is really heavy and long. Even in a ponytail it’s
in my way, plus it clings to my neck when I start sweating. And
speaking of sweat, once I start sweating, all my makeup starts to
run. Better to wash it off now, so when I wipe my face mid workout
I’m not smearing it everywhere.”

Cori grinned back at her. “Practical
and logical, cool.”

Brooke shrugged, lifted her legs out in
front of her, held the pose for two seconds, and released them back
down. No reason to get defensive. She was who she was. And she
worked hard to get that way.

She started to lift her legs up again,
saw the muscle knot in her thigh, and almost dropped the weights
back down. Exhaling slowly, she cautiously lowered the weights and
sat there taking deep breaths.

A quick look to her side showed Cori
staring at her in concern. “Everything OK?”

After one more deep breath, Brooke
climbed off the machine and took a tentative step, realized her leg
would support her and took another step. “Yes, just a cramp, that’s
all. I think I’ll go ride the stationary bike a bit and loosen it
up.”

Cori looked as if she didn’t believe
her. “I’ll join you in a minute, once I finish up a few more reps
here.”

Legs pumping at a steady rhythm, Brooke
noticed Cori sitting down next to her to start to her own workout.
“So what’s up with your leg?” Cori inquired.

Brooke skirted her eyes around the
room, then quickly answered, “Just a cramp. It happens from time to
time.”

“
Really? Because it seems to
me you favor your right leg a lot. I noticed it last Friday, too.
You try not to show you’re in pain, but I see people in pain every
day and I know the signs. So what gives? You have an injury? So
what, lots of people do. Only makes them human.”

In the short time Brooke had known
Cori, she had a feeling she was going to keep pestering her until
she had an answer. And Cori was right. What was the big deal? So
what, it was just an injury. Lots of people had them, Brooke
mentally convinced herself.

“
It’s really not a big deal.
I was in a car accident this past year that resulted in a few
surgeries.”
Four was considered a
few.
“I’m settling in here, new job and new
home. I need to find a new doctor and get back to therapy and
rehab. I haven’t found the time. Anyway”—Brooke waved her hand
dismissively, embarrassed by the amount of explanation she just
gave—“I’ve been doing pretty well on my own, but I tend to overdo
it from time to time.”

Cori smiled brightly, nodded her head,
and offered helpfully, “Well, guess you’re in the right place then
if you need a new doctor. Just make an appointment with one of the
Orthopedists here. You should be able to get right in, being an
employee and all.”

“
The problem is I’m a bit
picky. I want to find the right doctor. I haven’t had the time to
research yet.”

“
Well, now is your chance.
I’ve worked here for five years. What are you looking for? Give me
your list. I know you have one, right?” Cori grinned
sheepishly.

“
Of course, but I don’t have
it with me right now. Would it be possible for me to get it to you
tomorrow?”

Cori continued to shake her head,
grinning. “I really have never met anyone like you. Not that it’s a
bad thing, but are you always so responsible and organized? Do you
always do everything by the book?”

With a frown, Brooke replied, “You make
me sound dull.”

“
Not dull, just, um, adult,
I guess. That is what you are, more adult than me. That sounds
better than dull at least,” she said, and then continued with a
chuckle. “You have it on your computer, I bet? I know you do,
because that would be practical.” She smothered a laugh. “Email it
to me. I’ll give you my email when we’re done.”

Brooke was thankful for the offer.
“Sure, I appreciate it, too. It will get my mother off my back at
the very least.”

They continued their conversation on
and off during their workout until they were finished. Nodding
toward the door, Cori grabbed her water, and jumped up fast.
“Perfect timing.”

Brooke peeked up slightly, caught sight
of the group of doctors wandering in. Being led, of course, by Dr.
Wonderful. Pain or not, Brooke grabbed her bag and slung it over
her shoulder quickly to leave before the newcomers had a chance to
change and return to the gym.

***

In the corner minding his own business,
Lucas had been quietly watching the two girls for the last ten
minutes and wished he could have gotten to the gym sooner. Looks
like she made a friend here already, he thought.

He had seen the perky redhead in the
gym before, always running from one machine to the next, never
without a partner while she worked out. Hands always waving around,
full of laughter and smiles.

He’d missed the gym yesterday and was
hoping today he would have a chance to see Brooke again.

Ever since he realized the woman in the
elevator and the woman in the gym were one in the same, he was
intrigued. Both times she was calm and cool, reserved was probably
the best description. But yesterday morning she was stunning, even
behind the mask that he felt she was wearing.

She took his breath away. When her eyes
met his, he felt heat. Heat he hadn’t felt from a woman in a long
time. And it made him want to feel more of it. He wanted to make
her feel it, too.

He wondered if she ran as hot as she
did cool. And he knew he was just the one to find out. But
something told him he would have to tread carefully. He couldn’t
put his finger on it, but something seemed off about her, skittish
almost. Not that he had any idea, but he felt it. Felt there was
more to her than met the eye.

She seemed like a damsel in distress.
His mother told him time and again he was a throwback from
knighthood. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. But one thing he knew
for sure—he wanted her. He always got what he wanted.
Always.

Lucas woke up early. He hated to admit
it was anticipation, but deep down he knew that to be true. He sent
an email to Brooke last night requesting a meeting at nine this
morning and wasn’t surprised to receive her confirmation email a
few minutes later.

And now he was sitting in his office
staring at the clock. It was eight forty-five, still too early to
make his way down the hall. Not wanting to seem overly eager, he
cursed the fact he was acting like a love-struck teenager wanting
to get a glance at his latest crush. What was wrong with him? This
was ridiculous.

Mentally shaking his head, he grabbed
his phone and keys off the desk and decided to head to her office.
She was most likely waiting for him anyway.

Five minutes later he was standing in
the doorway to the small conference room, her back to him
completely at ease. He realized that the sound of the coffee
machine brewing must have canceled out the sound of his approach.
So he took advantage of that to get a good look at her without her
knowledge.

He liked what he saw from the back as
much as the front. Maybe even more. Her long wavy hair flowed over
a light pink shirt that was tucked into the waistband of her
straight black skirt, ending right above her knees. It curved
around her backside perfectly, just as perfectly as his hands
would. The table was blocking his view of her feet, but he would
bet anything she had a pair of killer heels on right
now.

Everything about her was perfect. She
managed to look soft, sexy and professional all at the same time.
Starting to feel like a pervert for staring at her once again, he
made a bit more noise than necessary when he set down his keys and
phone.

***

Brooke had felt his eyes on her the
minute he walked into the room. Rather than turn around and
acknowledge that she knew he was there, she continued to fix her
coffee, waiting to see if he would make her aware of his presence.
A few seconds later she heard him place his things on the table, so
she turned around.