Authors: Deborah Hughes
Trisha made a small sound of protest, her distress with her brother’s irrational anger quite apparent as she threw him an accusing glance. “Cole, it was pure instinct to do what she did. I would have done the same thing.” She turned back to her friend, her eyes dark with concern, and smoothed Alyssa’s hair back from her face so she could check out the bandage on her forehead. “Does it hurt very much? And what happened to your feet?”
Keeping her gaze on Trisha and making a point to ignore Cole, she managed to force out a smile. “It didn’t really hurt that bad. Everything happened so fast, I wasn’t even aware that I’d hit my head.”
“And the feet?”
Alyssa looked down at her bandaged feet. It seemed ridiculously funny somehow. She hadn’t so much as scratched them in the accident. “My very impractical shoe choice was not made for walking long distances so I took them off. I guess my feet are a little more tender-skinned than I thought.” She squeezed Trisha’s hands. “But what about you? Are you okay? The baby?”
“We're fine.” She laughed self-consciously. “You are in a car accident and I end up staying a night in the hospital. Go figure.”
“Yes. Imagine that,” Cole said softly. What was it he’d been thinking earlier about Alyssa being lucky? Even so, she looked a frightening sight when she arrived at the hospital. The shock of seeing her like that had temporarily paralyzed him. She'd looked so battered and defenseless and everything in him had urged that he rush to her and offer whatever comfort he could give her. All he'd wanted to do was touch her and ensure she was okay then hold her and take away all her pain. How surprised would she be if she knew he'd felt her injuries as if they were his own? Even now, remembering it, he cringed at the image emblazoned in his mind. Blood was everywhere and the cut on her forehead looked painful. When her eyes met his, he'd wanted to kiss away her hurts and make her instantly well. But then her expression turned cold and unwelcoming. She hadn't been the least bit pleased to see him. Even so, he was determined to ignore her displeasure and had taken but a mere step in her direction before she was begging the nurse to get her out of there. It was him she had run from. After everything she had been through, everything she had put him through, she couldn’t let it go. Jesus, how could she dislike him that much?
Her momentary weakness in the attic and then again at the party obviously meant nothing. Indeed, it had probably made matters even worse. And despite everything, he still wanted reassurance that she was really okay. Just so he could wring her scrawny little neck. Thanks to her stupidity, Trisha came damn near close to losing her baby. It was irrational thinking, but he didn’t feel in a very rational frame of mind.
“Look, you need to rest. I’m tired myself.” Alyssa gave Trisha another hug then sank back into the wheelchair.
“I’ll be leaving here in the morning. I’ll come by to see you,” Trisha told her.
Alyssa patted her friend’s leg and slumped tiredly against the chair. “I really am sorry about what happened.”
“The important thing is that you are both okay,” Jenna said. She leaned down and kissed Alyssa’s cheek. “Go home and get some rest. We love you, dear.”
Emotionally vulnerable, Alyssa’s eyes watered. “I love you all too.” Cole would just have to figure it out for himself that he wasn’t included in that declaration.
She didn’t even look at him as her father wheeled her out of the room.
CHAPTER NINE
On a week's leave of absence from work, Alyssa was on her third day when a knock came on her door and Trisha breezed in. Although they'd spoken on the phone several times, Alyssa hadn't been up for company and Trisha had respected that. This morning, however, when Trisha called she told her she was feeling much better and was even ready to get out of her house for a while. And here she was.
“Hi there.” Trisha leaned over the back of the couch and kissed the top of Alyssa’s head. Dressed in a gray skirt and an off-white frilly shirt, her short curly hair styled neatly, she looked like she had someplace special to go. “Are you very busy?”
Alyssa set her book aside. “Not really. What’s up?”
“I’m taking you out to lunch. How are your feet by the way?”
“Almost as good as new and lunch sounds great."
Trisha sank into a chair and ran a hand across her stomach, a pleased smile softening her expression. “Great, we are starved.”
Alyssa slid off the couch and motioned towards the kitchen as she headed off to her bedroom. “Help yourself to a drink if you like. It’ll just take me a moment to get out of these sweats and into something a little more appropriate.”
“Take your time.” Trisha reached for a travel magazine lying on the coffee table. “I can entertain myself.”
Alyssa slipped into a dark blue pant suit and a soft pair of black leather shoes. She applied some make-up, artfully covering the slight discoloration that still lingered around her eye and arranged her bangs to cleverly cover what was left of the bump on her forehead. Indeed, it was healing quite well and in a few days it would be hard to tell that she had ever been in an accident.
Satisfied with the results, she walked back into the living room.
Trisha looked her over and smiled approvingly. “You look great.” She jumped up and headed for the door. "Let's bust a move."
Once they were in the car and on their way, Alyssa looked at Trisha with mild curiosity. "So where are we going?" Not that it mattered. She was glad to get out of the house and to be spending time with her best friend.
“Wait and see.” A secretive smile played about her lips and Alyssa felt just a slight twinge of distrust for it.
When they turned onto a road leading out of town, Alyssa knew at once where they were headed. “We’re going to The Tower aren’t we?” It was her favorite restaurant. The Tower restaurant was built in a beautiful spot out in the country, nestled atop a hill overlooking a small lake with even more mountains surrounding it. Built several feet above ground, it offered diners a magnificent view. A truly, pleasurable dining experience. Smiling at the description, Alyssa had to give a small chuckle. She'd redesigned their website recently and "a truly pleasurable dining experience" was on their home page. There was no way this lunch was a sudden idea. Turning to Trisha, she eyed her friend with even more suspicion. “You have to make reservations days in advance. How long have you been planning this?”
“Since last week.” Trisha glanced over at her then quickly looked away. “How are things working out with you and Cole? Have you given any thought to what I said? About talking to him I mean?”
Alyssa turned to look out the window. Talking about Cole was the last thing she wanted to do right now. “I thought about it.”
Trisha seemed content with that, dropping the subject and launching right into a discussion about her upcoming wedding. In no time at all they were pulling into the restaurant's parking lot and once Trisha found a place to park she took a deep breath and turned to smile brightly at Alyssa. But the smile was over-played and she didn’t meet her eyes. “Ready?”
Alyssa eyed her with a growing, gnawing apprehension tugging away in her gut. Why was she suddenly acting so strange? “I’m starved actually.” She stepped out of the car and watched as Trisha’s gaze swept the parking lot. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Not really.”
Her mysterious answer increased Alyssa’s unease. Not really? Just what was that supposed to mean? They walked into the small foyer and entered the elevator. When the doors slid open to the dining room, Alyssa spotted him immediately. He was sitting at a table near a large picture window and was as yet unaware of them. Feeling somewhat betrayed, Alyssa turned to Trisha. “What are you up to now?”
“I just want you two to talk. If I left it up to either of you, it wouldn’t happen.” She grasped Alyssa’s arm firmly but gently and urged her forward. “I really am sorry to have tricked you.” She gave one of those beguiling smiles of hers. “You do forgive me, don’t you?”
Cole heard their voices and turned, surprise registering in his expression before he narrowed his gaze on his sister, who, of course, blithely ignored it. So he turned that penetrating stare of his back to Alyssa, giving her a quick, sweeping glance before meeting her distressed gaze.
Although Alyssa didn't want to care, she couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. Then she just as quickly dismissed the question. It didn't matter. He didn't matter. Not anymore. Even so, she couldn't hold the stare and dropped her eyes, feeling too vulnerable with him to engage in their usual manner of behavior. After all, her dear friend, whom she trusted to be more understanding, didn't give her time to thicken her emotional armor. If only Trisha had warned her then she could have prepared herself for this meeting.
Cole rose from his chair when they came to a stop next to his table. “Trisha, you didn’t say we were going to make it a threesome.”
“I’m sorry, Cole, I must have forgotten to mention it.” Trisha smiled sweetly. “But since the two of you are here, now is as good a time as any for you both to talk.”
“Talk?” Cole’s brow lifted skeptically. He took in Alyssa’s stiff form and knew instantly that she hadn't been privy to this plan. “Is that what you call the exchange of words Al and I engage in?”
“Behave yourself, Cole.” Trisha cast him a warning glance then turned to Alyssa. “I’ll just sit over there at another table.” She pointed to the only other one in the room not yet occupied.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t eat alone.” Cole’s voice was sharp, mirroring the annoyance now stamped in his features. “I think the three of us can manage a civil enough conversation.”
“Sorry, ole chap, but she’s my lunch companion,” Jack’s cheerful voice said from behind them.
Alyssa turned to him and narrowed her eyes in accusation and disbelief. “Don’t tell me you are part of this crazy scheme?”
He nodded without hesitation. “Yep. You two enjoy your lunch. We’ll be close by in case you … ah … need anything.”
Despite their promise to declare a truce, it was obvious Trisha and Jack were not quite ready to believe it. What they weren’t saying is they would be close by to ensure plates didn’t start flying.
A tense silence followed. Since they were beginning to create a stir of curiosity among the other diners, Alyssa reluctantly sank into a chair. Once she was comfortable, she looked up and met Cole's eyes, casting him a silent challenge. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.” She was going to let him know here and now that he no longer held the power to disturb her. She would sit there and remain unruffled by anything he said or did if it killed her.
Cole sat down with a resigned sigh. “I guess there is nothing to do but make the best of the situation.”
“Great," Trisha said, looking pleased. "We’ll just go to our own table then and leave you to it.” She grabbed Jack’s hand. “Come along, darling.”
Alyssa folded her hands in her lap and looked out at the view. The mountains were cloaked with a variety of evergreens and a great deal of white birch, especially near the water's edge. Most of the indigenous trees were sporting new leaves and those that weren't, were getting there. The sun's rays made their varying shades of green pop with color and come the fall season the view would be even more breathtaking.
As much as she loved the mountains, it was the lake that took her breath away. It was as clear as glass and reflected everything, to include the fluffy white clouds suspended in the blue sky above it. The effect was amazing, like looking at a world within a world. It was a very tranquil scene and it went a long way towards calming Alyssa’s taut nerves.
As Cole sat quietly across from her, Alyssa was steadfast in her determination not to get ruffled. She was not going to let Cole goad her into an argument. She was not going to lose her temper. But that didn't mean she was okay with the situation. Why oh why did Trisha find this so necessary? Talking with that impossible man was going to solve nothing.
“How are you?”
Cole’s quietly spoken question took her by surprise. She glanced at him but could read nothing from his stony expression. Obviously he was just making small talk. “Fine.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes. Sure he was.
Cole sighed. “Any idea what she expects us to talk about?”
Alyssa reluctantly turned from the window and looked at him. “I guess she wants us to resolve our differences.” When he frowned at that, his expression darn near incredulous, she nodded in agreement. “She can’t seem to get it through her thick skull that there’s been too much water gone under the bridge.”
“Yes, a veritable flood. I would even venture to say we’ve washed the bridge out as well”
Alyssa had to fight the smile. She did not want to be amused by anything he had to say. Still, it was all she could do to remain poker faced.
They were saved from any further conversation by the arrival of the waitress. After handing them their menus, she gave a nod of inquiry, her gaze settling on Cole. “Can I get you guys a drink?”
“I’ll have iced tea. Thank you.” Alyssa handed the menu back to her. “I already know what I want to order.”
The waitress, a pretty brunette who was obviously experiencing some attraction to Cole, pulled a note pad from a large pocket of her white apron. “Okay then, what’ll it be?”
“I’d like the shrimp special and a Caesar salad. Oh, and those delicious hot rolls.”
Cole closed his own menu and gave the waitress a brief smile. “I’ll have the same.”
The waitress smiled back, her brown eyes meeting his, her cheeks turning a little pink. "Sure thing. I’ll be right back with your drinks.” She walked off, giving a rather exaggerated sway to her hips as she did so.
Alyssa shook her head and tightened her lips with derision. Women could be so guileless sometimes. She caught Cole’s stare and raised her brows. “What?” When it became obvious that he wasn’t going to give a reply she gave an unconcerned shrug. “Odd, don’t you think, that we should order the same thing?”
“Why’s that?”
“Come on, Cole, we don’t share an interest in anything.”