Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
COLE
He despises himself sometimes.
Usually, it’s after he washes blood and grime off his body, watching it swirl down his shower drain in whatever hotel or rental he’s staying at.
Sure, he’s doing the world a favor by ridding it of filth, but those pieces of filth usually have people that cared about them.
And when he lets himself think like that, he starts to hate himself.
As he sits across from Bree in the small booth, he truly does resent who he is.
He’s frightened her, and as she almost has a panic attack in front of him, he starts to see himself as she must see him.
A stalker. Obsessed.
A monster.
A better man would stop. A better man wouldn’t have coerced her into the car .
And a better man certainly wouldn’t have followed her into the basement of a prison, seriously considering taking her and locking her away in his bedroom forever.
But he can’t stop.
He’d rather be near her, breathing in the scent of her hate than a thousand miles away, giving her space.
Thankfully, the mood shifts during their dinner, and he realizes he didn’t ruin everything just yet.
The recipe was saved and bookmarked in her web browser, so he called in a favor to the restaurant.
The look on her face as she tasted the dish made just for her was worth the generous donation the establishment received.
Her smile is captivating. Bree’s eyes twinkle in the low candlelight, and her scent sweetens with her delight. His inner Alpha roars, pleased that he was the one that brought her joy.
“You’ve come here before,” she says as he picks up his fork.
“I have,” he agrees.
“How many times?”
“Whenever I’m here.” He doesn’t bother to tell her he’s only stayed in the town once, and it wasn’t for law work.
Well, technically, he could argue it was.
“Do you come here alone?”
“Yes. You’re the first person I’ve taken to dinner here.”
She looks thoughtful, her delicate brows furrowing. “Do you go to restaurants alone often?”
He can’t tell if it's sympathy on her face, but he doesn’t need it or deserve it.
“I do. I don’t mind eating alone. Normally, I don’t find anyone that I want to share my company with.”
Except for you , he thinks.
Bree hesitates. “I wish I could do that,” she says wistfully. “ I’ve never had the courage to go to restaurants or movies alone.”
“Now you won’t have to,” he says, the words slipping out.
Fuck.
She bites her lip and turns her attention to her water, sipping slowly and averting his gaze.
“Tell me about your article,” he says, hoping to change the subject before she can reflect on what he said.
She’s never going to be alone again. He won’t let her be, but she doesn’t need the reality of that to hit her just yet.
“Really? You want to hear about that?” she sounds unconvinced.
He raises an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I? Especially if it’s the reason you wander into abandoned prisons alone.”
Which she will never do again.
“Because no one asks,” she admits shamefully. “I just assumed it was your way to get me to go to dinner with you.”
He scowls, furious at anyone who had the gall to make her feel inadequate. “No. I’m genuinely interested in your work, and you. I find you fascinating.”
She shakes her head and huffs. “I don’t understand why, and I don’t believe you.” She scrunches her face in frustration, and he finds it adorable.
“That’s fine,” he quips. “I’m happy to take my time convincing you.”
Her eyes search his, and he hopes what she finds doesn’t terrify her.
Finally, she sighs. “Usually, I write about local events that happen in my town, and it’s not very exciting. For example, next week I’ll be interviewing the owners of a dog grooming salon to celebrate their grand opening. I just did a gardening contest, and while it was fun, it’s not…enough. I want more .”
“I love telling stories. I think there’s a story everywhere, as dumb as it sounds.” She laughs nervously, toying with the edge of the tablecloth. “Everyone has something to uncover. Other people’s lives fascinate me.”
Her eyes light up when she talks, and it makes his breath catch.
He doesn’t dare interrupt her, not when she’s finally opening up to him.
“One of my favorite feelings is when people realize I’m going to write an article about them. The look on their faces when they realize that someone cares enough to document their life...it’s those moments that make me the happiest.”
He’s so fucking in love with her it’s ridiculous.
“What happened in Green Woods called to me,” she continues. “I can’t explain why, but the idea that a prisoner ran away with his social worker sounds like some twisted love story that I couldn’t ignore.”
“And you enjoy twisted love stories?”
“I mean, as long as they’re not happening to me, sure.” She shrugs.
Too late for that , he thinks.
“What makes you so sure that he didn’t just kill her? That’s what most people think,” he says.
It’s not what he necessarily thinks, but he doesn’t tell her that.
“Because there’s so many unknown factors. They had so much time together, and that type of relationship is intimate, whether they wanted it to be or not. And…he’s an Alpha, and she’s an Omega. There had to have been something there.”
A twinge of hope stirs in his chest as she continues.
“Just because he was a murderer doesn’t mean that he wasn’t capable of love. Or maybe he isn’t. I don’t know. It’s just…I think there’s more to the story, you know? It’s possible I’m just being ridiculous,” she scoffs. “Who knows?”
“Maybe you’ve just been reading too many dark romance books,” he jokes, even though he doesn’t find any of what she said funny.
Just because he was a murderer doesn’t mean that he wasn’t capable of love .
Would she ever feel that way about him?
She laughs. “Yeah. Maybe. How did you know I’m into dark romance?”
Shit .
“Lucky guess,” he shrugs.
It has nothing to do with the fact that he was in her cabin last night, studying the titles on her shelves.
“But why come out here?” he presses. “You could have done research from home, instead of putting yourself in danger.”
“I’m not in danger?—”
“You don’t see or protect yourself clearly,” he warns her. “I’m sure someone told you it was foolish to come here on your own.”
She grimaces. “What, are you my bodyguard now?”
“Absolutely. Anyone even thinks about harming you, they disappear.”
Her scent spikes with her fear, and he knows he has to rein himself in.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” she mutters.
She can pretend all she wants, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
He knows there’s an Alpha at another booth that scented her, and it’s tempting to grab a steak knife and drag it across his neck.
But that would frighten Bree even more and ruin any progress he’s made with her.
Plus, he would never be able to take her back here to celebrate their anniversaries together.
“Pretend away and answer my question,” he says. “Why visit Green Woods, when you can just write about all of this from home?”
The smile returns to her face, and she lights up with excitement. “Erik Hart’s psychologist agreed to an interview with me,” she beams. “And I wanted to do it in person.”
“That’s impressive. So, not only are you brilliant, but you’re resourceful.”
“I’m not that?—”
“Learn to take the compliment, sweetheart. They’re going to continue.”
She exhales a shaky breath. “Thank you,” she says begrudgingly. “The interview is Friday, and I wanted to visit a few days before to explore and possibly understand more of Ellie’s experience.”
Her interview is Friday, which means she’s probably leaving Saturday.
He’ll have to change that.
He knew he needed her before—but now that she’s shared who she is with him, nothing will stop him from having her.