22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
T he morning bloomed with vibrant colors streaming through the windows. Happier than he ever thought possible, Cody woke with Brooke lying on his chest, her leg thrown over his thighs. He felt as if she were holding him down, so that he couldn’t get away. Like he’d ever want to leave her now.
He smiled to himself and brushed his fingertips up and down her back in soft caresses that made her snuggle in closer.
Dr. Nash had stopped by last night to check on her again. He’d taken out the last of her stitches, though the pink scars reminded them all of what happened. He’d switched out the bulky ankle brace for a smaller, slimmer version. She was walking much better on it. Even the pain in her broken wrist had subsided to a dull ache.
Physically, she was getting better. What a difference a few good days made.
Dr. Wick, the psychiatrist Dr. Nash recommended, had come to see her the last four days. Their talks remained private, but Brooke’s initial upset after each session turned to quiet contemplation and an easing in her grief and fears.
Each day, she walked with her mom in the morning, and she got a little better. She didn’t stare into space for long periods of time as often as she had those first few days. When she did lose herself, all he had to do was say her name, or touch her softly, and she came right back to him. She spent time in the garden reading. She went to the stables and visited her beloved horses.
It did his heart good to see her doing the things she loved.
She’d even started slowly moving forward with her plans to open the bookshop and café with her mom’s help.
She spent time with him, even if that meant sitting on the sofa in his study and watching him work. He loved looking up from his papers and seeing her looking at him with those intense green eyes.
She smiled more easily and cried less often.
All good signs, indicating she was recovering.
He didn’t worry about leaving her alone for short periods of time anymore.
They hadn’t talked about the note they found on his car.
If it was Adam, he was locked up, unable to get to her. If it had been Kristi, then he’d made it clear, they were definitely over.
He kissed Brooke on the head and brushed his hands up and down her back, whispering, “Good morning, sweetheart,” waking her gently. “I love you, and I wish I could stay right here with you in my arms, but unfortunately I need to get up. I have an eight o’clock call.”
She surprised him by hugging him close, kissing his chest, then sleepily slipping off him with a disgruntled grumble that made him chuckle.
He’d kept things tame these last many days, only kissing her when she looked up at him with that very desire in her eyes. He kissed her every night before they went to sleep, too. He was giving her time to settle in to their relationship. He was waiting for her to tell him she wanted more intimacy between them.
They had it in the way they spent all the time they could with each other, in the quiet talks they shared. And he loved it.
Yes, he wanted more. He hoped their physical relationship would heat up in time. On Brooke’s terms. He thought it would bring them even closer, but not if he pushed her too far, too fast, even if he desperately wanted to be as close as possible to her in every way.
Since she seemed open to affection, he slid out of bed, kissed her shoulder, and laid a trail of kisses all the way down her arm, not missing a single scar as she reached out to try to pull him back into bed with her.
“Stay,” she grumbled, not even opening her eyes.
Nothing made him feel better than to have her wanting him next to her in the nest of sheets. “I want to, baby, but I can’t miss this call. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Promise.”
He kissed her on the head. “Promise.”
He left Brooke in bed and went down to his room to shower and dress for working at home again. He didn’t have to go to court today. Janie had coffee and his breakfast ready. He took both into his office and worked until he had lunch with Brooke, then took several more calls while she read a book on the sofa.
After dinner with Susanne, where they discussed inviting some local authors to do book signings at the grand opening, Brooke went upstairs to relax and watch TV.
He spent the evening at his desk, preparing his opening arguments for an upcoming case. He’d accepted Doug’s offer as partner and signed off on his offer letter. He’d given his notice at work, getting a counteroffer from the firm, but ultimately deciding that he didn’t want to work for someone who put his career on the line because of a favor owed.
He’d finish this one case, then start at Wagner & Mitchell. Scratch that. Wagner, Mitchell, and now Jansen in two weeks. He wanted to spend a week with Brooke at the ranch with no distractions.
Maybe they’d take a short trip somewhere for a change of scenery.
His cell phone rang. He checked caller ID, hoping Doug wanted to talk about him coming on board and not anything about Adam or the fact that the governor remained resistant to letting Adam’s other victims know they were safe. Brooke wanted them to have the same peace she did knowing he was locked up.
The last few days had been quiet at the ranch and Brooke was responding to him and being home and safe. She was finally starting to feel like her old self in many ways, she’d confessed last night.
This call threatened to ruin everything, and he didn’t want to pick up, but couldn’t ignore Doug after all he’d done for them.
“Hi, Doug. I hope you’re calling to check on Brooke and not deliver bad news.”
“I wish. How is she?”
“Incrementally better every day but far from being herself. Tell me you aren’t going to say something that will set her back.”
“I’m sorry, Cody, but you are definitely not going to like this. Did you catch the evening news?”
“No. We’re keeping Brooke away from anything that might trigger her.”
“Understandable. You don’t want her to see this. Click the news link I sent to your email.”
Cody clicked his email tab on his laptop, clicked the link, and waited for the news banner and intro to end before the reporter announced, " The University of Texas at San Antonio campus security, in conjunction with the San Antonio police department, are asking for the public’s help in identifying the unknown subject who has attacked five women and raped one of them. With the spring semester over and most of the students returning home for the summer, and no new attacks since the fifth victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and later released, it’s feared that the campus stalker may remain unidentified if he’s also left campus. The police remain dedicated to apprehending this dangerous individual and have set up a tip line, hoping someone will come forward with new information about the perpetrator or any information about what they may have witnessed or know about the specific attacks. The number appears on the bottom of the screen."
Cody sighed. “Of course the police are still looking for a suspect and keeping the story relevant to the public. They still think he’s out there.” The governor had done a damn fine job of keeping the police and press from linking the campus stalker and Adam’s attempted suicide together.
“He’s the reason I’m calling. Governor Harris contacted me after he heard about the news report.”
“Why? He got what he wanted. Brooke’s silence and his son hidden away, not having to face the consequences of what he did.”
“He knows Brooke’s silence has only been because she’s not able to face everything yet. He suspects she’ll get stronger and come out fighting. Especially after I let him know that she wanted the other victims notified that the perpetrator is no longer a threat.”
“Tell that to Brooke after she saw that note someone left on my car. If it was him, that means he’s still able to torment her.”
“The governor has made assurances that Adam has no contact with anyone outside the hospital.”
Maybe that was true.
Kristi could have left that note. He wouldn’t put it past her after the way she’d acted when Brooke came home.
“The governor wants a meeting with Brooke. In person.”
Cody shook his head even though Doug couldn’t see him. “Not going to happen.”
“He wants to know what she’s planning to do. He’s scared. He thinks at any moment she’s going to go to the police or press.”
Cody smacked his hand on the desk. “Brooke spent six months terrified Adam was going to come after her.”
“My daughter was in the same room with Brooke. So I get how you feel.” Pent-up anger filled Doug’s words. “The governor’s already spun things well enough that the police don’t even suspect Adam Harris. At this point, he’s gotten rid of any evidence in Adam’s place that could be used against his son. She’s the only one who can point the finger at Adam for stalking and attacking her. The press would connect him to the other victims simply from their obvious physical similarities to Brooke. If she names Adam, his suicide attempt pretty much confirms his guilt. Governor Harris can kiss his career goodbye.”
“Unless he spins all that and makes Brooke look like a broken victim who lost her baby and is grieving so hard she’s not thinking straight and trying to blame him for everything.”
“She can tell a fucking compelling story. People will believe her.”
Not all of them. Because the governor would start a smear campaign to discredit her. Cody didn’t want to see that happen.
Brooke didn’t deserve that after everything she’d been through.
How far was the governor willing to go?
Cody didn’t know.
Would he do anything to protect his son?
His position and power? His name at the expense of Brooke?
Cody seethed. “My father helped put his ass in the governor’s chair. He’s been invited to my house countless times over the years, and this is how his family fucking repays mine.”
“History doesn’t matter when things get personal. He wants to see her again, Cody. He wants to settle things with her. She has the power to destroy him. He can’t let that go.”
“She’s in no condition to meet with him and relive what that bastard did to her. She’s grieving for our child. Doesn’t he get that? For God’s sake, his own son tried to kill himself. He should have some fucking sympathy. He should understand she isn’t ready or willing to see him.”
“He’s a politician. Nothing trumps him holding on to his power and position.”
Cody fisted his hand. “He wants to shut her up.”
“That’s my take on it, yes. He hasn’t come right out and said what he plans to say or do. At the bare minimum, expect an NDA. He’ll want her legally gagged. Also, he’s careful not to include you, despite my objections and adamant assertion that he won’t see her without you by her side.”
“He’s afraid of me. I hold sway over the ranchers’ association and can influence them to go a different way in who they back for the next election.”
“Then I’d watch your back, because he’s going to be looking for leverage to hold you to his side.”
“Fuck him. He knows how I feel. He knows what I’m capable of, and I am and will always be standing between him and Brooke.”
“The last time he met with Brooke, she was mostly unresponsive. I think he’s concerned her silence didn’t actually mean she agreed.”
Cody fisted his hand on the desk. “Her doctor advised us not to push her to talk about what happened. Right now, she’s satisfied with Adam locked up and away from her. But she wants the other victims to know that he can’t hurt them either. If she doesn’t get that, I’m not sure what she’ll say or do.”
The governor wanted a sit-down. He wasn’t used to being denied. Eventually, he’d force the meeting.
Cody didn’t want Brooke blindsided. “Hold him off as long as you can. She’s not ready. I need more time with her.” Cody rubbed his fingers over his aching forehead. “Listen, Doug. I appreciate all you’ve done for Brooke and me. I don’t think I can deal with the governor rationally. I have a lot of undirected rage over what happened to Brooke and our daughter. Every time I look at her injuries, or see her crying, I want to kill someone.”
“Yeah, well, if you let that rage out, you’ve got a defense attorney if you need one.”
No telling what he’d do if he had Adam in his sights, but he’d try to hold it together with the governor when the time came. Some things were inevitable. He wouldn’t hold the governor off forever. Men like him always thought they’d get what they wanted. They either made it happen, or took it by force. Cody would hold him off as long as possible and find a way to prepare Brooke.
“I was there with her in the hospital,” Doug continued. “I never want to go through something like that again. I kept thinking it could have been Mindy Sue.” Doug sighed. “I’ll tell the governor Brooke needs more time.”
“Thank you.”
“You got it. You do realize she’s going to have to decide what she’s going to do about this situation. If she lets it go, it’ll disappear and those other girls will never know who attacked them. People will think the man simply left school after the semester like they’re reporting.”
“I know. I’m not sure how to handle this. Adam is locked up, probably where he belongs, because he truly does need psychological help. I keep telling myself the governor isn’t responsible for his son’s actions, but he is responsible for the cover-up and trying to protect his own reputation. I’m pissed about all of it.”
“I hear you. I’ll hold off the governor until you tell me otherwise.”
“Thanks, Doug. I really owe you for this.”
“You don’t owe me anything. We’re partners now. Take care of Brooke. I’d like to see her well. Mindy Sue’s worried about her. She took it hard, trying to help Brooke and knowing there was nothing she could do to make it better.”
“I know just how she feels. But let her know, Brooke is getting help. She’s slowly getting better.” Cody leaned back heavily in his chair, happy about Brooke’s progress but exhausted from another long day. It was almost seven, and the morning had wilted to a black night as dark as his mood.
“Take it easy, Cody. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up.”
Cody said goodbye with a heavy heart. He didn’t want to deal with the governor and bring all the bad back into Brooke’s life. He didn’t want to see her go five steps back when he’d only gotten her to take one step forward.
The time they spent holding each other every night in the dark helped ease them into a more intimate relationship and rebuilt the trust he’d lost. She was slowly beginning to believe how much he loved her and wanted to make a life with her.
He wanted her to be his wife. He’d wait as long as she needed to make the commitment to him that he’d already made in his heart to her.
But first he needed to figure out who sent that damn note and a way to deal with the governor and make sure Adam paid for what he’d done without destroying Brooke in the process.