Chapter Four
Cole shifted in his chair under Jillian’s scrutiny.
Jill presented him with the big sister eye while her fingers clutched the coffee cup. “There are times I’m ashamed of you and don’t want to claim you as my brother.”
Cole toyed with his liquor glass. “Answer one question for me.”
Her brows furrowed. “I smell you coming in for a kill. Go ahead, I’ll take the bait.”
“How in the hell was I supposed to know about her visions?”
Jill lightly touched his forearm. “I’m not condemning you, but you could’ve handled the situation differently…more delicately.”
He threw back the shot of bourbon and swallowed. The burning sensation followed the trail of the amber liquid from his throat to his stomach. “How long does she normally stay unconscious?”
Jillian’s concerned gaze changed and he didn’t like what he saw, fear and anxiety all wrapped in the depths of her brown eyes. “It depends on the length of time she was in her projected images. Do you remember how long she was…under?”
“I didn’t have a stopwatch.”
“Stop being a jerk.” Jill straightened her spine.
“I’m sorry, hazard of my trade. If I had to guess, she had been out for well over an hour before you got here. All total, three.”
Jillian squinted. “From what Peyton has told me, they are getting longer, but that’s an extended period of time. She’ll be out for twice that. Be aware, Peyton’s blood pressure rises significantly and will have a really bad headache afterward. I’ve done all I can do for her. I’m worried Cole.”
“When did this start, what does she see and why?”
Jillian rose and placed her mug in the dishwasher. “Her experiences are not mine to tell. If you need me, I’ll be up at the house. Keep me updated.”
Outside, Cole kissed Jilly’s cheek. He steadied her until she settled on the ATV. Jill cranked the four-wheeler, gunned the engine and climbed the slippery slope to her house. She crested the incline then dropped from his line of sight.
Once inside the cabin, he closed the door, gathered Peyton’s luggage from the living room and stowed her bags in the bedroom closet.
The light from the bathroom filtered in enough for him to see and he wiped her brows from the constant perspiration. He gently removed her outer clothing and smoothed the single sheet over her. In between his fingers, he wove her silken hair through them.
Most of the time, his quick mouth outsmarted and outplayed the majority of people to his advantage, but with Peyton, he’d let his anger override his real wants and desires. His sharp words possibly cut the last thread binding them together. If she hadn’t had her episode, she would have been gone, leaving his sorry ass behind. And in this instance, he had been the one to push Peyton away.
When would he learn to be the man she needed? Christ, he’d gladly give up being an attorney if it meant he could have his bright-shining star. Her light filled him with life and he had to admit…love. He figured he had one more chance to make amends with Peyton. Whatever was happening to her, he’d help her overcome it. The problem was he didn’t know what the hell was going on. Frustration zapped every nerve ending in his body, his blood pressure rose. He inhaled a calming breath. According to Jilly, Peyton had to tell him. His premonition told him Peyton’s troubles stemmed from Hendricks, but that didn’t make any sense either. How did Peyton know about the bastard?
The culmination of the data led him to believe the grotesque murders were at the hands of one man. He’d come to a conclusion, Hendricks killed all those women. In a meeting with his partners, he’d voiced those opinions without proof, based purely on gut instinct. Their reaction surprised him. They didn’t care if Mr. James ML Hendricks was a serial killer and into voodoo, he was a paying client and specifically requested Cole to defend him. Out of all the lawyers in this country, why did Hendricks choose him?
What he still didn’t understand, how did Peyton recognize Hendricks? Hopefully, he could prod her into sharing and come up with some reliable answers. If not, he’d have to pursue other venues which meant he’d alienate himself from the firm. But one thing he was sure of, he wouldn’t defend this man who viewed a human life as his playground for butchering. He’d have to call Kevin, the prosecutor for this case.
A moan escaped from Peyton. He cupped her jawline. “My love, come back to me.” Literally and figuratively would make him a happy man.
One side of her mouth curved into a half smile. “It appears I never left… My love?”
He slid his palm down her arm, intertwining their fingers. “I’m not going to beat around the bush. I want you back in my life…What do you think about that?”
Her lips thinned to a straight line. “Why?”
“Because we’re good together.”
Her eyes locked onto his. “Only between the sheets.”
He lowered and kissed each fingertip then brushed several on her palm. “I plan to prove you wrong, Peyton Adams. Will you give us a chance?”
Her lips turned into a smile. He jockeyed beside her, gathered her into his arms, and his forehead lightly touched her temple. “Just rest, we’ll talk later.”
She maneuvered laying half of her body on top of him. Her breathing changed to a relaxed rhythm.
“Sleep well, my love.”
He awoke to find her gazing at him. When he splayed his hand on her tummy, her navel dipped and goose bumps rose over her flesh. She physically reacted to his touch. Now, if he could coax her into trusting him. First, he had to set her mind at ease on several issues.
“Are you ready to talk?”
She stiffened.
He stroked from her belly to her hip, down her thigh and back up to catch her hand. Her skin smelled of roses and felt like the soft petals after the flower had just opened. “On several occasions, I didn’t treat you very well and I’m sorry.” He kept her from moving away. “Just hear me out.”
In his arms, she quieted. But her weary eyes scanned his face then fastened onto something over his shoulder. “In the past, I lost sight of what was important to me. I promise not to make that mistake again. Please look at me.” He patiently waited for her gaze to latch with his. “Initially, Jillian invited me here. To be honest, I had an ulterior motive to visit. I heard you were staying here for a couple of months. I wanted to see if we could start over. When I saw you, my gut twisted. Then we fought. Instead of talking to you, I reacted like a loser. Forgive me?”
Peyton bit her lower lip between her teeth as he paused holding his breath.
She nodded.
He released the air, ready to tread down the path of step two. “I’d like you to reconsider us, you and me, together.”
“You don’t share yourself.”
“What?”
“I loved watching you work and I never knew you hated it. More specifically and in your words, bothered you. I…” As she shook her head, her hair tickled his arm.
“Again, my battered ego lashed out. I come with flaws, but I’m doing better. Without a doubt, I’m still in love with you.”
“No one’s perfect. But I can’t be involved with anyone. I have some things I need to tell you.”
He inhaled deeply through his nose hoping she’d trust him enough to reveal her problems. “Go ahead.”
“Since my car accident, I’ve been having…spells.”
She did it. God, Peyton was a strong woman. He urged her on while she was still willing to talk. “Okay.”
“Because of those episodes, I’m not…can’t allow you and me…to become an us.”
“What?” He shook his head. “Why?”
She released him, rolled off the bed and paced the length of the room. “Come on, even you should be able to foresee the difficulties. I have about a fifteen second warning. I drive state highways so I can pull over. When I have speaking engagements, I hire an assistant. I can’t have children under my watch.” Her fingers indicated each reason.
Water welled in her eyes. “With each one, my recoveries are taking longer. Eventually, I’ll never wake up…All I’ll ever be to you or anyone is a burden. I can’t put you through this horrific situation I’m going through. So…you see, I must walk away…You deserve better.” She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door closed.
If Peyton thought he couldn’t get in, she was in for a surprise. He bounced from the bed, strode to what Peyton believed was a barrier between them and pounded twice on the wood frame. “Don’t push me away. I’ll hire a nanny and a driver.”