Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Erin called Evan and explained the situation as best she could, leaving out the connection to Cole. She didn’t need the man riled up any more on her behalf. As it was, she had to refuse to tell him where she was in hiding, not wanting a confrontation between the two men. She promised Evan she’d keep in touch while he assured her he’d redistribute her caseload. Erin winced at the thought of the extra work others in the office would have to take on because of her. Between her pregnancy-related days off and now this, she felt like she was abusing her position and her colleagues.
Then she’d have the baby and be entitled to maternity leave, and who knew how she’d handle things after that. Her head began to swim with all the implications, and Erin deliberately pushed those thoughts aside. There was time enough to deal with her future once her present was settled. And until her brothers found psycho-lady, as Erin had begun to think of her stalker, she was stuck in limbo.
With Cole.
And who knew where he’d disappeared to, but she had heard the alarm beeps, informing her he’d opened one of the exit doors and gone outside.
She was surprised a few minutes later when her mother walked into the kitchen with bags of groceries in her hands. “Mom! I can’t believe you’re here.”
Ella put the supermarket bags on the counter and turned to Erin. “Give your mother a hug.” She held out her arms, and just like when she was little, in Erin went.
Her mother’s familiar scent wrapped around her, easing the ache in her chest. “So?” Erin asked. “How’d you know?”
“Sam called and told me what happened. He said Cole asked him to have me run a few errands and come by, so here I am.”
Erin looked over her shoulder, but saw no sign of Cole. “Where is he?”
“Bringing all your new clothes in from the car, I’d imagine.”
“What?”
Her mother’s attractive face wrinkled in confusion. “He didn’t tell you? Cole asked Sam to have me go to the store where we went maternity shopping and replace everything that was destroyed,” her mom said, a diplomatic description if Erin had ever heard one. “He said to buy whatever we chose that day, and whatever else I found that you’d like.” With a twinkle in her eye, one that indicated how pleased Ella was with Cole’s behavior, she turned away and began unpacking the groceries.
Erin stood stunned, unable to process what she’d heard. “Cole said that?”
Her mother nodded. “And he took the bill from me when I pulled in. He’s paying for it all. Now close your mouth. You’re catching flies.”
Erin lowered herself into the nearest chair, needing to think about Cole’s actions. On the one hand, they made sense. It was obvious she had nothing to wear—right now she was in a pair of her biggest drawstring sweats and one of his old T-shirts, which he’d left out for her on the bed. But the easiest thing would have been to have her mother pick up a couple of items until Erin could shop for herself again.
But to replace everything? And add more? And pay for it all himself?
“Guilt,” Erin said out loud. “He feels responsible that my life has been turned upside down and my clothes ruined, probably by some psycho stalker, and he blames himself.”
“Maybe.” Ella’s eyes narrowed at Erin’s conclusion. “Or maybe he wants to take care of you, and this is the way he thought to do it.”
Erin wrinkled her nose at the notion. “Doubtful.”
“Oh ye of little faith. Even your brother seemed impressed,” her mother said.
“Sam?”
“Yep. He said he doubted he would have done something that thoughtful. Then Mike said—”
Erin jumped up from her seat. “I don’t want to hear Mike’s negative comments.” She stuck her hand in the nearest bag and began helping her mother put away the groceries.
“You’ll want to hear this,” Ella said. “Mike actually told Sam that no man would think that way unless he cared about the woman in question.”
Erin froze in the process of putting eggs in the refrigerator and turned to her mom. “Mike took Cole’s side? He said he thinks Cole cares about me . . . that way?” Shock and disbelief reverberated through her.
Erin knew Mike paid lip service to cutting Cole slack, but she didn’t believe her protective older brother would actually do it.
Ella nodded. “Of course, then Mike ribbed Sam about his single status and ended by informing him that only when Sam fell that hard would he understand.”
“I think I might faint,” Erin muttered.
Her mother chuckled, shutting the fridge door behind Erin. “Over which part? Mike taking Cole’s side? Or the possibility that he might be right and that man might really be falling for you?”
Erin closed her eyes, wishing with everything in her that Mike had a point, that Cole could care about her—as deeply as Mike loved Cara.