The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 13

  “Alex, the fact that he didn’t tell you he loved you means nothing. You and I both know he loves you. It was so obvious when you were together last Friday at Sambuca’s. I sat at the bar, watching you two, just in case his date didn’t go well, and you still needed me. There was no mistaking his feelings for you.

  “And your accident was purely that—an accident. He didn’t make you faint, and he didn’t cause you to have the stroke. It’s something no one expected. It’s time for some tough love—your accident happened, but you’re letting it keep you from doing what you want to do. You need to get over it and stop letting it be your crutch! Besides, you’re getting stronger every day, so just be patient. You need to give him a chance; all I’m saying is you’re making a mistake running, sister.”

  We entered the private air terminal and said our goodbyes, which were painful and tearful for us both. I started to doubt myself all over again. We had been together so long I couldn’t remember not being with Cooper. Being apart was going to be hard.

  On the plane, I fell into a halfway trance while listening to my iPod before we were even off the ground. The song “Almost Lover” by A Fine Frenzy stopped me cold. The words stung me over and over because it was so beautiful and yet so full of the pain of denial.

  I was broken and sobbing. Maybe Cooper was right. Running wasn’t going to fix anything, but rejection was so hard for me because it was all I’d ever known.

  When we landed in Chicago, I called Cooper to let him know I was on the ground.

  His tone was off, worried somehow. “Alex, Grayson was at the apartment when I got back. He’s devastated you left. He even searched the apartment looking for you, like he didn’t believe me. I didn’t tell him anything, but he could figure out where you went. What do you want me to tell him?”

  “He’s still there, isn’t he?” I asked, my stomach sinking.

  “Yeah, um, we were just talking. Well, he’s doing all the talking. I’m just listening to him pour his heart out. Please talk to him and put him out of his misery.” Cooper sounded more tired than anything else. He had always been my safety net, but having to do so much to take care of me was fraying the rope of that net. I could hear it in his voice. But it didn’t change the betrayal I felt.

  “I have nothing to say to him. He turned my life upside down just as much as Will did when he raped me. So if you need to tell him something, tell him that!” I heard Cooper’s gasp at the comparison between Grayson and my worst nightmare, but I didn’t care. The emotional pain then was just as real as the betrayal I felt now.

  After a long pause, I hung up the phone and gathered my things from the plane. Dad’s driver was taking me home since it was so late.

  Dad and Gretchen had fixed up the downstairs guest suite into a combo bedroom and office for me, so it would be easier and private. I could stay as long as I needed to until I could figure out my life once again.

  My mom had always said things look brighter in the morning, but this morning was dark and grey, just like my mood. Besides, technically it was no longer morning, since it was well past two o’clock in the afternoon when I finally got out of bed. That was a surprise, since I was famous for my early morning runs and for being the one to fire up the coffee maker in the morning. I suppose I was so tired, emotionally and physically, that my body made sure I got some rest.

  Luckily, I’d remembered to put my phone on the charger when I got in last night, so I sat down to retrieve the seventeen voicemails screaming at me from the tiny screen. I didn’t have the mental strength to listen to the messages without coffee and maybe even something a little stronger, so I just scrolled through the missed calls on the screen. Three were from Cooper this morning, along with one from Drew checking on me. There was one voicemail from a number I didn’t recognize, but the next ten calls came in through the night from Grayson. Two older calls were from Dad the night of the gala.

  I made the tragic mistake of scrolling back to the number I didn’t recognize. It had come in sometime late the night before. I pressed that message and waited while the monotone voice told me the time and date of the voicemail.

  “Alexandra, you don’t know me, but I felt like I should call you. My name is Olivia Balcone and—”

  I never heard the rest. I dropped the phone face down on the hardwood floor and listened to the sickening crunch of the screen cracking.

  That one had thrown me for a loop. Olivia had called me? Why? Grayson had to have given her my number. What the hell was going on? Anger riveted through my body, literally making it hard to see. There was no way in hell was I giving the plastic bitch Olivia Balcone the satisfaction of my groveling. It was not happening.

  I had to work twice as hard to delete the calls because of the cracked screen. Knowing I needed to give Cooper a return call to let him know I was okay, I realized I had to calm down first. The last thing I wanted to do was get myself worked up.

  I went to the bathroom to freshen up and instantly regretted looking in the mirror. When had that happened?

  I looked like I’d been dragged behind a bus to Chicago, instead of flying in a private jet. Drastic measures were in order. If Gretchen saw me like this, she’d slap my skinny butt in a salon chair before I knew what hit me.

  I walked out of the bathroom and tried to dial Cooper’s number. Damn phone was hard to use. I’d add that to my agenda for the day.

  Cooper picked up on the first ring. “Alex! Are you okay? You were so angry last night I didn’t want to argue with you, but then you hung up on me.”

  “I’m okay today, Coop, and I’m sorry about the phone call. I panicked when you wanted me to talk to him. But my position hasn’t changed. I don’t want to talk to him. Ever.”

  “Well then, you’d better have your suitcase packed and ready because he’s coming to Chicago to find you. Please don’t run this time! You don’t have to talk to him, just hear him out. Once you’ve had a chance to listen, you’ll at least know you’re making a decision based on the facts, instead of what your heart thinks is real. It’s important, and you will understand once you talk to him. I probably shouldn’t tell you because you will just run, but I can’t keep that from you.” Cooper stopped for breath, but I still didn’t say anything.

  The last thing I wanted to do was lose my best friend, too.

  “Alex, he’s out of his mind over you. When I told him what you said about the rape, he completely lost it.”

  “I have to go,” I said in a voice just above a whisper. I cleared my throat, trying to sound more in control. “My dad needs me. I’ll call you later.”

  I quickly showered, dressed, and had Rueben, Dad’s driver, take me to my old coffee shop, not wanting to be at the house if Grayson did show up, since I hadn’t thought to ask Cooper when exactly he had taken off for the airport.

  I still knew a few of the baristas at the coffee house, but most of the staff was new since employees usually revolved with the school semesters. But this was a comfort zone for me, my old happy place where I could be lost in my thoughts and in the welcoming hug of roasted coffee smell. I sat down at a small table and tried to read a book, but I noticed someone large towering over me.

  “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”

  “May I sit down?” He took the chair across from me, not waiting for my response. “How are you feeling, Alexandra?”

  “I’m tired, Grayson, but what do you care?”

  “Alexandra, I’m not Grayson. I’m Harrison, and I do care,” he explained with an amused smile.

  So that was how Grayson planned to lure me back, by pestering me with everyone he knew. First, Olivia called to probably give me some pathetic excuse about how “it didn’t mean anything, I could tell the whole time we were in bed that he was thinking of you, honest,” and now he dragged his brother into it. Not wanting to give Harrison an inch, I shot him a stern look. “Please tell me why you’re here. Did Grayson send you?”

  “No Alexandra, I don’t speak to my brother, we’re�
�not close anymore. But what about you? What are you doing back in Chicago?”

  “Back? How did you know I used to live in Chicago?” I blinked in confusion.

  “I live in an apartment at the Legacy, just across the street. I used to see you in here, but you were always so busy you never noticed me. Then you moved to Dallas. How have you been since your accident?”

  After stalling for a few seconds by gazing out the window to collect my thoughts, I decided to go for it. I had nothing to lose, and I needed answers from anyone who would be willing to give them to me.

  “Harrison, did you have anything to do with my position at PMC? I need to know. After everything that happened, somebody around here owes me the truth.” I let out the words in a rush, so I wouldn’t chicken out, then waited fearfully for his answer. It took him a while to look me in the face.

  “Yes, I did. It’s time you knew. I was curious about you, seeing you in here all the time, so I asked some questions and found out you’re Alexander’s daughter. I called him, and he filled me on your accomplishments at Northwestern, also my alma mater by the way, and your education platform in Marketing and Business. I could barely get a word in edgewise once he started going on about your grades, your job, all the stuff you did while you were still an undergrad, all of it.”

  I was shocked. My dad and I barely spoke because he was disappointed I hadn’t gone to the schools he wanted for me. Hearing that he was so proud of me was both thrilling and hurtful. Why couldn’t he have told me all those wonderful things, instead of gushing to practical strangers behind my back while giving me the cold shoulder?

  Harrison continued. “After I talked to your dad, I remembered a position I knew of with PMC, so I gave Phillip your information, hoping he would need someone to help him in the marketing department since that was your major. Your dad and I have known each other for a few years from my days practicing law here.” He took a long sip of his coffee, like he was embarrassed at having been caught in his deception.

  He stood to leave. “Alexandra, I’m late for an important web-meeting; otherwise, I would blow it off. I just ran in for some coffee, but it’s really great to see you. Would you want to grab dinner sometime while you’re in town, maybe?”

  Not wanting to let the opportunity get away from me, I answered boldly. “Yes, I would actually. That would be nice.”

  “Well, how’s tonight? If you’re staying at your dad’s, I know the address and I can pick you up around seven. Sound good?”

  “Sure, looking forward to it. I’ll see you soon.” On his way out, he leaned down and kissed my cheek. It would have been surprising and maybe even cheesy from any other guy, but he was as graceful as Grayson with the exact same good looks, only when he smiled, he had a half crooked smile, one that showed a definite devilish streak. It was a good way to tell them apart.

  I spent the rest of the afternoon at the coffee house, trying to relax and just enjoy my book, but my mind kept veering off the page and back to the Brooks brothers. There was a story there that was certain. Why would identical twins hate each other?

  My first guess said it had to be because of a girl. My gut was telling me to distance myself from the Brooks, but neither side of my heart was going to let me. The chemistry was too electric and the intimacy was just too appealing like a drug. I was addicted and needed more. And like any addict, I didn’t want any help to heal. My problem was trust.

  I made my way back home and started getting ready for dinner. I got a text from Harrison that said to dress casual. Weird, I was pretty sure I hadn’t given him my number. Casual dress left a lot of wiggle room for a bad outfit, so I opted for the clothes Cooper had put together for me for our first dinner at Sambuca’s, minus the Manolos I’d left behind in Dallas. My body still wasn’t quite ready for stilettos.

  While I was finishing my hair, Rueben came to the door and announced Mr. Brooks was here. I gingerly walked out, feeling hopeful that maybe tonight I would finally get some answers.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “Hi, Harrison. Thanks for coming all the way out to the country to pick me up!” I joked, trying to squash a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  He just stood there and looked at me, boring into me with those gorgeous blue eyes. I started to worry about my casual outfit, afraid it was all wrong for dinner. Or worse, I started to get panicky that I had forgotten to zip something or that my bra was showing through my top.

  Harrison just kept staring.

  “Um, Harrison? Is something wrong? I can go change,” I offered, turning toward the foyer.

  A hand shot out and grabbed the crook of my elbow to stop me, alarming me with the sudden touch. He finally spoke, his gorgeous eyes darkening with rage.

  “Alexandra, what the hell are you doing expecting Harrison?” he demanded with a snarl.

  The words had only just left his mouth when the real Harrison, the other twin, came to the door. The two of them sized each other up like dogs at a fight. They started arguing while I watched in horror.

  “Stop it. Just stop it, both of you. Get the hell out and don’t come back,” I screamed at them before slamming the door and looking for my phone. “I’m calling the police, so please, just do as I ask and go away.”

  “All right, fine. I’ll go back to Dallas right this minute, but only if you’re willing to go with me,” Grayson called through the door, stabbing my heart all over again.

  “The last place on earth she needs to be is in Dallas or anywhere close to you.” I heard Harrison yell at Grayson.

  “Shut up, Harrison. You don’t know anything about our relationship. Why don’t you go back to your twisted life and leave us alone. And stay the hell away from Alexandra!”

  “911 operator, what’s your emergency?”

  I held the phone close to my ear with both hands while the shouting continued on the porch. “I need a police officer at 19201 South…”

  “Hang up, Alexandra. We’re leaving. Hang up the phone! Hang up before we all get arrested!” Grayson screamed at me through the side panel window.

  I told the operator it was a mistake, and I hung up the phone.

  Where was Dad? He would gladly take care of these two morons. Oh, I’d forgotten, he and Gretchen had gone to the club for a social event.

  I heard shuffling behind me and noticed Rueben hovering a few steps behind me, trying to be of assistance. “Miss Morrison, do you need me to step in here?”

  “Um, thank you, but I think I’ve got this.”

  He exited, giving us privacy again when I turned to shout through the heavy oak door. “I am asking you both to leave!”

  I could see them move away through the frosted panes of the door. Harrison—at least, I thought it was Harrison—returned to his car while Grayson turned and slid an envelope through the brass mail slot. I bent down to reach for it and stood up again to see his open hand pressed against the door pane, waiting for me.

  “Five minutes,” he spoke through the door. “That’s all I ask for, and then I will leave as you requested.” He sounded so lost.

  I even envisioned him shivering out there, which was ridiculous since it was another sticky Chicago evening. I opened the door only wide enough to glare at him, but my resolve melted a tiny bit when I saw his pained expression. I opened the door and gestured for him to come in.

  “Okay fine, I’ll listen. But your time starts now.” I turned my back on him and headed toward the den and made myself comfortable, not even caring to see if he followed.

  He sat on an overstuffed leather sofa at my right and leaned his elbows on his knees to speak to me. “Olivia and I started our relationship three years ago. I was still in the Army. She is the one who introduced me to the social side of medicine, the kind of networking I would need to start and grow a private practice. I finished out my military commitment and moved to Dallas after we got engaged. Right before our wedding, I found out she had cheated on me. She didn’t even bother denying she’d cheated. I called off the wedding, a
nd we went our separate ways. She kept the home we had planned to share, which is why I moved into Uptown. I knew we were finished, and I wasn’t pining away for her, but I was still healing and coming to grips with my ability to trust when I met you. Her unfaithfulness destroyed any hope I had of ever trusting anyone again. Honor and integrity are part of my core being, of who I am.” He paused apparently to see if I was still listening.

  “A couple of months ago, right before you came into my office, Olivia and I were at one the gala’s planning parties. We were enjoying ourselves, drinking too much, one thing led to another, and we ended the night together at her place. Afterwards, we both realized it was a complete mistake.

  “A few weeks later, I met you and my life changed for the better. The morning after you and I made love, you disappeared, and I got a call from Olivia telling me she was pregnant. I spent the rest of that weekend in my apartment, too drunk to care about anything. Turns out, it was just another of Olivia’s deceptions. She’d heard through the grapevine I was interested in a sales rep, but she was thinking another pharmaceutical rep, not someone who works for PMC. When she couldn’t dig out the truth, she made up the whole pregnancy scare to trap me. I’m done with her, and she’s taken a transfer within her company as far from Dallas as she can get and still technically be in the United States.”

  Grayson stopped talking long enough to get up and come sit beside me. He looked like he wanted to pull me into his arms, but thought better of it when he saw the distant expression on my face.