The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  Drew shot me a look that could have had a hint of suspicion. I’m sure he had to wonder how many of the Brooks’ boys I knew. “He said something about living across the street from the coffee house where you worked?” He looked as confused as I felt.

  What coffee house? From my college days?

  “It turns out he and Grayson used to be really close, but now they don’t have a relationship at all. I just can’t seem to find out why. Back when Harrison was part of PMC, Grayson must have known that, which would explain why he refused to see me or Phillip or talk to any of the reps about our products. He was always such a mystery. Phillip kept close tabs on Grayson and insisted you continue to work on him, which I think is partly because Harrison is on the board again and pretty much funding the company to some extent right now. I realize how this all looks at the moment, Alex, and you probably feel like you have been played, but I promise you, I had no idea about any of this. You have to believe me. I didn’t know Grayson even had a brother until after your accident, or I would have never put you in the middle of this, I mean that!”

  I needed time to process all of this. I just wanted to be alone, and I think the guys could sense I was on the verge of coming apart.

  “Al, as soon as they give us the word on the results of the scan of your hard head, I’m taking Drew to the hotel. I’ll bring your things when I come back. Here’s your iPhone and charger. Just so you know, that doctor of yours is texting you about every three minutes… Oh wait, make that two and a half minutes. You really do need to see him and either clear the air or send him packing. But whatever you do, don’t leave him hanging.”

  “I’m just thoroughly confused right now, guys. That’s all. I can’t deal with him right now. My head is so fuzzy I can’t think straight, but I do know I’m pissed that I’m playing the victim to his surprises. Unless, I suppose, he didn’t know Harrison was in town or part of PMC again. Whatever. I just want to sleep,” I mumbled, letting my tirade fall off at the end.

  The guys left, and I was alone with my half-conscious thoughts, but the meds took over and I drifted off to sleep for what seemed like hours.

  When I woke up, my head was throbbing. Right in front of me was a beautiful vase arranged with roses in various fall colors of orange, cream, tangerine, plus lilies and my favorite little chartreuse button mums. The card simply read, “Please give me a call on my cell. If I hear it ring, I’ll answer it.”

  Ah, so sweet. That was what I’d said to Grayson when I left his office the first time, and he’d turned me down for using our products. What should I do? I couldn’t leave him hanging. Picking up the phone, I dialed the number I already knew by heart, concussion or not.

  “Grayson? It’s me,” I managed to breathe. “Someone snuck in during the night and left some beautiful flowers. If only I knew who it was, I would really like to thank him.”

  “I need to see you.” His voice was almost a whisper. “Can I see you?”

  “Yes, I will…” But before I could finish saying I would see him in the morning, he was pushing open the wide door to my hospital room. Had he been waiting outside the door this whole time?

  I began to shudder and shake a bit, from nerves or possibly the medication. Grayson rushed to me. He held me while trying to figure out if I was starting a panic attack or was just plain old-fashioned upset. I wasn’t even sure myself. He took deep breaths close to my neck and in my hair, drinking me in. He felt so good wrapped around me, cradling me so gently, caressing me, but holding me tightly enough he made me realize I needed him to touch me, to hold me.

  “Were you outside my door this whole time?”

  “I told you I wasn’t leaving. You can’t run me off that easy; although, the nursing team has threatened violence against me.” Chuckling quietly, he tried to lighten the mood a bit. He pulled back slightly, running his finger along the edge of my cheek, down my jaw, and over my lips. He leaned in and surprised me with a soft, sweet kiss, just letting his warm lips barely hover over mine for the longest time, just his lips, my lips, and this chemistry of our breaths flowing through both of us. I could feel the heat of his breath on mine and hear the beat of his heart, racing with me.

  “We have lots to talk about, but you have to rest. Your blood pressure is spiking, which is very, very serious. So, I will sleep in the chair outside if that’s what you want, but I refuse to leave you alone, and I will be here for you. Tomorrow, when you’re doing better, I’ll tell you everything, anything you want to know. You can ask me about Harrison and my family. Heck, you can ask me about the fiasco of my first kiss. Anything. Just sleep now, angel, just close your eyes and sleep.”

  I could feel my eyelids getting heavy, and I tried to fight the sleep, but I couldn’t.

  I awoke after what seemed like hours to a commotion in my room. The neurology team was here to take me for the repeat CT scan, but my blood pressure was still too high. There were so many people in my room barking orders at each other.

  Grayson, where was Grayson? I needed him here.

  Cooper stood in the corner looking scared to death. My was in extreme pain and I wanted to ask someone to help me,, but I couldn’t make the words come out. I was so frightened.

  “Gr…ay…son. I wannttt Grayson,” I stuttered weakly. Oh no, stuttering. Was I having a stroke?

  “Ms. Morrison, please calm down. Dr. Brooks is on his way. He just went over to his office to get some charts, and he’ll be right back.” I could hear Sam talking to me, but then she hissed to someone else I couldn’t see, “Someone page Dr. Brooks, now!”

  “Alex, you have to take some deep breaths and relax. You have to.” Cooper looked panicked, scared beyond belief that he wasn’t able to make this better.

  Dr. Kirk abruptly spoke to Cooper, “Do you know any of her medical history? We need some answers quickly.”

  “I don’t know! Ask me something, and I’ll try to answer.”

  “Mr. Roberts, do you know if she or anyone in her family has suffered a stroke?”

  “Yeah, her dad, Alexander Morrison, but that was before she was even born.” The look on Cooper’s face said it all. Cooper was beginning to put two and two together.

  They thought I was having a stroke. Oh, no.

  “Someone alert the surgery team on call. Here’s the order for medications and let Radiology know we are on our way. If Dr. Brooks calls, ask him to meet us in CT. There’s no time to wait for a comparison. We have to move her now. And somebody please get the number for next of kin from this guy.”

  I could see lights flashing above me, and once again, I was on a moving bed, but I couldn’t get my words out. There were so many people buzzing around me in the distance, and lots of machines making noise. Suddenly, I could hear a voice from far off down an echoing hallway that sounded like Grayson.

  He leaned his face over mine, so I could see him, and said, “I’m here Alexandra, I’m right here. I just went to my office to get some music for you.” Turning away to speak to someone in the room, he asked, “Will you please put on the playlist titled Red? It’s her favorites. And let’s get some quiet in here. Dim the lights, please.

  “Alexandra, you can do this sweetheart. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.” He was worried. His eyes showed me his fear; something he couldn’t hide in his facial expression.

  Whatever medication they had given me made me doze off, and when I woke up, I was in my room again. It was really calm and dark, with quiet music playing.

  Cooper sat in a chair in the corner looking for all the world like he was praying. I had to be dying if my best friend was actually praying. Then there was Grayson, sitting in a chair closest to the door with his feet propped on the edge of the bed, reading on his iPad. I could tell it was morning, but I just couldn’t be sure of how many days had passed.

  Trying to find my words and scared beyond belief that I might not be able to talk, I spoke in a whisper. “Good morning, Grayson.” Oh, thank you Lord, my words were not stuttered or slurred, I spoke normally.


  Grayson jumped to his feet and leaned down to check me over like I was his patient. Then he gave me a sweet kiss on the corner of my lips before sitting on the edge of the bed, where I could see him.

  “Hey you!” he practically yelled, squeezing my hand tightly and holding it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “You gave us quite a scare last night. We thought we were losing you for sure.”

  “Grayson, what happened? Did I…did I have a stroke?” Tears flooded my eyes, fear and emotion drowning me.

  For what seemed like hours, Grayson couldn’t answer me, probably for fear I would freak out and make matters worse.

  “Shh, honey, please stay calm. Yes, you did have a slight stroke, but they were able to give you meds to dissolve it quickly. We won’t know if there were any side effects until you are able to move around, but your speech sounds excellent. A 100% improvement over last night.” I could tell he was fighting back tears. He kept blinking his eyes and finally wiped at the corner when he turned away.

  I didn’t want his pity tears. I didn’t want any part of sympathy from anyone, least of all him. “Please leave. Please leave me alone, Grayson. I need some time to myself,” I said, trying to muffle my sobs. I looked away so he couldn’t see.

  “Alexandra, I’m not going to say this again. I am not leaving you. I don’t want to argue with you this morning, but let’s get something straight,” he insisted, as if he was reading my mind. “I don’t pity you. This is not National Feel Bad for Alexandra Day! I am not walking out, let alone running away. So, get over yourself.” His tone was sharp, but his hands were soft and tender on my skin.

  The whole time he chewed me out he was actually doing squeeze tests on my hands and checking my range of motion with my arms. Everything seemed to be good with my left arm, just not my right.

  “There is something else you should know, Alexandra. Your dad and Gretchen will be here soon. We had to call them because of next-of-kin rules. I spoke with your dad last night on the phone. I just wanted you to know, so that we can work through this calmly and keep your pressure down. That was actually Cooper’s advice,” he said with a light laugh. His voice seemed shaky, like he was scared to tell me about my dad and step-mom, uncertain of how I would react.

  I looked over to Cooper, and for the first time, I saw that the handsome, carefree guy was now wearing a mask of hurt. “Cooper, please go home and get some rest. I need you to be ready to take on my parents. Can you make hotel arrangements for them?” I didn’t want them staying at our apartment, and I would get up out of the bed and kill someone if they tried to stay in my hospital room.

  “Al, stop worrying about it. I have it under control. They brought the corporate jet and got here a few hours ago. We have it all straightened out. You’ll see them in a little bit. They have already been here to see you, but you were asleep, and your dad didn’t want us to disturb you. They insisted I call them every thirty minutes, all night long,” Cooper said very sweetly, trying to reassure me everything was under control.

  “Dr. Kirk is coming soon, and he said we could get you up and test out your legs,” Grayson added with hope in his voice. “But you have to remember these things take time. Your brain just endured a traumatic event, so be patient and don’t push your body beyond what you have already been through.” His voice, usually so businesslike and confident, was gentle, almost a whisper. His eyes were searching deep into mine, like he was grabbing at part of my soul.

  “Grayson, I thought I was clear about what I said. I want you to leave. I don’t see a reason for you to be here. Please, just go.” I turned my face to the bars of the hospital bed. I didn’t want him to see the pain I could feel written in my expressions. When I looked over again, he gave me a bewildered look, as if I had kicked the breath out of him, his face so puzzled at my words. I knew he wanted to be here to take care of me, but that was the problem. I didn’t want anyone feeling like they needed to take care of me.

  He leaned in and placed a sweet, soft kiss on my cheek. He took a moment to rub my hand, then walked toward the door. But when he turned to look at me, his eyes were red and misty; his face was full of sadness. I instantly knew I had hurt him.

  “Alex,” Cooper scolded kindly, “what the hell do you think you’re doing sending him away? Because I know exactly what you’re doing. You’re scared your legs aren’t going to work, and you don’t want him to see it. You don’t want to see his guilt. It’s so obvious he’s crazy about you. He hasn’t left this hospital since you fell. If you have any kind of feelings for him, which I know you do, you have to let him in.”

  “Coop, I’m not afraid. I’m angry! He kept deep secrets from me. Why didn’t he trust me to be honest from the beginning? This has affected my career and my health. I believe, whether you do or not, that he’s just reacting out of guilt! This is my life, and I will live it as I see fit!”

  I spent a good bit of time staring out the window, trying really hard not to think about everything that was falling apart around me. It was completely ironic that the whole time I was working my rear end off to pay for school and maintain my grades and pay my share of the rent every month, I used to think about how life was going to be so much easier after I graduated and got a real job.

  Now, Northwestern seemed like kids’ stuff. How could life have possibly been so much simpler then? Between studying and working at the coffee house, I never had time or money to do anything, but now I wished I could go back to Chicago, but mostly I wished I’d never met Grayson Brooks.

  Dr. Kirk and his team came in to do a full evaluation of the damage from the stroke. “Alexandra, your stroke was mild compared to what it could have been, and we were able to treat it with medicine to dissolve it. You have slight weakness in your right arm and moderate weakness in your right leg and foot, which should be temporary. Once the clot from the stroke is completely dissolved, and the extra swelling relieved, you should start to get back to normal. Well, maybe a new normal? I know this isn’t the news you wanted to hear, but it’s temporary, I promise.”

  My brain couldn’t hold back, and I finally gave in to the tears I’d been keeping safely stashed away. I shuddered. Weakness. Was that the new chic name for someone who wouldn’t be able to walk and needed a wheelchair?

  Cooper was leaning over the bed, holding me as I cried into his shoulder hysterically. He began to cry, too, mostly because I was coming unglued and he hated to see me hurting.

  “Alexandra,” Dr. Kirk interrupted, “I have to point out this is much milder than it could’ve been, and I truly believe it will be temporary. But how far you go from this will depend entirely on you and how much you work in physical therapy. Unfortunately, we have to wait a few more days to start your therapy, but I’ll bet you money you’ll be dancing before the holidays. I’ll give you a minute, but I’ll come back to see if you have any questions.” Dr. Kirk was writing orders in my chart, and when he and his team moved to leave the room, I could see through the open door another man standing uselessly in the hallway.

  Daddy… He entered my room.

  “Oh, Dad. I am so glad you’re here! I don’t know how to make these decisions, and I need help.” I reached out, welcoming my dad’s hug. It felt good to be held in his arms. I missed this. I was certain he wasn’t expecting that greeting from me, since making decisions was something I had been doing for myself since Mom had passed away.

  He held me close and rubbed my back to soothe the tears that were still running down my face. He meant it to be comforting, but it only made me cry harder. How many times had that been his solution to all of my emotional problems

  He finally spoke. “Alexandra, I’m here for whatever you need and will line up the best team for you. Gretchen and I want to do whatever you want, if that means getting a place to be here close to you or bringing you home with us. Whatever you decide to do, we will do it. But you’ve got to be in the driver’s seat on this if you want to get better.”

  It was difficult to see my dad as the caretaker.
I was not used to that, since he’d hired private nurses to take care of my mom at home. He just wasn’t the nurturing type. By nature, he had always been the business mogul, not the stay-home-parenting type. But holding me here, his touch was tender and his concern showed, even in his shaking voice. The last thing I wanted to do was push him away, just to prove how independent I was.

  “I think I’ll stay in Dallas and do my physical therapy here. Can you help me find a private nurse to stay and help me, so Cooper isn’t tied down, Dad?”

  “Alex, don’t be silly. I can help you,” Cooper protested, but I wasn’t about to let him give up everything he was working on to play nursemaid to me.

  “No, Coop, you can’t, and I won’t let you. Don’t argue or I will go back to Chicago with my parents.” I didn’t want to sound petty or mean or like I was making vicious threats, but Dr. Kirk and my dad were right. If I didn’t take charge and I let everyone else make these decisions, I was never going to get well.

  I spent the next few days in the hospital on medication to help the clot dissolve, having more tests done at crazy hours of the day and night, and getting used to needing assistance to get around. This was definitely not a lifestyle I wanted, so I knew I had to work on getting my life back to normal.

  Dad and Gretchen stayed for a couple of days, busying themselves to make our apartment wheelchair friendly, hiring a nursing team, and arranging for wheelchair accessible transportation. Dad and I had never been close, so to see this tender, caring side was so unlike the father I knew, and it made me overly emotional about almost everything. It took nothing to reduce me to tears, a fact that embarrassed me the time a nurse came in my room and found me sobbing over a cleaning supply commercial.

  This wasn’t like me. I was not one to throw myself a pity party, and I certainly didn’t wallow in my bed while the people around me took care of me.

  Could it be that I was feeling guilty over how I handled Grayson and part of me was missing him terribly? How could I even miss someone who didn’t trust me enough to let me know who he really was or how his family was connected to my employer? I became angry and unhappy all over again thinking about the very real possibility that I only got this position with PMC because of the Brooks boys and the strings they’d pulled. Puppet strings, that was. I needed answers, and thinking about everything wasn’t just painful, it was tormenting.