Chapter 31

THIRTY-ONE

"Let's talk later?" Kenzie whispered the words as she stepped out of the HQ shower. Really? Let's talk later?

She was an idiot. The man had said he had fallen in love with her and she—

Yeah, an idiot.

When she walked out of the dressing room thirty minutes later, Cole was waiting. Thankfully, he was alone, but he raised a brow at her. "‘Let's talk later'?"

She groaned. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want an apology. I want ... well, not for you to say it if you don't feel the same, but at least acknowledge that we have something between us. If we do. Or if it's just one-sided, then—" He bit off the words and shut his eyes. "And I really need you to say something, so I'll shut up."

She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Cole, you took me by surprise. I almost wasn't sure I even heard you correctly and wasn't sure how to respond."

"I see."

"No, I don't think you do."

"Then help me out here."

"Okay, since you've taken the first brave step and laid your feel ings on the line, I guess I can do no less. The long and short of it is, I've been in love with you for a long time." At his swiftly indrawn breath, she smiled and shrugged. "But you've always seemed out of my reach. Or league or whatever. And then you were crazy about Tracy, then you were my supervisor, and I couldn't give the impression that I was flirting or seeking any kind of special treatment."

He nodded. "I know. I was in the same predicament of being your supervisor and avoiding the appearance of giving you any special treatment. Then I realized my attitude might be encouraging the others to keep you at arm's length and so..." He shrugged. "Well, you know."

"Yeah."

"You know, for a while I thought Logan might have been the one targeting you. I didn't want to think him capable of it, but you and your brothers are so competitive, I have to admit, it crossed my mind."

"Crossed mine too, but don't tell him. He'd be so hurt. And mad."

"I'll take it to the grave."

"Not anytime soon, please."

His eyes softened and dropped to her lips. "No, not anytime soon. I really want to kiss you."

Heat crept into her cheeks. "And I wouldn't protest, but not here."

"Nope, not here."

"Should we head to the hospital to check on Butler?"

He cleared his throat and stepped back. "Good idea."

Once they were in her car and headed down the road, Cole glanced at her. "So, what happened with the whole triathlon thing? You still planning on competing?"

She laughed. "No, I'm afraid that one's on the back burner. All of my training has gone sideways." She shrugged. "It's okay. There's always next year."

"What about if we train together for next year?"

"You'd do that?"

"Sure. Why not? It'll be fun."

She raised a brow. "You hate running."

"I do not. I mean, it's not my favorite thing to do, but hate is such a strong word." He sighed. "Okay, but I'll make the sacrifice to be with you."

"Hm. Well, that's sweet, but I'm still not sure ‘fun' is the right word."

He grinned at her. "Guess we'll find out."

Twenty minutes later, they walked into the hospital and made their way to Butler's room, only to pull up short when they found the door propped open and Oscar Woodruff at his friend's side.

Oscar stood and sighed. "I'll come back later."

"Don't leave on our account," Kenzie said. Oscar hesitated and Kenzie looked at Butler, who was watching them with a frown. "How are you doing?"

"I hear I'm alive, thanks to you." Red crept up into his neck. "I'm also aware I owe you multiple apologies."

"Accepted. Can we let it go and work together in the future?"

He met her gaze and nodded. "Yeah."

"Good." She smiled, then turned to Oscar. "Just to make it clear, I—" She glanced at Cole. "We don't hold you responsible for anything your father did, so there's no need to feel uncomfortable around us."

Relief and gratitude flashed across his face. "Thank you for that. I truly had no idea—" He pressed his lips together and shook his head. "I knew he had his issues. He always has. Always wanted what others had and was bitter about it when he didn't have it. But ... I just ... I don't know. I never saw this coming, that's for sure. He's, uh ... here at the hospital getting evaluated, then he'll be transferred to the jail. I'm just so confused about all of this that I don't even know what to think."

"Do you know the story of our grandparents and their history with the mental hospital?"

Oscar frowned. "Not really. Dad used to mumble about what a raw deal his father got when he was let go as the director, but he never gave me details. I do know that your grandfather took over and was there until the place was closed. Grandpa Stephen married my grandmother, Hettie Smith, when they were older. I think she was like in her early forties when my dad was born, and she died shortly after, making him an only child. As am I."

Kenzie nodded. "I've been reading Cole's grandmother Eliza's journal. Your grandfather, Stephen Woodruff, lost his position to my grandfather, Dr. George King. And then lost the woman he fell in love with—my grandmother Betsy—to my grandfather. Apparently, he never got over that. Then when my father beat your father out of the chief of police position, things really heated up, and your father, influenced by the bitterness of his father, found a way to get the position."

She took a deep breath and wondered if she should stop, but Oscar, although white-faced and tight-jawed, waved for her to continue. "I might as well hear it all."

"So," she said, "when he learned that the SWAT position was between the two of us and I got it, well, it sent him over the edge."

Oscar dropped his head into his hands. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled around his palms. "He's the reason your mother is dead. He hired that guy, Talbot, to mess with the brakes on your dad's car and then wait at the stop sign as backup." Oscar swallowed. "When Talbot was out on bail, he went to collect what Dad owed him for doing all of that, and Dad killed him."

Kenzie exchanged a startled glance with Cole. "He just told you that?"

"Yeah. They let me ride with him to the hospital since he was so agitated, and my presence seemed to calm him. And make him way too chatty. He confessed everything in spite of me trying to shut him up and get him to wait for his lawyer. He's even the one who stole the evidence and set your dad up to take the fall so he could get the job."

Kenzie nodded. "Yeah, I knew about all that. He mentioned it after he grabbed me."

Sorrow and regret creased his features and he shook his head. "I'll turn my resignation in first thing in the morning."

"Wait, what?" Kenzie said. "Why?"

"Dude, no," Butler said at the same time.

"Well, I'd think that's obvious. People will never look at me the same."

"This will pass," Cole said. "You're not responsible for your father's actions."

"Any more than I am," Kenzie said. "My father may not have done what everyone accused him of, but he wasn't exactly a likable boss."

"The Dictator," Oscar said.

"Exactly."

The man rose. "I'll think about it. I need to go see if they'll let me visit with Dad before they take him to a cell. I've already got his lawyer on standby, so we'll see what he has to say." Oscar looked at Butler. "Again, I'm sorry, man."

Butler nodded. "I am too. For you. For your family. For all of it. I'll be in touch."

Oscar left and Kenzie glanced at her phone. "Well, we hate to run, but my grandmother's ninety-seventh birthday celebration is in an hour."

Butler nodded and locked his eyes on hers. "Thank you, King. I can't say it enough." He swallowed, then cleared his throat. "You're a good example of what a real professional is. I was a jerk and definitely not a team player or professional by any stretch. I really am sorry."

"And you're forgiven. I'm glad we can move forward from here."

Once she and Cole were back in her vehicle, she buckled up and laughed. "I kind of obligated you to go with me to my grandmother's party. You game?"

"I'm happy to go with you."

She smiled. "I'm happy about that."

He returned her smile.

"I've got to swing by my house first."

"Sounds good. My car's still there."

After a brief stop at Kenzie's house, Cole followed her directions to the assisted-living home where her grandmother lived. It was a step up from the one Oscar's father had been in and had a private room where families could celebrate their loved ones without having to take them from the facility.

When Kenzie walked into the room followed by Cole, the first person to notice them was Logan. He raised a brow in her direction and she shrugged. He grinned and she groaned. The teasing was coming.

Cole must have caught the look because he turned his gaze on her, then slid an arm around her shoulders and tucked her next to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting it over with."

"What?"

"Your whole family is here. Now we can just make it known we're a couple and move on."

"Oh."

He tensed. "Unless you'd rather not."

She rose on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I'd rather."

He relaxed. "Good."

HE'D RATHER TOO. He'd rather have her alone and in his arms, but that wasn't to be just yet.

Soon. Patience.

Once her family realized they were a couple and congratulated them, the attention focused back on her grandmother.

Kenzie let out a slow breath. "Well, that was painless."

He laughed. "I think I might be insulted."

"No, it's just ... they've mellowed, I guess."

Her brother Kash walked up to them with a beautiful woman on his arm. Kenzie smiled. "Amelia."

The woman kissed Kenzie's cheek, then stepped back and gave Cole the once-over. Approval glinted in her eyes. "I assume this is your plus-one for the dinner party tomorrow."

"He is." Kenzie made the introductions.

"Excellent choice," Amelia said. "Very nice to meet you, Cole."

"And you," he murmured.

"Come on," Kash said to Amelia. "Let's go see if Paul has a plus-one he's bringing to the dinner."

They moved on with a little wave, and Kenzie squeezed Cole's hand. "I want to get my grandmother alone at some point and ask her about the journal and why she's had it all these years."

"Get in the back of the line and be the last one. You'll have more time."

Kenzie followed the advice, only to have her father roll up to her. "Hi."

He cleared his throat. "I ... uh ... suppose I should have said this before now, but I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks, Dad."

"And you've given me something I haven't had in a very long time." He pulled in a breath. "Some peace."

Kenzie hesitated, then leaned over to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. "I'm glad," she whispered.

"Yeah. So don't be a stranger. You know where I live." Then he rolled away, and Cole stepped forward with Kenzie to face her grandmother.

The woman smiled, the creases in her cheeks and forehead and around her kind eyes making her look like an ancient, wise confidante.

Kenzie knelt in front of her and took her hands. "I found the journal, Grandma Betsy."

Her eyes softened. "Have you read it?"

"Some of it. But, honestly, I'd rather hear how you and Grandpa George helped Eliza escape."

"Such a long time ago."

"I know. And Cole wants to hear too."

Grandma Betsy turned her attention to Cole and let out a shaky breath. "You look like her, you know."

"So I've been told."

"She's been gone for such a long time, but I still miss her every day."

"Tell us about her, Gran, tell us about the night you helped her escape and find her way to William. And then we have a story for you."

"Oh, how intriguing."

She leaned forward and squeezed Kenzie's hands while Cole held his breath. "Well, Eliza's father was determined she was going to marry the man he'd picked out for her, Edward Hampton. They were in the real estate business and had loads of money. Eliza really expected him to be an arrogant so-and-so, but that young man was as kind and gentle as they come. The truth was, he had his heart set on someone else too, and they had a little discussion about it. George and I were just on the other side of the horse pasture when Edward and Eliza came walking up to the car. She introduced Edward to George and me, and we wound up being friends for the rest of our lives. Edward did wind up marrying his true love. But anyway, that night, Eliza got in the car and off we went to see William. They were married the next day at the courthouse and lived with his family until they could afford the deposit on an apartment. It wasn't too much longer that their first child was born." She smiled at Cole. "Your uncle Daniel." She spread her thin, wrinkled hands. "And the rest, as they say, is history."

"And my great-grandfather, Eliza's father, just let her go?" Cole asked.

"Cut her off without a penny but had a heart attack and died before he could change his will or be held accountable for his attempt to kill Eliza."

"That's quite the story, Grandma Betsy," Kenzie said.

"It is that for sure. Now, tell me yours."

An hour later, Cole led Kenzie from the building and to his vehicle. At the passenger door, he turned her to face him. "Now?"

She grinned. "Now."

"Thank God." He lowered his lips to hers and pulled her closer, so grateful she was alive and warm in his arms. She wove her fingers into his hair and tugged. And that was that.

No, not just yet. The kiss lingered and the air in his lungs seeped out, his knees went weak, and his stomach turned flips while his heart burned with a love that almost scared him.

He really should let her go.

And he would.

In another minute.

Once he had the feel of her lips memorized so that it would last him until morning. Then he remembered he was driving her home and could kiss her good night. He let her go and stepped back.

She stared up at him, a slightly dazed expression in her eyes. He didn't dare feel smug about that at all, as he was sure he mirrored the look. "Well," he said and cleared his throat.

"Yes. Well."

"That was—"

"If you say nice, I will literally punch you."

He laughed. Then snorted. And laughed again. "How about smoking hot?"

"That works."

"I think we should go now."

"Absolutely."