“You sure?”
“No.”
He nodded.
Better answer.
Brooke studied him.
“You’re really a retired deputy chief.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Why unfortunately?”
“Means I spent twenty-six years filling out forms.”
She smiled.
First real smile since the parking lot.
Cole noticed.
Did not push it.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you intervene?”
He frowned.
“You told him no.”
Brooke waited.
Cole continued:
“He ignored you.”
“That’s enough.”
The simplicity hit harder than a speech would have.
“You didn't know me.”
“No.”
“You didn’t know whether I was drinking.”
“No.”
“You didn't know what happened before you saw us.”
“I saw the part that mattered for stepping over.”
Brooke looked toward him.
“What part?”
“You moved away.”
“He followed.”
“You told him not to touch you.”
“He touched you.”
Cole shrugged.
“I didn't need your résumé.”
Something in Brooke’s chest loosened.
Then she looked toward the parking lot.
“You really have three hundred bikers coming?”
“Two hundred eighty-seven registered.”
“Three hundred sounds better when you're mad.”
She laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Cole smiled.
He looked less intimidating when he smiled.
Still large.
Just human.
Brooke asked:
“What’s the ride for?”
Cole’s expression changed.
“Children’s oncology unit at Trinity Regional.”
Brooke stared.
“Trinity?”
“Yeah.”
“My meeting was about the Trinity fundraiser.”
Cole blinked.
“With Ben?”
“Yes.”
“What do you do?”
Brooke smiled.
“Now you ask.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
She answered.
“I’m counsel for the hospital foundation.”
Cole’s eyebrows rose.
“You’re Brooke Hayes.”
She frowned.
“You know my name?”
“I know the foundation attorney’s name.”
“You’re the one who fixed the insurance mess for the ride.”
Brooke folded her arms.
“I prefer ‘negotiated a workable solution.’”
“I prefer ‘saved my ass.’”
She laughed again.
“So we were supposed to meet?”
“Next week.”
He looked at her dress.
Then himself.
“Probably in clothes less likely to alarm donors.”
Brooke’s eyes traveled deliberately over his tattooed arms.
“Speak for yourself.”
Cole caught the look.
Something changed.
Small.
Adult.
Not inappropriate.
Not hurried.
An awareness.
Brooke felt it too.
After what had just happened, the difference between being looked at and being reduced by a look felt enormous.
Cole noticed her beauty.
He did not claim access to it.
That mattered.
He looked away first.
“Do you have somebody picking you up?”
“My car is here.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
She considered.
“Not yet.”
“Then don't.”
“No judgment.”
“No rush.”
“Coffee inside.”
“Terrible coffee.”
“Free today.”
Brooke smiled.