Chasing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 4) (19 page)

The pleasure in her voice made him never want to leave.

“Yeah.”

He yawned and blinked, trying not to absorb how beautiful she looked in her giant T-shirt, faded denim, and bare feet. She’d pulled her hair up on her head into a lopsided pile. The cloud of curls looked like a billowy hat perched on the side of her head.

“I’m going to make some breakfast and get on the road. You want anything?”

“You’re cooking?”

“I can scramble eggs,” she said with insistent pride and the hint of a smile.

Apparently, they were simply not going to speak of what passed between them the night before. Her emotions got the better of her, and now, she would pretend they hadn’t. Graham had a harder time putting on the act.

“I probably should get going.”

“Oh. Okay.”

He swung his feet to the floor and grabbed his left sneaker.

“How about some coffee? I can at least make you some coffee. I have an espresso machine. Best espresso within at least a hundred feet or so.”

Her humor tugged at the corners of his mouth, and Graham felt a pull in his gut.

“Another time.”

“Okay,” she repeated. “Thanks for staying. I was a mess last night. It was good to have company.”

He ran a hand through his hair and finished tying his right shoe. “Give me a call when you get to Dallas. And keep me posted on your dad.”

“I will.”

Graham snatched up his keys and hurried to open the door. She padded after him, putting her hand on his shoulder. It slipped off as he stepped outside. He wanted to sprint to his car, but turned around instead. Her eyes, tired and slightly swollen, leveled with his.

“Thanks again.”

“It’s nothing. I’ll talk to you later.”

He jogged down the steps and didn’t look back.

O
ther than the
usual crawl out of Round Rock and then again on the other side of Waco, Alexa reached North Dallas in good time. She almost wished for more traffic to consume her mind, so she wouldn’t have to think about Graham.

Before heading to Taryn and Jeff’s, she stopped to get gas and phoned Adam. A knot curled in her stomach as she steeled herself to go through the story again.

“Alexa, darling. Hello. I didn’t expect you to call so early.”

She pulled the phone away from her ear to check the time. It was six forty-five California time. “I know. I wanted to catch you as soon as I could. My mom called me last night, and—” She lingered over what to say next and decided to spit it out. “My dad was shot. He’s fine. He was only shot in the arm, but I’m heading up there. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. Maybe just the week.”

“Oh, my God. Is he in hospital?”

“Yeah. They had to do surgery. My mom left a message overnight that he’s already in recovery. Thank God for trauma surgeons like Kyle.” Alexa paused to catch her breath. “Anyway, I just got to Dallas. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

“Okay. Should you be driving all that way? How far is that?”

“About six hours total from Austin. It’s not too bad. I’m picking up my cousin Taryn in Dallas, and I’ve driven this stretch probably a hundred times. Straight up 35. I’ll be fine.”

“It doesn’t seem like a good idea for you to drive that far by yourself.”

“I’m already half-way there. Maybe in England the distance a big deal, but it’s not here—especially in Texas. I don’t have the energy to argue.”

“Then, maybe you really shouldn’t be driving. And Taryn’s pregnant, isn’t she? The two of you driving—”

“I’ve got to go Adam. I’m on my way to Taryn’s, and we’ll want to get on the road. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”

Alexa didn’t wait for Adam’s affirmation. She tapped the END button on her phone and started the car.

A few minutes later, she rounded the circular drive in front of her cousin’s massive home and saw the front door fly open before she could even get out of the car. She opened the car door, and Taryn launched.

“Hey! We’re ready to go. Jeff insisted on driving.”

“He doesn’t have to do that. Who’s going to stay with Olivia?”

“Her mom came to get her this morning. It’s fine.”

Taryn toddled toward her. At seven months pregnant and only five-foot-two, she was beginning to resemble a walking basketball.

Alexa climbed out of her car, reaching across the front console to get her purse. As soon as she turned around, Taryn sidled next to her and hugged her sideways.

“I’m so glad your dad’s going to be all right! I talked to your mom an hour or so ago. He’s still a little groggy from the surgery, but she said he’s talking and joking.”

“Did you get to talk to my dad?”

“No. He was resting.”

The sound of grinding metal scratched through the air as the iron gate next to their house cranked open. Taryn’s husband, Jeff, eased his SUV out into the drive, pulling forward to leave room behind him.

“Do you have a bag?” Taryn asked Alexa, looking through the car window.

“I have a suitcase in the trunk.”

His tinted window slid down. “Let’s get it in the car, and then you can pull your car into the garage.”

Alexa transferred her luggage to Jeff’s SUV and hopped back in her car, comforted by doing what she was told. Taryn was now in charge, and she could relax.

Jeff guided them through a series of highways until they were on track for Oklahoma City. Alexa stretched her legs across the back seat, propping her against the driver-side door.

“You know what I was thinking of, Taryn? That time you came to visit over the summer. You were maybe seven or eight.”

“I remember that. I was seven. You had to have been twelve. I trailed after you and your friends every day, riding bikes or going to the pool. I think I maybe annoyed you.”

Alexa laughed. “A little, but my mother made me promise to be nice.”

“I thought you were so cool.”

“Thought I was cool? I was the bomb.”

A trickle of Taryn’s laughter rolled into the back seat. Alexa closed her eyes. She could feel the intense heat of the Oklahoma sun on her face and hear the screech of kids laughing as they popped wheelies on their bikes.

“On the weekends, my dad would wake us up really early in the morning to either go fishing or just wandering around the woods. Dad’s always been a country guy. He loves getting outside.”

“He taught me how to bait a hook. Still, I stunk at fishing. All that sitting still and being quiet. My chatter drove him crazy.”

“He loved it. I don’t think he had any illusions about catching any fish with two girls giggling and rocking the boat.”

“Your mom and dad were like a second set of parents to me. I loved those summers in the big city.” Taryn turned toward Jeff in the driver’s seat. “Oklahoma City was the big city to me in those days. They had real malls and more than one movie theater. Big-time stuff.”

“Mom and Dad loved having you visit. They always wanted more than one kid. I think when you came, they could see what it would’ve been like to have a larger family.”

The car fell silent.

Both sisters, Brenda Stevens and Taryn’s mother, Annabelle, had tried for more kids with heartbreaking complications. Alexa’s parents had a lifelong sadness over the children they’d lost—even as they put on happy faces.

“Mine too,” Taryn said after a minute.

Neither one of the younger women had siblings, but they had each other. Now, Taryn was pregnant herself. Seeing her waddling and aglow warmed Alexa’s spirit.

She let her mind wander to the idea of being pregnant. Taking on a family sounded like nothing but stress. Recalling the warmth of her childhood memories, however, tickled a part of her brain she assumed would lie dormant forever.

Taryn’s voice broke into Alexa’s thoughts. “Family is everything.” She twisted in her seat and sent Alexa a sweet, comforting smile.

“Have I told you how excited I am about you and the baby? I’ll have to make a trip up to Dallas just to see your nursery. It sounds like it’s going to be beautiful.”

Taryn and Jeff—though mostly Taryn—hired a muralist to paint a jungle scene on the wall. The sketch featured friendly lions, a fat monkey swinging from a tree, and assorted other creatures.

“It is! We bought our crib the other day and went through the baby shop to pick the registry for the baby shower.”

“Micky just sent the invitations out over the weekend. She also sent an email invite to everyone,” Alexa said.

Taryn’s best friend, Micky, asked Alexa if she could come up early and help set up everything for the shower—mostly to keep Taryn from stepping in and taking over the planning.

“Good. It took me a while to get her all the email addresses she needed for the invitations. And then there’s food and games. I finally talked someone into doing a co-ed baby shower.”

Jeff had his limits, and he interjected in a tone that walked a careful line of diplomacy. “We’ll have to talk about games. I love you, but my friends don’t want to pin the tail on the diaper or whatever people do. We should make it more of a barbecue.”

Alexa snickered. “Micky and I will make sure that happens. And, we’ll make sure Taryn just shows up as the guest of honor.”

A loud huff came from the front passenger seat. “I know. It’s just killing me.”

Since Taryn planned events for a living, Alexa knew that leaving the details to other people would be a struggle for her.

“We’ve got it under control. Jeff, I promise no silly games. Taryn, relax.”

Jeff chuckled. “Good luck. She’s freaking out about the shower, the nursery, everything.”

“I’m a control freak, and you love it, mister.” Taryn smacked him on the leg and then pointed at Alexa. “Let’s talk about what’s going on with you. How are things with Adam? When do I get to meet him?”

“Things are good. I like him. We’re hanging out. It’s good.”

“You like him? Every time I talk to you, he’s done some other incredibly romantic, relationship-y thing. Since you haven’t run the other way, I’m assuming that you more than ‘like’ him.”

Alexa sighed. “I do. It’s a new thing. I’m giving this a chance.”

“The guy from New Year’s is totally history?”

“Yes, but not totally, totally. He’s still my landlord. We’re still working on a benefit for my friends, Toby and Sarah. And, actually,” Alexa paused, clearing her throat. “He called right after I got off the phone with my mom and ended up coming over to check on me.”

“You invited him over?”

“No. He called, and I was upset. So…he just came over.”

Taryn exchanged a glance with Jeff, and Alexa continued. “As a friend. That’s all. He was worried.”

“You’re not interested in him, then?”

“No. Graham is not the best prospect. Adam is… steadier. He’s gentlemanly and kind of traditional about romance and courtship. Sort of.”

“You like that?” Jeff queried. Alexa could see his eyes bounce up to the rearview mirror.

“He’s not
that
traditional. I mean, he’s an artist, and he paints nudes. He’s traditional in that he wants to date, and he’s pursuing me. Who doesn’t want to be wooed?”

Taryn gave Alexa a thumbs up. “I’m glad, and again, I need to meet this guy.”

“We’ll come back up in a few of weeks. Scout’s honor.”

“Good. Just watch out for this Graham situation. If you’re attracted to him, and he’s hanging around, it’s easy to start thinking that the grass is always greener.”

“Trust me, I know he’s not greener.”

Alexa spoke with a confidence that didn’t quite reach her gut. When she forgot that Graham was a player, it was easy to be attracted by his game—handsome, funny, and caring when he wanted to be.

Of course, she couldn’t forget he was a player. It would be all too easy to slip back into her usual mode of avoiding relationships altogether.

“
D
ad
?”

His coloring shocked her, but Carlisle Stevens’ ashen face brightened as Alexa touched his hand. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his forehead, taking comfort in the warmth of his skin.

“Hey, Lexie Lex. Come to join the party?”

“Is that what this is?” Her voice cracked along with her resolve to not cry. A burst of teardrops slid down her face. Her chin tickled as they hovered there. She snagged a tissue from the bedside table and dabbed them before they fell.

“Every day, it’s a party, Lex—especially since you came all this way to see me.”

She stroked her dad’s cheek and perched on the edge of the stool next to bed, clutching her handbag to her stomach with her other hand.

“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble if all you wanted was a visit, you know. You could have just called.”

“Good to know. No bullets next time.” Her chest squeezed. “I don’t want to talk about bullets.”

“Me either.”

“Where’s Mom?”

“She went out to Shakey’s to get some real food.”

Shakey’s had the greasiest, cheesiest burgers in town, always served with a side of crispy, sweet, and salty onion rings in an oil-soaked brown paper bag. Alexa sniffed, almost able to smell the savory joy of fried onions.

“Should you be eating that?”

“Don’t worry. She’s not bringing me any, and I begged. You’d think in my sorry state that she’d be more sympathetic. She said that you hadn’t stopped to eat lunch, so she’s getting it for you. It’s true what they say. Once you have babies, it’s like the husband doesn’t exist.”

“You’re impossible.”

She cradled her father’s rough, thick-fingered hand in hers. He looked terrible and fantastic.

His usually caramel skin had nearly all the gold washed out, but her mother had been right. Spirit and humor shined through his dark chocolate eyes. Alexa tried to avoid looking at the arm bent and strapped to his left side by bandages and a sling.

She wanted to ask him how this could have happened. She wanted every detail to determine what went wrong so it could never happen again, but she didn’t want to hear it. None of it—the horror of gunshots, fear, and blood. She wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“You cold? I can have the nurse turn up the thermostat.” Carlisle’s hoarse grumble made Alexa smile.

“No. I’m not cold. And I wouldn’t want to bother the nurse with that.”

“I thought your mom said you were coming up with Taryn? And she said something about Jeff. I was half out of it.”

“I stopped on the way, and Jeff drove us from Dallas. They thought they’d let me come in and see how you were before we all descended on you.”

“Go get ‘em. I could use more company and a little dose of Taryn. That girl is like blood transfusion.”

Her father’s smile cracked, his mouth slightly whitened along the edges. Twisting around on the stool, Alexa saw a water pitcher and plastic cups in the corner of the room. She patted her father’s hand and got up. “I’ll get them. Do you want some water?”

“Yeah. I’m a pint low, I think—even though they got me all stuck up like pin cushion with this IV.”

“When did the doctor say you could go home?”

“Maybe tomorrow as long as I don’t have a fever. I tell you, girl, I can’t wait. The air in this place chokes you.”

She started to hand her father the cup, but thought better of it and tipped the bendy straw to his gray, parted lips. He raised his head a fraction of an inch and took a few sips, then waved it away. “That’s good. Thank you.”

He dropped his head back to the pillow and let out a sigh, closing his eyes.

To see her strapping, cop father exhausted by the infinitesimal effort brought a fresh pool of tears to the back of her eyes, and she rushed out, telling him she would bring back his niece and nephew-in-law.

The door clicked behind her, and the dam burst. No sobs came, just rivers of tears frustrating her vision.

“Honey, do you need something?”

Alexa blinked with fury and wiped her eyes with her fingertips. A short, broad man pushing a cart stood before her, and the hallway in each direction looked the same. “Which way is the family waiting room?”

The orderly pointed around the nurse’s station at the end of the corridor. “To the right, through the double doors. Go straight, and about half-way down before you get to the elevator, you’ll see it. I can walk with you if you’d like.”

The man’s blue eyes rounded.

“No. I can find it. I’m fine.” She smiled to erase the concern rippling across his face. “Really.”

The waiting room wasn’t nearly as far as the man’s description had made it sound, but Alexa was thankful for the directions, nonetheless. At every turn, another stretch of hallways extended in different directions.

Jeff sat next to Taryn on a vinyl couch, rubbing her back as she stretched her legs in front of her. They looked up as she pushed through the door. “Dad’s awake, and he wants to see you two.”

Alexa traced her mental breadcrumbs back to her father’s room. “Look who I found loitering outside.”

Taryn ambled to her uncle’s bedside. She patted on his chest. “I can’t hug you.”

Carlisle placed his right hand over hers and smiled. “I don’t need hugs. How are you and my grand-niece or nephew?”

“Wonderful. I’m getting big as all outdoors, but it’s the best.”

“That one is taking good care of you then?” Carlisle thrust his chin in Jeff’s direction.

“I try. She doesn’t normally need too much taking care of, but lately, my services are in greater demand. You look good.”

The older man snorted. “I look like I’m dead.”

“Dad!” Alexa barked. Her father laughed. “That’s not funny.”

“Gotta laugh, sweetheart. I’m going to be good as new in a few weeks.”

That’s what her mother had told her. Right now, seeing him helpless in bed, that was hard to imagine, but she hoped. The man was too stubborn to stay down for long—a genetic trait.

“Don’t say things like that when Mom gets back.” Alexa chastised her dad through pursed lips.

“I didn’t mean to get you upset, baby girl.”

“I’m fine.” Alexa sniffled.

“What all did the doctor say?” Taryn pulled a stool over to the bedside. She couldn’t sit, so she leaned. Jeff moved behind her and helped lift her onto the seat, bracing her against his chest.

“Rest. Don’t go too hard. Get scheduled for physical therapy. The damage wasn’t too bad. They had to reattach the muscle. Getting use out of it will take some work.”

His fingers wiggled a little in his sling. The tiny movement eased the tension in Alexa’s neck.

“Is that it? They must have said more than that, Uncle Carlisle?”

“Those are the highlights.” He closed his eyes, heaved a sigh, and then opened them again. “I can’t wait to meet little Carlisle or Carla. I’ve decided that you’re going to name the little bugger after me, if that’s okay.”

Taryn stroked his shoulder above the sling. “I love you, big man, but I can’t make any promises.”

“Right now, we’re trying to fend off my mom’s wanting to name him Edgar after her dad. Even as a middle name…no,” Jeff grumbled.

“She must be excited—getting grandkid number two. One of these days, before I leave this mortal coil, I’d like a grandchild.”

Alexa sighed. “Mom’s not even here, and I’m having to listen to this.”

Carlisle lifted his brow over wide eyes and lowered his chin. “She’s not the only one wondering when you might settle down. She’s just the loudest about it.”

With her father joining in on the act, Alexa might have to skip holidays until menopause took her options off the table. Taryn’s pregnancy had her mother in a lather. Brenda Stevens tried not to push, but her jealousy of her sister Annabelle’s grandma-to-be status vibrated off of her in waves—in person, over email, on the phone. Her mother’s signals could power AT&T.

Her father had no problem amplifying them in Brenda’s absence. “Don’t give me that sourpuss look. You know we only want you to be happy.”

Taryn cleared her throat. “Everybody has their own path. If it’s what Alexa wants, she’ll get it. No doubt about that. How’s your partner?”

Carlisle dropped his eyes to thin blanket covering him to the waist. “Better, from what I hear. He took a shot to the chest. They removed the bullet and fixed him up. He’s in ICU. Once I get the clearance, my sister is going to wheel me up there. She’ll be here tonight.”

Alexa’s eyes widened. “Is something wrong with your legs?”

“No, but I’m not supposed to be up walking around while I’m on all these meds. They’re afraid I’m going to keel over.”

“Oh.”

The conversation felt like a roundhouse to the stomach, and she thought she might fall over herself.

“I’m going to be right as rain, Lex.”

“I know. Everyone keeps saying that.”

Taryn gave Alexa a soft smile. “When is that Shakey’s getting here? I think we could all use a boost of fat and sugar.”

“Not sure that’s a solution to anything.” Alexa wrinkled her nose. If she gave in to eating her stress, she’d have a belly as big as Taryn, without the excuse.

“Nonsense,” her father roared. “A good burger is the solution to everything.”

Alexa forced a laugh and stood to walk over to the sink for a paper towel. A fine layer of sweat shined on father’s brow. Was he feverish? The monitor next to the bed told her no, but he looked clammy.

She lightly wet the towel with cool water and walked to the other side of the bed from Taryn. Her father’s eyes shut when she dabbed at his forehead. He could say he was fine all he wanted, but Alexa knew he needed his family. She couldn’t head home until she knew he’d be okay without her.

* * *

T
he Stevens’ kitchen
was a time capsule from 1987. That’s when Alexa’s mom replaced the golden laminate countertops with beige ones and ripped out the linoleum in favor of ceramic tile.

They had a newish, white refrigerator only because Alexa insisted and bought them one for Christmas almost ten years ago. She wanted to get them a suite of brand new, stainless steel appliances.

Her mother had balked. “All we need is a fridge. And I don’t like the stainless steel ones. You can’t put magnets on the front.”

A cluster of cards, fragments of paper, and random baby photos clung to the refrigerator door. Alexa’s eyes drifted from the prayer reminders and invitations to church potlucks to the yellow floral wallpaper encasing the room. Its velvet-flocked horror was original to the house, dating back to the year after Alexa was born.

She blinked and looked away as if staring too long might transport her back to the time of big-banged poodle hair and acid-washed jeans.

“Charlene got in okay?” Her mother pulled a family size bag of Skittles fun packs from the cabinet and sat down at the oak, butcher block table, tossing over three tiny bags of candy. Alexa tore one open and sorted through it for the red and green ones. Her favorites.

“Yes. Of course, as soon as she got there, they started bickering.”

“Your father and his sister are a pair.”

“She loves him, though, and now, you can come home and get some sleep.”

Her mother shook a few of Alexa’s discarded candies in her palm before popping one in her mouth. “You could have stayed at the hospital.”

“I’m supposed to make sure you put your feet up.”

“Your father spoils me.”

“I know. It’s embarrassing.”

Alexa leaned over and kissed her mother’s hand. The fine bones shifted under ivory skin thinning with age.

Today, Brenda looked older, but even on better days, Alexa noted the progression of time in the hair color going from blonde to gray to golden frost—the platinum shade popular at the local salon. Time always catches up with you.

Alexa’s phone skittered on the table, flashing at her, and she picked it up.

> Hope your dad is okay. Give me a call if you feel like it later. Anytime. Late or whatever.

Her heart lightened.

“Is that your new man?” Her mother grinned.

“Oh. No. Just a friend.”

“The way you smiled, I thought it must be this Adam fella. What friend is it?” Her mother’s crisp green eyes sharpened on her. “Yes. I’m being nosy.”

“It’s not Adam. It’s a guy that I was seeing before Adam came to town. Graham. I mentioned him. He’s with the company that bought the building. He called me last night and came over to check on me. I was a mess.”

“That’s nice of him. …It’s good that you can stay friends.” Her mother chewed as slowly as she spoke.

Alexa knew what it meant when her mother’s words poured out like molasses. “He and I weren’t serious. He’s not the serious type.”

“Adam is serious about you, then?”

Alexa nodded. “He’s been clear about that from the beginning.”

“That was okay with you? I’m a little surprised.”

Her mother shook the bag in her hand and poked through it, apparently absorbed in her selection.

“Me too.”

Brenda looked up. “Have you talked to Adam?”

“This morning, before I left. He texted me. I need to call him back. He’s out of town.”

“So, he
did
check on you?”