He poured himself a whiskey, tossed it back, then calledColton.
“Everything okay?” Coltonasked.
“Yeah. Not really.No.”
“Do I need to cut my trip short and comehome?”
“No. Kimberly is pushing Alex away. This isn’t right. Alex deserves toknow.”
“Mominsisted.”
“When do you listen to anyone?” Crockettasked.
“She’sdying.”
“Yeah, that I’m awareof.”
“I want to respect her wishes,” Coltonsaid.
“You know I’m not one to overstep, but if you’d been with us tonight, you would understand. The treatment isn’t working and neither is Kimberly’s charade. Besides, Alex doesn’t have a place to live, she’s having issues at work, and she’s worried sick about your mother, who she thinks is going to make a completerecovery.”
“How will telling her the truth make thingsbetter?”
“It won’t. But I’m going to tell her. Unless you want to fly home tomorrow and do it yourself. Believe me, my head is pounding over thisone.”
After a pregnant pause, Colton spoke. “I trust you. But this is going to killher.”
“I’ll be here for her.” Crockett ended thecall.
Heaving in a breath, he strode down the hall and into his bedroom, tapping on the bathroom door before gently pushing it open. The mug was empty, the jets were blasting, and Alex had finally relaxed against the porcelain, her sweet eyes closed.Thissucks.
When she opened them, her serene expression tore through him. He was about to shatter her world. And he wouldn’t blame her if she hated him forit.
“I feel better,” she said. “Do you want me to re-heat the water so you cansoak?”
“I’m good,” he said, holding up a towel. He hated being the badguy.
She rose and stepped out. He wrapped her and before he could check himself, he huggedher.
Pain slashed his heart open. In some ways he was reliving the loss of Sophia. The disbelief. The immeasurable heartache. The loss of control. The overwhelming helplessness. But tonight wasn’t about him or his damnedfeelings.
He found her a pair of his sweat pants with a drawstring. Even so, the pants hung low—too low—on her womanly hips. This exercise of dressing her was proving to be more of a challenge than he’d realized. Her moment of serenity both comforted and aroused him. Maybe he should throw her on his bed and fuck her until morning. Mind his own damned business and let Colton tell her.No, it’s got to bedone.
“I’m sleepy.” She slipped his large sweatshirt over herhead.
She’s adorable.“So amI.”
She plodded out of his bedroom. He didn’t want to follow her. But he had to. She crashed on his sofa and pulled up the blanket. As he eased onto the far end of the sofa, he lifted her feet, and placed them on hislap.
“Do you want to watch TV?” sheasked.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why the hell couldn’t her family have been honest with her?“I talked to Coltontonight.”
She struggled to keep her eyes open. “Uh-huh.”
“I told him I was going to tell you thetruth.”
Her eyes flew open and she jerked her feet off his lap. “About what? What have you been lying to me about?” She lurched forward, her back ramrodstraight.
