Page 25 of Deserving Cora
They made small talk for the rest of the plane ride and when they got on their connecting flight to Santa Fe, they weren’t able to sit together. It gave Pipe a chance to figure out what his next steps should be.
Cora needed to tell her story again, this time to all the guys. They’d need to decide on a plan of action…how to get to Arizona and make contact with hopefully Lara, and if not, this Michaels guy. What happened after that would depend on what they found when they got there…and what intel Tex gave them about Ridge Michaels. For some reason, Pipe had a feeling this wasn’t going to be as easy as knocking on the door, getting Lara, and leaving.
Owl had talked to Stone last night and filled him in on what was happening, who Cora was, and when they’d be back at The Refuge. Pipe was planning on asking Cora if she wanted to stay in his cabin. She’d been comfortable enough sharing a hotel room the night before, and because there were no available cabins anytime soon, he figured she’d jump at the chance to save money on a motel by bunking with him.
Pipe couldn’t help but smile at the idea. He’d thought Spike was crazy for letting Reese stay with him when she’d come to The Refuge, but he understood it now. The thought of being separated from Cora was unsettling…and not just because he had a feeling if left to her own devices, she’d be on her way to Arizona to get Lara back with or without help.
Her loyalty was attractive, there was no doubt, but it also meant she’d set aside her own safety to help her friend. Which wasn’t acceptable for Pipe. Or any ofhisfriends. They wouldn’t allow anyone to get hurt while under their watch.
The plane landed in Santa Fe on time, and they picked up Pipe’s Challenger in long-term parking and were on their way to The Refuge without any delays. Cora was quiet, most likely nervous. She sat in the back seat and let him and Owl talk about nothing in particular as they drove.
In contrast, the closer they got to The Refuge, the more settled Pipe felt. He couldn’t wait for Cora to meet his friends. He had no doubt whatsoever that she’d fit in perfectly.
CHAPTEREIGHT
This was a disaster.
Cora stood in the lobby of the huge main lodge at The Refuge as Pipe had an intense conversation with his friends across the room. Alaska, Henley, and Reese sat at a table off to the side after meeting her, and even though they’d invited her to sit with them, it felt to Cora as if they were merely being polite.
So here she stood. Awkwardly, in the middle of the room, waiting to see what would happen next.
The front door of the lodge opened and a woman walked in, someone Cora didn’t recognize from her research. She had straight black, shoulder-length hair and wore black pants and a T-shirt that saidThe Refuge. She waved at the three women sitting at one of the tables, then frowned when she saw Cora standing by herself.
To Cora’s surprise, she walked toward her.
“Hi. I’m Ryan. I work here. Can I help you with something?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
But Ryan didn’t nod and back off as Cora thought she would.
“What’s happening?” she asked instead, looking from her to the guys, then to the table with the women.
“I came here with Pipe and Owl. They’re talking to their friends about me. About why I’m here.”
Ryan’s brows furrowed. “You came with Pipe and Owl?”
“Yeah,” she said with a nod.
“They were in Washington, DC, at a thing,” she went on.
Cora did her best to hide her amusement. “They were.”
“And you came from DC with them?”
“Yup.”
“Okay, I’m missing something, but whatever. I’m new here and not always included in all the ins and outs of running this place…which is fine. I mean, I don’twantto know. I’m just a maid. Are you hungry? I had a hunch that Robert is making his world-famous chocolate chip cookies. That’s why I’m here, to grab a couple while they’re warm. Come on, we’ll go check it out.” Ryan hooked her arm with Cora’s as if they’d been friends forever, instead of just meeting a minute ago, and started pulling her toward a door on the far end of the lodge.
“Ryan.” The man Cora recognized as “Tiny” called out to them from where he stood, huddled with Pipe and the others.
Cora felt the woman stiffen a moment before she turned, without letting go of her arm. “What?” she called back.
“Where are you going? We need to talk to Cora.”
“Kitchen. Cookies,” she said, gesturing impatiently, and without waiting for a response, turned them both back toward where they were headed in the first place.
“Um, maybe I should stay here if they want to talk to me,” Cora said hesitantly.
