Page 23 of Deserving Cora
“If Lara’s truly the kind of friend you described, she isn’t going to want you to be miserable, even if she is. And we’re going to find her and get to the bottom of what’s going on,” Pipe promised, reaching out and covering her hand with his own.
Cora gave him a sad smile. “I hope so.”
“I know so. You stalked us, so you know what we can do,” he teased.
“I still can’t believe my crazy scheme worked. I mean, it didn’t, but Eleanor actually did me a favor. Maybe I should send her some flowers or something,” Cora said with a small grin.
“The one thing I don’t understand is why you went to all the trouble. I mean, I get that you’re doing it for Lara, but why didn’t you just contact us directly?” Pipe asked. He’d been wondering that for a while now and was glad he had a chance to ask.
Cora shrugged. “I did.”
“What? When?”
“I sent several emails. They all went unanswered. I even called. Left a message, but no one ever got back to me.”
Pipe frowned. Alaska was in charge of the administrative duties for The Refuge, and he honestly couldn’t see her ignoring a cry for help.
“It’s okay,” Cora said, leaning toward him. “I mean, it’s not like you guys are obligated to help every damsel in distress who contacts you. I’m sure you get a lot of requests for help because of your skills.”
Honestly, Pipe had no idea. He’d kept his head down over the last five years and hadn’t even thought about using what he’d learned in the SAS in his civilian life. He wondered if his friends had. They all had special skill sets that could come in handy in certain situations. They definitely had with Alaska and Reese.
“I’ll talk to Alaska,” he told Cora.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head almost frantically. “No! Don’t! I mean, it’s fine. I’m sure she had her reasons for not responding.”
Pipe’s lips pressed together. He couldn’t make that promise. Now that he knew Cora had contacted The Refuge for help, but hadn’t received a response, he wanted to know why.
“Great. Alaska’s gonna hate me now,” she said, staring out the window.
“No, she’s not. She’s very welcoming.”
She didn’t turn back to him.
“Cora?” Pipe asked.
When she finally looked at him, he was appalled to see tears in her eyes. This tough-as-nails woman was sincerely upset by the idea that Alaska might be in trouble, or might dislike Cora for ratting her out.
“I’m fine,” she said, sitting up straighter.
Pipe could practically see her donning a set of armor to protect herself from the outside world. And he hated it. He’d seen her with her guard down and was attracted to that woman. Cora hadn’t had an easy life, and he wanted to do whatever he could to fix that.
She looked out the window again, and Pipe reached for her without thought. He put his fingers under her chin, turning her face toward him. “You want to know what I thought the first time I saw you?” he asked.
Her eyes widened but she didn’t pull out of his loose grip. “No. I don’t think so.”
He ignored her and went on. “I was on that stage, a place I didn’t want to be. I was wearing clothes that made me feel uncomfortable and out of place. I wasn’t anything like the men who’d come before me, strutting all over the stage, playing to the audience. I just wanted the entire thing to be over with. It’s a weird thing…I’d felt as if I was a lad again, waiting to be picked on a football team at primary, and knowing I wouldn’t because I was crap at the sport and everyone knew it. As much as I tried to tell myself I’d be happy if no one bid on me so I could go home, deep down, I would’ve been mortified if I was the only guy tonotget any bids.
“Thenyouwere there. At the front, looking at me, calling out a bid. That first thousand-dollar bid was a relief.”
“Yeah, the short, chunky, anything-but-sophisticated chick in the Walmart dress bid on you. I’m sure you feltsoooorelieved,” she told him with an eye roll.
“That’s not what I saw. Last night, I saw a determined woman who looked beyond the tuxedo, the pomp and circumstance. You were looking atme—Pipe. Not Bryson Clark.”
Pipe was pretty sure he was mucking this up, but from that first glimpse of Cora, he’d felt a jolt of…recognition. That he’d found someone who would understand him.
It made no sense. Most people would say he was being ridiculous. But when she’d been outbid, a feeling of despair had swamped him. It was why he’d gone looking for her in the crowd. She might not have won a date with him, but he’d wanted to talk to her anyway. Wanted to know her name.
“Eleanor was right,” Cora said softly. “I didn’t belong there. If I had won, I would’ve embarrassed you at that fancy restaurant. I didn’t even understand most of what was on that menu you read off. I’m more of a pizza-and-burger kind of girl. My shoes were from Payless. Do you know what that is?”
