Page 30 of Deserving Cora
“Okay. We’d like a word with you, if that’s all right.”
Cora wasn’t sure why itwouldn’tbe all right. The whole reason she was here was to try to convince these men that she wasn’t losing her mind, that Lara really was in danger. She nodded and stood.
“Be nice,” Alaska told Pipe.
“We like her,” Reese added.
“And we want to help if we can,” Henley said.
“Yeah, if there’s anything we can do, let us know,” Ryan agreed.
Pipe’s lips twitched. “She’s been here for like fifteen minutes and you guys are already claiming her?”
Alaska grinned. “Yup. And her friend too.”
“Right. Cora, you ready?” Pipe said.
She couldn’t read what he was thinking. Didn’t know if he was upset that the other women had offered their help and seemed to like her so quickly. It was confusing to Cora too. This kind of thing didn’t happen to her. She had a hard time making friends, so she was just as baffled as to why these women were so willing to help her and Lara…people they didn’t even know.
She nodded but before joining Pipe, she walked over to where Robert was standing by the sink, putting dishes into the industrial-sized dishwasher. “Thank you,” she said softly. “For the cookies, and for…well…for sticking up for Pipe.”
“No matter how tough the packaging, everyone needs propping up now and then,” he replied in a low rumble. “Now get. Go figure out how to rescue your friend. Does she like chocolate chip cookies?”
Cora nodded. “Yeah. But you know what her favorite thing ever is?”
“What?”
She somehow suspected even if she named the most difficult dish ever, if he had a chance to meet Lara, this man would find a way to master it. So she grinned widely as she said, “Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes. I buy boxes and boxes for her for Christmas every year, for her to freeze, and she always runs out by June anyway.”
Robert shared her smile. “A woman after my own heart. When you bring her back here, I’ll make sure she has a box waiting.”
“Thanks,” Cora whispered. Then she surprised herself by going up on her tiptoes and kissing Robert’s beard-covered cheek. She squeezed his arm, took a deep breath, and finally walked toward Pipe, who hadn’t moved from the doorway.
When she neared, he reached for her elbow. The second the kitchen door closed behind them, he asked, “What was that about? Are you really okay?”
Again, his concern for her felt good. Even the scowl on his face didn’t scare her. “Yeah. Robert’s cookies are to die for. You guys should putthaton the website.”
Pipe’s lips twitched. “Can’t have all our secrets on the web for stalkers like you to find.”
She returned his smile. Then it faded. “Are they going to help?”
“They want more intel.”
His answer made Cora stiffen. She knew she’d gotten lucky just with Pipe agreeing to talk to his friends, with him bringing her here to The Refuge. She’d held out hope that maybe he’d be able to convince his friends to help her too. But that hope was already waning.
“They didn’t say no, they’re just concerned. As am I,” Pipe said as he stared at her.
Briefly, Cora wanted to give in to despair, but she steeled her nerves instead. If they weren’t willing to help, she’d go to Arizona from here. Figure out a way to see Lara when Ridge wasn’t around. Get her away from him. Even if she had to flee with Lara to Mexico, she would.
Her mind spun with possibilities. Lara could be brainwashed by now. Maybe she wouldn’twantto leave. Cora might have to convince her, maybe even stoop to Ridge’s level and kidnap her friend.
“Breathe, Cora,” Pipe ordered.
She looked up at him in surprise. She’d been so lost in making alternate plans in her head that she’d actually forgotten where she was for a moment.
“When they hear what’s going on from your own mouth, they’ll agree.”
“And if they don’t?” she couldn’t help but ask.
