Page 23 of Haunted By Sin

“You made it,” Brook said softly as they came to a stop near the far wall. “I left you a few messages.”

“I thought I would surprise you like you did me,” Graham said with a warm smile. “It means a lot to me for you to be here.”

The messages that Brook had left on his voicemail had also included her intent to visit the prison. Only he had been able to see beneath the surface. She hadn’t expected anything less. One of the reasons that she was drawn to him was his honesty, as well as his patience.

Brook had returned home for him.

It was a constant struggle for her to maintain intimacy, let alone permit others to be in her life in such a…well, normal manner. She didn’t celebrate her own birthday let alone someone else’s milestone. Such a conscious decision was based on many valid reasons, but she was gradually becoming aware that she had allowed Jacob to have the upper hand all these years.

The entrance of Graham’s mother pulled Brook from her private moment of understanding. With a grace unlike any other, Elizabeth Elliott made her way across the restaurant’s foyer while raising both hands to embrace her son. Before too long, the woman turned her attention toward Brook.

“You look absolutely stunning, my dear.” Elizabeth kissed Brook on both cheeks before pulling back and resting both hands over her heart. “How can I ever thank you for such a perfect gift?”

“Gift?”

“Brook wasn’t sure that she would be able to join us this evening, so she left a present for me on the table in the foyer—an abstract painting by an up-and-coming artist who will almost certainly take the art world by storm over the coming years.” Elizabeth’s smile widened as she pressed her hands together once again, the small handle of her evening bag hooked over the crook of her arm. “I will cherish the gift, and you being here means the world to me.”

The hostess caught their attention with a warm smile and an elegant gesture. Graham signaled for his mother to follow the young woman. Brook remained near him as they made their way into the main dining area. The other patrons were engrossed in private conversations while the waitstaff expertly maneuvered throughout the room, serving dishes that were artfully arranged on plates. The enticing aromas reminded Brook that she had neglected to eat all day.

“You continue to surprise me, Brooklyn Sloane.”

The manner in which Graham had made such a statement had Brook grateful that she had made the decision to join him. They spent the next two hours engrossed in stimulating conversation and indulging in menu choices that clearly delighted Elizabeth throughout the evening. The raspberry mousse in honey tuiles was her favorite. By the time they were served coffee, Elizabeth was dabbing the corner of her eyes in sentiment over Graham’s generous donation to George Washington University to provide an art scholarship for those in need.

He had done so to honor both his mother and daughter.

Kelsey’s death and subsequent investigation were the sole reasons why S&E Investigations, Inc. had opened its doors. Brook had been able to give Graham some closure, though no one would ever be able to heal the wounds of losing an only child.

“Thank you both for such a lovely evening,” Elizabeth announced as she gently rested her cloth napkin next to her empty coffee cup. She covered Brook’s hand with her own. “Brooklyn, thank you again for joining us this evening. My son is no longer walking through life without purpose, and it is all due to you. My son’s happiness is the greatest gift by far.”

Elizabeth picked up her evening bag that she had placed to the left of her place setting and tucked the purse underneath her arm. She stood while waving dismissively toward Graham, who had been in the midst of standing to assist in pulling back her chair.

“Nonsense. I’m joining some friends for a few after-dinner drinks,” Elizabeth said as she stood from the table. There was no denying the woman’s elegance. “Seeing as Brooklyn is flying back to Michigan first thing in the morning, I’m sure the two of you could use some alone time.”

It wasn’t long before Elizabeth walked gracefully toward the restaurant’s foyer. The relief that washed over Brook from the sight of two men discreetly placing their napkins on their plates and following the older woman out of the main dining area was immense.

“Not until after he draws his last breath,” Graham said casually as he reached for the stainless steel carafe that the waiter had set on the table. He refilled both their mugs as if they were having a normal conversation, though she had caught the edge of his tone. She also didn’t need him to expand on the identity of said subject. “If I thought you would allow a protection detail, I wouldn’t have hesitated to make such arrangements.”

Brook had known about Elizabeth’s protection detail since the very beginning, but such precautionary measures hadn’t been brought up in recent conversations. Witnessing such a safeguard in person relieved some of Brook’s stress.

“I can—”

“Protect yourself, I know.” Graham took a drink of his coffee while maintaining eye contact. The way his brown eyes darkened told her that he was about to change the subject. “When do you fly out tomorrow?”

Brook lifted her own mug to cover her smile, which she had found herself doing more and more lately when she was with him. She had mentioned to Theo last week that she had to stop by Graham’s estate to pick up some of her favorite suits. She hadn’t realized until that very moment just how entwined her life with Graham had become.

Surprisingly, warmth had infused her instead of the usual flood of panic.

“I’ll be here long enough for you to make me chocolate chip pancakes,” Brook replied as she set her mug on the table. She kept one hand wrapped around the heated porcelain, but she slid her right hand into his. “I take it you’re home for the remainder of the week?”

“A few weeks actually.” Graham amended as he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “I have a few meetings lined up at Quantico. We also have that appointment with the accountants at the end of May.”

Graham was her silent partner in S&E Investigations, Inc. He only ever attended financial meetings, while leaving the day-to-day operations to her. He had kept his promise from day one.

“Is there any way that I can convince you to give the team hazard pay?” Brook was only half-kidding. Graham tightened his hold on her hand, prompting her to change the subject. While every single person involved in her life understood the risks, that didn’t mean she was absolved of guilt. “You know who should have hazard pay? The nurses at the prison. It took me hours to convince the warden that Jacob should be kept in isolation. I remember when we were young. He had reactive airway disease. I don’t want to take any chances that his breathing could become so impaired that he would require hospitalization.”

“Has Jacob shown any symptoms?”

“No, but that could change at any moment if the warden doesn’t take my suggestion regarding isolation.”