Dune Road by Dani-Lyn Alexander Page A

distance was followed by further gunfire.
    Cole stole a glance at the doorway, seeing Andy and Charlie guarding the door. Andy nodded, his signal that the threat was taken care of. “It’s almost over, Ashleigh. The police are on their way. We’ll get you home soon.” He rubbed circles on her back, hoping to ease her fears, but her trembling body was inconsolable. He put his arm around her, waiting for the police to enter the house. “Come on, Ashleigh.” He held her hands and helped her stand. “It’s over.”
    She pushed him away and with a wobble to her walk, moved uncertainly from behind the bar. “I’m going home.”
    “The police will need to talk to me first, but I promise to take you home as soon as they’ve finished.”
    “I don’t want you to take me home.” She turned away from him and stormed out the door.
    The police questioned Ashleigh for a few minutes before walking her to a squad car, which drove her home. She never once looked toward Cole. It crushed him to watch her leave without him, but he could have gotten her killed tonight. It was better to let her go.
    He turned to the police officer who’d been questioning him. Cole was in for a long night. First with the police, then he would have to call his father, and he desperately needed to get to the hospital to see Bob. An officer had been kind enough to call the hospital for an update on Bob’s condition. The bullet grazed his leg and he was doing okay. Cole wouldn’t rest until he saw for himself that Bob was out of danger.
    “Cole.” His father stood in the doorway. “Are you all right?” He pulled Cole into a tight embrace.
    “I’m fine, Dad. What are you doing here?”
    “After you called to tell me about Sara, I had them fire up our jet and came right away. I had a feeling trouble was on its way.”
    “Have you heard anything about Bob?”
    “His prognosis is good. We’ll go to the hospital as soon as they let you leave here.”
    “A detective was about to update me on the shooter.”
    Cole and his father listened as the detective informed them that Cole’s bodyguards had injured the shooter when he’d tried to flee the scene. He was currently in surgery, and the doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it.
    As the detective continued his ramblings, Cole’s thoughts drifted. Would Ashleigh ever forgive him?

Chapter Ten
    More than an hour had passed since the incident at the Bronson’s house, but she was still shaking. She sat at the kitchen table as her mother, who had woken when the police vehicle dropped Ashleigh off, made herbal tea and pancakes. Her mother always cooked when she was nervous.
    Ashleigh wasn’t the least bit hungry. Her stomach churned with nausea. She was glad she’d agreed to let Savannah stay with Lindsay. If the police showed up with more questions, which they told her they might, she didn’t want her daughter to be caught in the middle of this mess.
    “Well.” Her mother put the plates on the table. Pancakes, Ashleigh’s favorite. “I still think you should give Cole the opportunity to explain.”
    Ashleigh chimed in to disagree. “He lied to me. I think you are being way too forgiving.”
    “Did he lie? It seems to me as if you made your own assumptions and he didn’t correct you. How can you know his reasons for doing so if you don’t offer him the chance to explain? I’ve checked his family’s background and they are very wealthy. I would imagine a man like that would have to be careful of gold diggers, perhaps he was just being careful. I’m not suggesting you forgive him, just listen to him.”
    Ashleigh didn’t respond. She was too stunned by her mother’s proposal of allowing Cole the chance to explain, but even more confused by her statement of checking up on Cole’s family.
    Her mother seemed to guess Ashleigh’s bewildered thoughts. “You’re always telling me I should use that internet thingy more, and a mother has to be certain her daughter is working for good