Chapter 21 Noah
Chapter Twenty-One
NOAH
I have no idea why Bex and Sue had shown Everly that report and those pictures.
The last thing she needed was to be traumatized more by that sicko.
Actually, I do know why. Because the stubborn woman had insisted on being shown what she had missed out on.
She wanted to see what she was being protected against. More importantly, she said, she wanted to be able to tell Skylar honestly that it was necessary.
“I was honest with Skylar.” I was determined not to raise my voice. “I would not lie to her. Are you saying she doesn’t trust me?”
Everly looked in the direction of the stairs.
She didn’t want Skylar to know we were arguing.
Well, too bad. If I had my way, Skylar would witness the odd disagreement.
She’d also witness some of what she would deem inappropriate kissing between her parents.
If we were going to be together, which I still needed to convince her was a good thing, Skylar would see us as a couple.
A normal couple who loved each other. A couple who had ideas and opinions of their own.
She needed to see and know that love did not mean one hundred percent agreement.
If I could give her anything, I wanted to give her that.
I pierced a piece of mushroom on my plate with a fork.
And raised a brow waiting for her to answer.
Between us looking through different listings and sharing schedules so the two most important people in my life were always protected, we only had a chance to talk about the report and pictures she’d seen at the breakfast table on Monday morning.
She’d sent Skylar up to her room to finish getting ready after she dropped that bomb on us. My daughter asked her how sure she was that they needed protection. And Everly calmly told her that she’d seen the pictures of the house and the various reports, and she agreed with me and my conclusion
“She doesn’t know you, yet.” Everly took my hand and warmth spread through me, settling in my chest. “And while I want to speed that up, the fastest way to get her to trust you is to know you and I are on the same page. She needs to know that I trust you without question or hesitation.”
“And do you?”
“Absolutely, Noah.” Her eyes softened and warmth around my chest intensified. “She’ll get there. I promise. She adores you. But I have been her only parent for so long, she’s going to look to me first.”
I nodded knowing that she was right. “So, Jared is taking Sky to school and I’m going with you to the recording studio after we see the three houses that the realtor wants to show us. I’ll go back to the office once you’re safely deposited back in your room upstairs later today.”
Except for Friday when I shared her room, I had been in the bedroom closest to the stairs. Everly and Skylar shared the one next door.
I was more than grateful she hadn’t been in the same room as me the night before.
It wasn’t like I wasn’t expecting the nightmare, but it wasn’t something I was ready for them to witness.
Waking up in the middle of the night with sweat-soaked sheets and sore muscles was not anyone’s idea of fun.
And when there was a risk you could hurt someone you cared about, it made you question whether or not you should have someone in your bed permanently.
And that was why I still needed more therapy.
Wanting Everly in my bed for more than sex was my motivator.
Once we let Skylar know that there was more between us, I intended to make sure she was in my bed.
Of course, that was all based on what Everly wanted.
She could still decide that one more night was enough for her.
A commotion coming from the reception area had me swallowing my coffee in one gulp as I made my way to meet Jared and his brother in the foyer of the B&B. Julie, the new receptionist, was already at the desk. She had the desk phone in her hand when she spotted me.
“There you are.” She smiled darting her eyes between Jared and his brother and me. “Brie mentioned what happened on Friday. And I assumed there would be security stuff involved but I wasn’t sure what to do when Jared said he was taking Skylar to school.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the timid woman, who I believed had also been through a rough time over the last few months. “You did the right thing waiting for me, Julie. Thank you.”
Just then Everly appeared in the doorway. “Jules?? I didn’t know you were working here.”
“Yeah, Mrs. Salinger offered me a job when my dad brought me here.”
Oh, there was definitely a story there. There were only two reasons anyone got brought to Hope’s Haven and B&B. Either she needed to recover from something traumatic. Or she was under the protection of the Salingers.
Everly looked up at me. “Julie is Brie’s sister. She and her… kids are staying in town.”
So, she was family too. My guess was that she went through something and the Salingers were protecting her.
If that was the case, I would look out for her as well.
I didn’t need to know the details. Those were not important to keep her safe.
Though, if they became relevant or she was in danger, I had no doubt someone would tell me.
A squeak above me got my attention. Skylar stood halfway down the stairs frozen, with one foot raised. Her eyes were wide as she darted her eyes between everyone in the lobby. Before I could ask what was wrong. She turned around and growled, then ran back up the stairs.
I turned to Everly, hoping she had a clue what was going on. She let out a long-suffering sigh. “I’ll go get her.”
She darted up the stairs while Jared and I exchanged plans for the day.
Unlike me, he actually was considered family to the Salingers since his son, Cooper, was also the son of the late Debbie Salinger.
He and Trey were the only other single men at the company, and like me he had a child to consider.
Well in his case, two children, if you considered that his brother would be with him for the next little while.
It wasn’t long before Skylar and Everly were making their way back down the stairs with Skylar wearing different clothes than what she had on a few minutes earlier.
She smiled as she greeted Aidan. He in turn smiled and gave her that half wave thing.
I had to be seeing things. Surely my eyes were deceiving me and what was happening in front of me was merely a hallucination.
Within minutes they were off. Everly had packed a lunch for both kids. Jared opened the back door but Aidan had pointed out that Skylar could take shotgun. I hoped that had more to do with his surly attitude and not wanting to be too close to his brother.
Of course, Everly had to dash that hope.
“It's so cute.” She smiled and squeaked as Jared’s car drove away. “She has her first crush.”
I looked down at her, frowning. “How is that cute? We don’t know that boy. He could be dangerous. He could only want one thing. She needs to be careful.”
“Oh, God.” She let out one of her long exhales.
“Do you have to be so dramatic? He’s a fourteen-year-old boy who’s been through a lot.
His mother’s dead, his father is going to jail.
He’s in a new city living with a brother he hardly knows, and today he needs to start at a new school and kids his age are not exactly welcoming of newcomers. ”
“Exactly.” I was glad I didn’t have to explain the problem to her. “That’s a lot for one person. All those things combined could break him. I certainly don’t want Skylar in his orbit for the fall out.”
She shook her head as she walked upstairs. I did not follow. Midway up, she stopped and glared at me. Understanding that glare as the threat that it was, I followed behind her as she continued her little rant.
“Or, she could be the friend he needs. Just because you thought with your dick as a teenager, doesn’t mean every teenage boy does.”
I shook my head at her ridiculousness. “No, we all think with our dicks. Many of us don’t outgrow it.
Some of us know better than to actually act on it, but it’s still a pretty universal thing.
Most of us would do anything for the attention of a pretty girl.
” As we reached the top of the stairs, I pulled her into my arms. “It doesn’t really go away, we just become more selective of who the pretty girl is. ”
“Is that so?” Her lips moved against mine as she spoke, sending a pulse of heat to my cock.
I ground myself against her belly letting her know exactly what she was doing to me. “You know we could go back to my room and—”
“Nothing. And nothing.” She patted my chest effectively giving us a little distance from one another. “We have an appointment and I need to get to the studio. I’m singing with Ricky today and tomorrow.”
“Ricky? You still in contact with that asshole?” That was the asshole at the bar the night we met. “It’s his band you’re performing with?”
“Yes. Five Hearts, I told you this.” She frowned as if I wasn’t paying attention. “And we’re not in contact. He contacted me through Phil.”
I was paying attention, though. “I didn’t know that asshole was from Five Hearts. Not exactly the kind of thing I’m up to date with. Are those band members on the list of names you gave Jared?”
“Not yet. I didn’t think I needed to include business acquaintances I’ve only had one meeting with in thirteen years.”
“Babe, that’s the exact people who should be on the list.”