Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Dylan
Eden finally gives in and agrees to spend the night with me, and this happens.
What the fuck?
“I’m coming,” I say between clenched teeth after another series of raps on my apartment door.
I fell asleep with Eden in my arms less than an hour ago, and now this.
Thankfully, the constant knocking on my door didn’t wake her.
It has to be Mrs. Berinco. She lives down the hall. Whenever she has a nightmare, I’m the guy who calms her down with a cup of herbal tea and a story about college.
She’s ninety-six-years-old. Her husband died more than twenty years ago. She’s lived alone ever since.
“Mrs. Berinco.” I swing open the door.
“Is probably fast asleep.” Barrett looks me over. “You’ve been going hard with the crunches. Look at those abs.”
I drop my gaze to my bare stomach. I put on a pair of sweatpants before I left my bedroom.
I didn’t want to give Mrs. Bernico an eyeful.
“What the hell, Barrett?” I move so he can pass me. “Do you know what time it is?”
He glances at the watch on his wrist. “It’s nine a.m. in London.”
“Why aren’t you there?” I close the door and turn to face him. “Why are you here?”
His attention is on the clothing on the floor. Eden’s shirt, her jeans, and her lingerie litter the floor in front of the couch. My jeans and shirt sit in a pile near his feet. “You’re not alone.”
“I’m not.”
That turns him back around. “Eden?”
I nod. “Eden’s asleep.”
He stalks toward me. “I’m out of here. I should have called first, but you probably wouldn’t have picked up.”
I huff out a laugh. “I wouldn’t have picked up.”
“I’m flying out tomorrow afternoon.” He adjusts the strap of his duffel bag on his shoulder. “If you want to meet for coffee, give me a call. I’m going to grab a room at the hotel down the street so I can crash.”
“Barrett?”
We both turn at the sound of Eden’s voice.
She’s standing near the hallway. She’s wrapped in the blanket from my bed. She looks like an angel with the light filtering in from the window illuminating the side of her face.
“Eden.” Barrett raises his hand in a wave. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t.” She takes a step closer. “I got a call. I need to go.”
I push past Barrett so I can get to her. I hear the tremble in her voice. I see the way she’s shivering under the blanket.
“What’s wrong?” I look down at her face.
Her eyes meet mine. “Kurt had a minor setback. Noelle is upset.”
“Is he alright?” I don’t consider Kurt a friend, but I respect the man. I want to see him back in the courtroom as soon as possible.
“He’s fine.” She sets a reassuring hand on my cheek. “Noelle could use a friend right now.”
“Do you want me to take you home?”
She leans closer, lowering her voice as her lips sweep over my ear. “I’ll be fine. I need my clothes.”
“Go back to the bedroom.” I kiss her forehead softly. “I’ll bring them to you. I’ll get a car to take you.”
“I ordered an Uber.” Her lips brush against mine. “Tonight was special, Dylan.”
I can’t take my eyes off of her when she turns and goes down the hallway, disappearing into my bedroom.
It was the best night I’ve ever had. I wish it could play on repeat for the rest of my life.
Four hours later, Barrett walks into my living room, showered and wearing jeans and a black dress shirt. He looks rested. I wish I could say the same for me.
I didn’t sleep at all after Eden took off last night.
I texted her twenty minutes ago to check in, but I haven’t heard back yet.
I hope to hell she’s fast asleep.
“You’re in love with Eden Conrad,” Barrett says, looking at me. “Don’t deny it, Colt.”
I could. Maybe I should, but why? I am in love with her. I doubt I ever stopped loving her.
“I’m not denying it.” I slide a dark blue tie under the collar of my shirt.
“What are you going to do about it?”
I take time with the tie. When it’s finally perfect, I look at him again. “Nothing.”
“Wrong answer.” He takes a step toward me. “You’re going to tell her how you feel because you fucked that up fifteen years ago and I’m not letting it happen again.”
I huff out a laugh. “You don’t have a say in this.”
His arms cross his chest. “I sure as hell do. I’m the one who watched you waste time looking for an Eden replacement. You’re not falling back into that.”
He’s right. I’m not. The thought of fucking another woman does nothing for me.
I can’t go back to that. I won’t get into bed with anyone else.
I want Eden, but her life is in Buffalo and from where I’m standing, she’s not looking to add me to the mix there.
“This has an expiry date. We both knew it going in.”
“Who had that brilliant idea?” Barrett raises a brow. “You?”
“We both agreed to it.” I slide my suit jacket on. “She’s heading back home once the case she’s working on is settled.”
“You can change that.” He reaches forward to tug on the lapels of my jacket. “You need to tell her how you feel so she can decide whether Buffalo is home.”
“Buffalo is home to her,” I reiterate that fact. “She works there. She owns a place there.”
“You work in New York. You own a place here. All of that can be changed.” His arm waves in the air. “Your argument is weak, Colt. What the hell is really going on here?”
I shove a hand through my hair. “We’re having fun until she goes home. It’s what we agreed to.”
“Don’t blow this for a second time.” He takes a step back. “You didn’t tell her how you felt in high school. This is your chance to right that wrong. Don’t let it pass you by.”
It’s the only wrong I can right, but it’s not fair to Eden. If I want a future with her, I need to confess to the past I’ve kept hidden from her.
I doubt like hell she’ll find it in her heart to forgive me for that.