Chapter 25
Lila
I woke up to the soft glow of the spare bedroom, staring at the ceiling fan that squeaked faintly every other rotation, and it was also to the realization that East had already slipped away.
The room smelled faintly of loam, which made sense because it used to be Sage’s, but there was also that unmistakable hint of sawdust that I would forever associate with East. Rolling a little so I could inhale the pillowcase next to me (shamelessly), I hugged it to my chest and stared out over the orchard.
It was a beautiful view, especially with the mist that spread through the trees.
Blowing out a breath, I steeled myself to deal with the day and moved a plant tendril out of my way.
There were plants in here that had lived here since Sage’s girlhood at the Holt’s.
She had always claimed they couldn’t be moved because they’d miss the view.
She was a bit wacky, but my bestie was pretty awesome.
I was surprised at how well I’d slept, but it must have been the fact that I’d coerced East into bed with me.
Maybe that should embarrass me, but I couldn’t find it in me to worry about it.
I’d been so worried that every time I closed my eyes, I would wake up panicked with the memory of smoke choking my lungs and the heat of the fire as it ate at the wood of the cottage.
I still couldn’t believe that someone had set it on fire on purpose.
Luckily, it was still January, so the wood was wet.
Maybe I’d gotten lucky and it wasn’t that bad.
Or, maybe Wade would have looked at everything, and that initial thought he had that it was deliberate was wrong. I hoped so.
Tears prickled my eyes, but I tried to distract myself by remembering how East’s mouth had felt on mine.
How good we’d been together. It had been reckless, messy, and…
God help me, I wanted more. I’d gone to bed on such a high, thinking about him and our upcoming date.
After my talk with Sage, I’d figured that maybe it would be a good night to stay back at my place.
Ugh.
There was a duffel on the chair by the door that I recognized as Sage’s.
She must have brought me some things. I scrubbed a hand over my face.
It was still early —the sun wasn’t even up —but I needed to get going and figure out some things.
I’d texted Mia last night and she’d promised to open up this morning, but I still needed to go in.
Chapter in fact, he moved even closer, feathering kisses along my ear and running his fingers through my hair before he answered.
“Rhodes Collins. He’s a friend of Wade’s from his time in the military.
He has a private security outfit. That’s the Redhawk part.
He works with Wade sometimes when things get messy. ”
My stomach dipped. Messy. My porch going up in flames wasn’t just some prank or unlucky accident. Messy meant deliberate. I’d tried to write off the break-in as unlucky, but now it was really looking unlikely.
Easton’s gaze sharpened. He’d read the thought right off my face. “We’ll figure it out.”
I wanted to believe him, but it hurt my heart to think that I was once again a victim.
Grams had worked hard to help me get out of the abusive relationship that I’d found myself in with Derek.
I’d promised her that I’d never again be a victim.
This seemed like I was breaking that promise to her.
My brain told me it wasn’t the same, but once again, the process of going to the police station had to happen.
Those old feelings of defeat were hard to escape.