Chapter 19
Rowan pulled under the portico of the hotel and put the car in park.
“Be right back,” said Becky, as she and Gwen hopped out of the backseat and disappeared into the hotel lobby. Colin sat beside him, the tension between the brothers seeming to stretch on interminably.
As the oldest, Rowan was used to being in charge, used to being the authority, used to being right. It was hard for him to see when he was wrong, and even harder for him to apologize and make peace with Colin. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “How’s your arm?”
“It hurts like a son-of-a-bitch. Why?”
“Could be worse. I’m glad you’re not dead.”
“I’m glad I’m not dead, too.”
Rowan gripped the steering wheel. “Listen, about you and Gwen.”
Colin sighed heavily. “Rowan, it’s none of your business.”
“I know.”
“So then why the hell are we talking about it?”
“Because I’m sorry.”
Colin narrowed his eyes. “Sorry for what?”
“For being upset about it earlier. For expecting you to act like she was still married to David even though he’s gone.”
“Thanks.”
Rowan pointed his finger at Colin’s chest. “It still wasn’t okay, what you did back then.”
“I know.” Colin turned to stare after the women. “I’m sorry, too. It was selfish and wrong, and it cost me my relationship with David.”
“How about we never talk about this again?”
“Deal.”
Becky and Gwen climbed into the car.
“Pull around back and park by the blue door,” said Gwen. “I got us a suite with a hot tub.”
“I got a suite with a hot tub, too,” said Becky.
“What about me?” Rowan asked her.
“I got you a studio.”
“Were they all out of hot tubs?”
“Nope.”
Rowan shook his head. She wasn’t one for subtlety, was she? He parked the car and tried not to picture Becky up to her armpits in a sea of shiny bubbles.
“Walker’s meeting me at Flynn’s at noon,” said Colin. “I think you three should go in an hour earlier, play it like you’re tourists, eat some lunch.”
“We only have the one car,” said Rowan.
“I can take the T. It’s a block from here and just up the street from the bar.”
Rowan raised his eyebrows. “The cops took my gun as evidence in the shooting.”
“Damn it.” Colin smacked his hand to his forehead. “Becky?”
“Me?” she looked around. “I’m a democrat. There’s pepper spray in the glove box.”
Rowan chuckled. “It’s better than nothing.”
“Okay, everybody get some sleep. I have a feeling we’re going to need it. We’ll meet back here tomorrow morning at ten.”
The suite consisted of a kitchenette and living room, with a separate bedroom and bath. The hot tub was in the bedroom, right next to the king-size bed. Gwen had been looking forward to exploring its depths, but now found herself feeling awkward and shy.
Colin must have seen her discomfiture. “You can close the bedroom door if you want privacy.”
“I wish you could join me,” she said honestly.
His eyes darkened. “The bandages…”
“I know. I just wish.”
“Me too.” He reached for the bedroom door, pulling it closed behind him. “Enjoy your bath. I’ll be here when you get out.”
She nodded, grateful for the opportunity to relax in the water.
She drew the bath piping hot, figured out how to turn on the jets, and added a tiny bottle of shampoo for bubbles before sinking into the tub.
Her own wound was high on her arm, allowing her some freedom, and she rested her head along the back edge of the Jacuzzi like a cat stretching in the sun.
She loved that Colin was waiting for her, loved the lovemaking she was certain was coming. She loved the man himself, and the knowledge seeped into her bones like water seeping into the earth.
I love him.
Gwen was filled with the urge to create, to somehow describe with color and shape how this love lifted her up, made her whole where she had only been broken, made her sing where she had not known the tune.
Her mind went back to the painting of the storm, so meaningful now, the vibrant peacock green that was Colin Mitchell filling up her canvas as he now filled her mind.
The noise of the water jets became for her a roaring wind, an approaching thunder.
They were indeed in the middle of a torrent, with evil very much alive and tormenting the new lovers.
Tomorrow they would be in danger again, facing off the very forces that had conspired to take love from Gwen once before, whisking away her happiness like dried leaves in the breeze.
Would her love be safe this time, emerge victorious in the battle that had already claimed so many lives?
Gwen’s eyes closed tightly against her fears, her hands bouncing on the bubbles of air that forced their way to the surface.
She wanted to believe she and Colin were ready to face the challenge ahead, prepared to pound evil into the ground and back to the very hell that had spawned it.
But what if she was wrong? What if she would lose this man as well?
Sitting up in the bath, Gwen turned off the tap and the water jets.
The room was suddenly quiet, the water still.
Here in this moment, all was well with the world.
Her love waited for her, time allowing them the gift of togetherness for another whole night.
She would embrace it fully, disallowing the horror that lay outside these doors the opportunity to take love away from her again.
She called out to Colin, inviting him in.
She stood to help him undress and bathed him slowly with a washcloth, savoring the brush of her arms along his skin.
Gwen told him what was in her heart, his words of love rushing to meet her own, and they sank onto the bed to make love, enough love to last them a lifetime.