Chapter 24
Piper
As I sat beside Everett, I could feel the anger pumping off him.
We bumped over the rough track. We were in the hotel’s utility task vehicle, heading up through the trees on the mountainside. We were both in winter gear, I was back in Tessa’s boots, and Everett had the heat blasting in the enclosed cab of the UTV.
He hadn’t said a word since he’d bundled me into this vehicle.
My arm was stitched up, bandaged, and numb from the shot Dr. Roberts had given me. Afterward, Everett had shoved some of his clothes and mine into a duffel bag and ordered me into Tessa’s boots and a puffy, warm, mauve jacket in my size. I didn’t ask who he’d borrowed the jacket from.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Somewhere where no one knows where you are. Somewhere you’ll be safe.”
I’d watched him pack a box of food in the back of the UTV before we’d headed off. I assumed we were going to the hotel’s cabin up on the mountain. It was popular with honeymooners.
When we crested a hill and I saw the cabin. I’d guessed right.
“This cabin is solidly booked all winter.”
“Lucky for you, it was free tonight.” He pulled up under an overhang at the back of the cabin. I knew this was where the cleaners and catering staff parked when they came to clean and stock the place. The lights were on inside, and even my city-loving heart had to admit that it was gorgeous.
It looked like something out of a story book, made of rough-hewn logs, with a sturdy, stone chimney.
Everett sliced out of the UTV, then opened my door. “Come on, babe.”
His hand enfolded mine and he led me inside. A wave of warmth hit me when we stepped into the main area of the cabin, thanks to the roaring fire in the fireplace.
Okay, it was truly gorgeous and romantic. We’d done a few upgrades to the cabin since it had become a Langston Hotel. Mostly because a crazed stalker of Ro’s had attacked Tessa and dragged her here.
As I shrugged out of my coat, my gaze drifted from the stone fireplace, to the comfy, cream couch that invited you to laze for a while, to the gleaming wood, to the pretty view outside.
It was dark now, so all I could see were the twinkling lights of Windward nestled in the valley below. Then my gaze sliced back to the bed.
It was a romantic four-poster bed made from a warm wood, and draped in white, gauzy hangings.
“You didn’t have to bring me up here, Everett. I would have been safe in my suite.”
He grunted and set the bag down. Then he carried the box to the small kitchenette. When he dumped his coat on the back of the couch, I could see the tension in his shoulders.
I walked toward him, grabbed the lapels of his red flannel shirt and pulled him to face me. “I’m okay.”
“You got stitches.”
I snorted. “Five.”
He heaved out a breath. “I wasn’t there.”
I straightened. “Everett—”
“I promised to keep you safe. I thought you would be in the hotel, then your brother, and not one but two bad guys attacked you. You got hurt—”
I pressed my palms to his chest. “None of that is on you, and I’m okay.”
He made a sound.
“I’m standing right here, with you,” I murmured.
He lowered his head. His kiss was hard, with none of Everett’s usual laid-back edge. With a moan, I slid my hands in his hair, kissing him back.
When his mouth left mine, he rubbed his nose along mine. “When I saw you, covered in blood—”
“Enough. We’re going to hang out and relax, until you get that I’m all right.” I toyed with the soft fabric of the white T-shirt he wore under his flannel. “You know, I feel bad.”
“What? Why?”
“Chance is my brother. This is all so much trouble for everyone. You, Caden, Ro—”
His hand slid into my hair and tugged. “Quiet. This isn’t your fault.”
I cocked a brow.
His lips twitched. “Okay, I’m going to make us hot chocolate and we’re going to sit by the fire. Go get comfy.”
While he puttered around in the tiny kitchen, I kicked my boots off, and curled up on the couch. It was as comfortable as it looked. I let out a long breath as I stared at the crackling fire, and felt some tension leave me. Turning my head, I watched Everett.
And felt more tension leave me.
He was so sexy. The flannel shirt look had grown on me, against my will, not that I was ever telling him that. He’d grown on me, too.
He strode my way with that easy, loose-limbed stride of his. “Here you go.”
He passed me a red mug, and I smelled the chocolatey goodness. I cradled it. “I can’t remember the last time I had hot chocolate.”
“I guess the COO of Langston Hotels prefers French champagne and fancy cocktails.”
My chest squeezed. “I always loved hot chocolate growing up. My gram would make it for me.”
He met my gaze.
I sipped the drink and smiled. “Delicious.”
“Good.” He came back with his own mug and a plate loaded with finger food. Cheese, crackers, a dip that looked yum, some fruit and pate.
“The kitchen put it together for me.” He sat down beside me. “Now, you’re going to eat and relax.”
I snagged some cheese and a cracker. “You can’t order me to relax, Murray. That’s not how it works.”
“I’ll get you there.” He grabbed some berries.
We talked and ate, and damn him, I did relax. I ate some of the dip and moaned. “That is so good.”
Everett took a bite as well, and his eyes widened. “Damn, that is good.”
“Told you. Chef Harden is worth all the effort it takes to keep him from killing his staff or his customers.”
Everett laughed. “You okay?”
“You mean my arm?”
“I mean about Chance deserting you today.”
I felt like a weight hit my shoulders. “No. I was in danger, danger he’d put me in, and he ran, Everett. He left me.”
His hand slid along the back of the couch and squeezed the back of my neck. “I’m sorry, babe.”
“He left.” I thought of the brother I loved so much, who’d looked up to me, trusted me, loved me. “I don’t know him anymore.”
Everett rubbed my neck, and that touch grounded me.
Helplessness and disappointment filled me, but having him here helped.
“He’s made bad mistake, after bad mistake.
I’ve given him money, then when I realized that was enabling him, not helping him, I offered to help him get the treatment he needs. He’s ignored it or gotten angry at me.”
“You can’t help someone until they’re ready to help themselves.”
“I know.” I sighed. “But he’s my brother and I love him. And as you know, solving problems is my thing,”’
“You can solve your work ones, or your own ones, but you can’t always solve someone else’s.”
I nodded sadly.
He tugged me closer and I burrowed into his warmth, his strength. God, he felt good.
He tipped my face up and kissed me.
He made me feel so many damn things. Things I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.
He also made me feel safe.
“I’m going to run you a bath,” he said. “There’s a big soaking tub in the bathroom. You’re going to take your glass of wine in there, keep your stitched arm out of the water, and relax.”