Chapter 16 #2
She glanced down at the floor and smiled before looking at him. “You’re welcome.”
“Come. Let’s eat.”
The conversation during the meal was an easy one.
They stayed away from topics of family and the Saints, and instead just talked.
Eden found herself telling him about how she got into being an information broker.
It was a boring story, but he genuinely appeared interested.
No matter how many times she tried to turn the conversation to him, he had a knack for bringing it back to her.
By the time she finished the steak, which had to be one of the best meals in her life, and was sipping the last of her wine, she realized that she didn’t want the night to end. Despite the severity of the situation and how she’d come to be there, it had been a day she’d never forget.
“What is it?” Maks asked.
She shook her head and took a drink of wine. “I’m just marveling at how glad I am that I’m here. With you.”
“I’m glad you’re here, too.”
For the first time, an awkward silence fell between them. Eden finished off her wine because she didn’t know what to say next. Then she stood and reached for the plates, but Maks was quicker.
“I got them.”
She frowned and took the wine glasses as she followed him to the sink. “You hunted our food, cleaned it, and cooked it. I think I’m due to wash the dishes.”
“Afraid I can’t let you do that. You had an early morning, had unusual stressors today, and worked the entire afternoon. There’s a big tub upstairs. You can go soak for a bit and relax. I’ll even open another bottle of wine if you want.”
A bath did sound great. Her neck and back were killing her. “Fine. I’ll relent this time, but next time, I’m doing the dishes.”
He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “If I don’t beat you to the sink first.”
“Not gonna happen,” she said confidently before she started toward the stairs. “I won’t be long. I am going to loosen the knots in my muscles, then I’ll be back down to show you what I found.”
“It can wait.”
She halted and looked at him. “I don’t think it can. And neither do you.”
“You’re right.” Maks let out a sigh. “Take your time with your bath. You’ve earned it.”
They shared a smile before Eden ascended the stairs. At the top, she looked into the guest bath but only saw a walk-in shower. The tub must be in the master. She hesitated, then decided not to go in there.
“It’s in my bathroom,” Maks shouted from below. “And you better use it.”
She laughed as she gathered her pack and brought it through the master bedroom to the bath.
When they first arrived, she had taken a look at all three bedrooms upstairs.
Each was done in a neutral tone. One was beige, and the one she’d chosen was white.
The master was done in shades of pale blue to deep navy.
Utterly masculine. Yet she really liked it.
It felt odd to be in his room. She hurriedly made her way to the bathroom and sighed as she took in the detail there.
The freestanding white tub sat on white and gray marble tile that was also used in the large shower.
There was a long, white vanity with two rectangular sinks and ultra-modern faucets that matched the tub and shower fixtures.
Even the toilet was modern-looking. Nothing like the regular toilets she was used to seeing.
Eden set her pack down and turned on the water for the tub.
Hot water came almost instantly. After she set the temperature she wanted, she straightened and closed the door to the bathroom.
Then she pulled out fresh clothes and got out of hers.
In so many ways, it felt as if she had left her flat a week ago, not just that morning.
Being on the run tended to shift time. Or rather, it amped up the stress level so that time felt warped and extended.
The moment she dipped her toe into the tub, she sighed.
She didn’t waste any time lowering herself into the hot water.
When it covered her body, she turned off the water and simply sat there.
She was just thinking about getting up and finding her phone to turn on some soothing music when the first strings of a song reached her.
Eden’s eyes snapped open at the sound of the cello.
She had a particular love for the instrument.
She didn’t know how or why, but the sounds of it touched her in a way that nothing else did.
She loved music period, but a cello could take her to another level.
And what she was hearing now wasn’t from some station on a radio or phone.
It was the instrument itself below her. That could only mean that Maks was playing it.
A smile pulled at her lips. This was a side of him she hadn’t expected.
In all her imaginings, she never would’ve guessed that as a spy, he would also play the cello.
And he was good. Very good, in fact. She’d been to a lot of symphonies over the years, and she was able to recognize when someone was good enough to make their living at a craft.
And Maks certainly would’ve been able to.
It made her think about how different his life would’ve been had he followed that path instead of entering the military.
She wouldn’t be here now, and she never would’ve met him.
That made her frown because while she didn’t want to be on the run, fearing for her life, Maks had made a difference.
He’d forced her to look at the world differently, to look at herself differently.
She liked that. She’d needed that, even if she’d believed she was content with the way things were.
How odd that a single person could change her life so drastically. But Maks was different and special like that. It might be how he’d lived for the past years as a double agent, or it might just be who he was. It didn’t matter. She was thankful that he had opened her eyes.
Eden let her mind drift as the music continued.
The song wasn’t one she recognized, but it was soothing and lulled her into relaxation.
She felt the tension ease out of her muscles.
Her eyes closed, and she focused on her breathing as she did during meditation.
When she finally lifted her lids, it was to find that the water had cooled, and her skin was pruney.
She let out the water and stood. After stepping out of the tub, she got into the shower and washed herself thoroughly.
In short order, she was drying off and cleaning up her mess in the bathroom.
Eden put on some sweats and a loose shirt and fluffy socks.
Then she combed out her hair and left it wet before packing up her things and returning them to her bedroom. All the while, Maks still played.
Her steps were light and soft when she made her way downstairs.
She didn’t want him to stop. When she reached the bottom, the music led her to the office, where he sat off to the side, playing with his eyes closed.
He was relaxed, his head tilted to the side as he listened.
The music had utterly taken him. Each note seemed to fall from his fingers effortlessly.
She rested her shoulder against the doorjamb and watched him.
When he drew the bow along the strings of the instrument, drawing out the last note, she found her gaze locked on his handsome face. When the note faded, he drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes. Slowly, his gaze slid to her. For several moments, they stared silently at each other.
“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” she said.
“I don’t get to play as much as I would like.” He stood and lifted the cello, taking it back to its case.
“You don’t have to stop on my account.”
There was a soft smile on his face as he said, “I didn’t.”
“You’re very good. You could’ve made a good living at playing.”
He shrugged as he closed the case and gathered it as he straightened.
His gaze didn’t shift her way as he set it in the back corner.
“My mother would’ve loved that. She had all of us pick an instrument to play.
She believed that music was something everyone needed.
My father also loved music, so there was no getting out of it for us.
” He then turned to her. “We all put up a fuss, but secretly, we loved it.”
“That’s a great story.” She fidgeted when he merely stared at her. Finally, she cleared her throat. “Are you ready to get started?”
“Whenever you are.”