12 Everleigh Lost—Somebody’s Child #2
Sterling takes care to keep his voice level. “I came to see Fletcher again after speaking to the police. Only he was curled up in your hospital bed, fighting sleep just to watch you rest safely by his side.”
Conflicting emotions bubble inside me. “And?”
“I haven’t seen him that close to anyone since he left the military. The same way I haven’t seen Leo chase a girl while he’s too busy worrying about us. And when I shut my eyes at night, I see your scared face in that alleyway, and I want to take you into my arms all over again.”
A glance over my shoulder reveals he’s unmoved. An immutable mountain of gruff concern, his tender soul remains tucked behind sky-high defences that shield him from harm.
Somehow the man who coaxed a total stranger out of a panic attack and the hothead who beat Cass’s ex for disrespecting her coexist within his skin. Now that confusing contradiction is offering me a place under his roof. I’d be lying to say it isn’t tempting.
“I want you to stay with us.” His stoic expression refuses to crack. “We’re a messed-up family of broken assholes, but we’re good at keeping each other alive.”
“I’d argue I have jeopardised your success rate rather recently. Or do you need to go and take a look at your friend’s latest scans to figure that out?”
“You’re collateral damage in someone else’s fight.”
“Semantics.”
“Are you always so stubborn?” His mouth twitches.
“Depends on the context.”
Sterling huffs, pinching the bridge of his nose for a second. “Fuck, Eden. Just take the offer.”
“My wallet was in my jeans when I escaped so I have some cash, but my wages are gone.” I stare down at my ash-stained shoes. “I can’t afford to pay you rent right now.”
“Did you hear me asking for money?” he counters.
“I’m not looking for a handout.”
“Call it a favour,” he volunteers. “One that doesn’t need to be repaid.”
“Who’s being stubborn now?”
With an audible sigh, I hear him crossing the kitchen to approach. He looms over me, taking my chin between his calloused thumb and forefinger to lift my gaze.
“You need a home. I think we can be that for you.”
“Is this a home or a job?” I breathe out.
“It’s an opportunity.” Sterling studies my face. “When times get tough, Hawkthorpe steps up. I want to show you what it means to be a part of this family.”
“I don’t have one of those.”
His grasp remains on my chin. “Would you like one?”
The vibrant-green, ethereal forest peering down at me offers a welcome embrace that feels too good to be true. Not without strings. But the urge to accept his help overtakes everything.
I want to fall into that safe space and let myself be submerged. Over and over until any evidence of Everleigh Banks drowns. Hawkthorpe isn’t just my sanctuary—it’s my rebirth. And I can’t lose this chance.
“More than anything,” I admit throatily.
“Then grab your coat and let’s go home.”
“But . . . Cassidy . . .”
“. . . is a big girl and will be fine,” she finishes, striding into the kitchen. “Once I’m back on my feet, I expect you to return to work, hun. I’m not losing the best bartender I’ve ever had.”
Sterling steps away from me, shrinking back to a safe distance. “Maybe I’ll keep her.”
“Eden’s my employee, Sterl.” She glowers at him. “This is a loan, not an adoption.”
“We’ll see.” He chuckles.
“Careful. I’m lending you my girl, but that’s all.”
“Um.” I pathetically raise my hand. “Do I get a choice in the matter? I’m not a stray dog.”
Cassidy departs the kitchen with a laugh, leaving me caught in Sterling’s hard stare. He shrugs off my question.
“Once something’s mine . . . I’ll never surrender it. Not for anyone or anything. Perhaps you should take that into account before moving into an enclosed space with three grown men.”
Molten heat pools in my lower belly and births plasmic butterflies. Their wing flaps tighten my core into a drawn slingshot, primed to fire at a moment’s notice.
“Yours?” I whisper.
“Everything inside that cottage is. People included.”
Intuition tells me I should tear from this kitchen and escape town before I’m included in that sentiment. No matter how loudly my body is screaming out to be included on his list.
“I don’t have any clothes,” I redirect. “Could I borrow some stuff?”
His throat undulates, pulling skin taut. “That can be arranged.”
“Are Leo and Fletcher on board with this plan?”
“It was Leo’s idea,” Sterling admits. “I merely agreed.”
The thought of sharing a home with Leo—the silver-tongued devil I recently pleasured myself over—and his two roommates with shared stakes in this growing disaster should give me doubts. I’ve kissed Leo. Snuggled Sterling. Slept beside Fletcher. And thought about all three far, far too much.
“This is a bad idea.”
“Maybe,” he concurs.
“Then why are you going along with it?”
Glancing at the door Cassidy fled through, Sterling shudders a breath. I startle when he flashes across the kitchen to place a hand on the counter either side of me, legs spread and head tilted down, effectively caging me in against the cabinets.
His tense body language screams of possessive need. But not the kind that Christopher wielded to restrict my diet or vet anyone I spoke to in case they had a misguided hope of ever becoming my friend.
No, this possession is all dark and primal, a masculine aura that offers protection on the most fundamental level. It’s the kind of heat that promises to burn whole kingdoms to the ground if the price of safety so requires.
“Because I want to wake up every morning and see you barefoot in my kitchen. I need to know you’re safe and well.”
He clasps my wrist, not far below where the hand-shaped bruise has faded from my skin. The placement is no accident. Rushing ocean waves fill my ears, racketing the internal tension to a breaking point.
“We want to look after you, Eden. Me and my family.”
When his hand moves to circle my hip, I know this goes beyond mere neighbourly concern. He stares me down like I’m the sole respite from his starvation. Foolish or not, I think I’d let myself be devoured just to experience what it feels like.
Sterling teases my hip with a squeeze, his large paw dwarfing my small curves. The inches left between us seem to shrink. Heat runs over my spine, carrying nervous anticipation.
“Leo told me he kissed you,” Sterling unveils.
“He did?”
“We don’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Clearly not,” I mutter, cheeks flaming. “What about it?”
“I love my brother and want him to be happy. You seem to be the key to that.”
He caresses a path to my tingling lower back, applying a light pressure to tilt me closer. I’m not even sure if he’s conscious of it.
I glance down at where he holds me close. “Is that all?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
Newfound courage urges me to challenge him.
“What you’re doing right now would suggest otherwise.”
After a brief hesitation, the pressure vanishes. Sterling takes a measured step backwards. I’m left cold, reeling from his sudden change in demeanour.
“Yeah.” He clears his laden throat. “That’s all.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble in your home.”
Holding his gaze, I hope he understands everything I’m not saying. His Adam’s apple bobs frenziedly as he seems to check himself.
“Take the room, Eden. No strings attached. What happens between yourself and Leo is your business . . . and I’ll respect that.”
“I don’t know how long I’m going to stick around for.”
“Then it’s yours for as long as you need.”
“I never intended to be here this long,” I admit, trying to sift through my own inner tumult. “Frankly, none of this was part of the plan. Now I’m just making it up as I go along.”
“When does life ever go to plan?” He tries for a strained smile.
“I guess I need to decide what my next move is.”
Sterling avoids looking at me, and the distance between us grows wider with each second of awkward tension. Any hint of emotion is swiftly caged away before my eyes.
“What’s your plan?” I watch his anxious tic.
“What it’s always been,” he answers dully. “To survive.”