Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Everleigh hardly slept a wink that night and woke with the first gray light of dawn.
She had tossed and turned, settling only when he pulled her close and soothed her.
Even now, he could tell that she was awake again, her restless body twitching next to him.
He smoothed one hand over her back and kissed the nape of her neck.
“You awake?” he whispered.
Her hair tickled his nose when she nodded. He couldn't begin to imagine how she was feeling right now. For several long moments, they lay there next to each other in complete silence.
“I guess I should go shower,” she said softly.
As much as he didn't want to let her out of his sight, he knew it was for the best that he let her have a few minutes to herself.
Though he wanted to offer to come with her, he didn't want her to feel like he was forcing himself on her.
He wanted her to know that she could depend on him for everything.
He levered himself up on an elbow and kissed the ball of her shoulder. “How about I go make you some coffee?”
He adjusted his stance as she rolled to her back, then faced him. Her eyes, so heartbreakingly blue, clouded with pain and sadness, stared up at him. “Thank you.”
He ran his fingers through her hair and resisted the urge to pull her face into his chest. “You have nothing to thank me for.”
“It's just… I know things haven’t always been easy between us… Between you and…” She trailed off, her eyes misting over at the thought of her father.
He pressed his lips to her forehead, unable to keep his distance any longer. “Just because we don’t get along doesn't mean I don't care. I would do anything for you, Everleigh.”
He sensed the slight change in her breathing as she cried silent tears, and he held her tightly until they ceased. “Take as long as you need,” he said. “I'll be right here waiting for you.”
They both knew he wasn't talking about just the shower. He’d already waited half his life for her.
She needed time to process everything, and he would continue to do exactly what he was doing now.
He kissed her forehead again and petted her hair away from her damp cheeks.
“Get a shower, sweetheart, and I'll make you some coffee. We’ll take one thing at a time.”
She nodded, then pulled away with a little sniffle and trudged toward the en suite bathroom.
He slid from the warm bed and quickly dressed in his clothes from yesterday, then made his way downstairs.
The Beaumonts’ live-in maid, Letitia, was already wide awake and bustling around the kitchen.
He shot her a small smile as he entered. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, sir,” she greeted him.
He suddenly became aware of a second presence in the room, and he turned to Mrs. Beaumont.
She sat quietly at the small breakfast nook in the corner, face tipped down, staring into her coffee like it held secrets of the world.
Her blue eyes, so similar to Everleigh’s, lifted and met his.
She offered a brittle smile that slipped away just as quickly as it had come.
“Good morning, ma'am.”
“Have a seat,” she invited.
He didn't want to impose, so he put her off as gently as he could. “I appreciate it, but I told Everleigh I would be back with coffee.”
“I can take care of that, sir,” Letitia chirped from her place next to the sink.
He hated to put her out, even if she was paid to take care of the Beaumonts. “Are you sure?”
“No trouble at all,” she assured him. “Would you like a cup as well?”
“If you wouldn't mind.”
She bobbed her head once in acknowledgment, and he pulled out the chair across from Mrs. Beaumont. She quietly sipped at her coffee before speaking. “How is Everleigh?”
He lifted one shoulder. “As well as can be, I think. Worried. A little shocked still.”
“Thank you for taking care of her. I wasn't in the right frame of mind yesterday...”
“You'd just received a shock,” he replied quietly. “I think you're doing just fine considering the circumstances.”
“I'm sorry for everything,” she said softly. “I know my husband was hard on you, but... he isn’t a bad person. God.” She shook her head. “I just can't believe this happened.”
“I'm sorry.” He reached over and wrapped his fingers around her wrists where she still gripped the mug tightly. “If you need me to do anything, please let me know.”
“I appreciate that.” A tear slipped silently down her cheek, the first real show of emotion he'd seen from her. Celia withdrew into her shell, and he took his cue to leave just as the fancy coffee maker spit out the last of the brew.
He gathered both cups and thanked Letitia, then headed back to Everleigh. It felt strange to be walking through this house, and he swore he could feel Beaumont’s disapproving gaze boring down on him as he moved through the large foyer and up the elegant staircase.
Everleigh had finished showering by the time he returned, and she sat on the edge of the bed wrapped in a towel.
He pressed the coffee into her hands then took a seat next to her.
She held on to the mug, seeming to enjoy absorbing the warmth through the porcelain as she tipped her head and laid it on his shoulder.
He wrapped one arm around her, silently offering comfort. A niggle of unease tugged at him, but he couldn’t tell exactly what it was. Something told him this whole situation ran a lot deeper than it appeared, and the quicker they figured it out, the better.