Maverick looked over my shoulder at his brother. “Eden,” he echoed.
“Yes, this is Eden. You can drop her hand now, Mav.”
I glanced toward Milo, surprised by the low growl in his voice as he said it. He wasn’t looking at me, though—the brothers had locked eyes and some kind of silent communication was passing between their steely depths. Since my relationship withmy brother was anything but typical, I wondered if this was a learned behavior or something innate.
“Dad! You’re early!”
The nephew, Carter, came sprinting out from behind the counter. Now that I’d met his father, the resemblance was clear. It was harder to compare the two adults because of the difference Milo’s auburn hair made, but needless to say, they were clearly an attractive family.
Carter paused before passing me, straightened his shoulders, and stuck out a hand. “I’m Carter.”
As I had with his father, I clasped his hand. “Hi Carter, I’m Eden.”
“That’s a pretty name. How do you know Uncle Milo?”
“Oh, um…”
Maverick only cocked his head like he was fascinated to hear my answer, but Milo cut in, “We met at an event.”
“Oh?” his brother murmured. “Comic Con, maybe?”
Another growl from Milo’s throat thrummed over my skin, followed swiftly by a hot, uncomfortable flush of embarrassment.
The brother knew. They’d talked about me.
It was no different from me telling Addie, but sudden panic clawed at my throat at the realization that someone other than my cousin knew I’d spent the night with this man, knew that I’d propositioned a stranger at a hotel bar and had run away the next morning without even getting his last name.
A stranger who owned the shop next door to mine, who lived in the same town, who I’d probably be seeing nearly daily for the foreseeable future.
It was more than I could handle just then, the rush of shame I thought I’d long since moved past. Oily and familiar, it crept up my throat until it threatened to choke me.
“I have to go,” I said abruptly.
Every social nicety flew out of my head as I spun on my heel and hightailed it out the door, brushing past Maverick while Milo called my name. I lifted a hand in farewell, called out a quick apology, and fled.
Again.
Chapter Five
Milo
“Dammit,Mav,”Igroundout.
The only thing saving my brother from my elbow in his gut was the stricken look on his face. And maybe his son, who was staring with wide eyes at us both.
“Did I say something wrong?” Carter asked.
“No, buddy, it was me.” Maverick grimaced. “I’m sorry, Milo. I didn’t think.”
Even if it was on the tip of my tongue to snap at him, this wasn’t his fault. The shock of seeing her again, my utter delight that she wasn’t a figment of my imagination, and my crushing disappointment at her departure blended into nausea roiling in my gut. I was worried about what this might mean for me and Eden. For the second time, she ran away, and this time I couldn’t really blame her.
But I saw the way her eyes, that beautiful amalgam of gold and brown, went molten at the growl of frustration I couldn’t quite hold back. The way her lips parted and her cheeks flushed, just as they had when we were in bed together.
Right before her horrified expression turned to stone and she bolted.
“I’ll take care of it,” I said quietly.
Maverick shoved a hand through his hair. “Maybe I can smooth things over.”
