Sleeping on the floor was systematically destroying my spine. If the other rooms in this mansion weren't locked, I would have commandeered a proper bed days ago.
I got up early, as usual, and stood for a moment watching Evelyn sleep peacefully. It was absurd that she had that huge, comfortable bed all to herself.
Then again, maybe it was for the best. Sharing that space with her without being able to touch her would be its own special kind of torture.
She aroused desire in me, and now I could admit she’d also earned my sympathy. I could almost say I liked her.
Almost.
If only she weren't so infuriatingly adept at pointing out my every flaw.
Even if she was right about most of them. Maybe all of them.
Shaking off the thought, I showered and changed. But today, instead of heading straight to the hospital, I decided to hit the private gym in the house. I hadn't worked out in weeks, and I hoped some exercise would help my aching back.
After a solid hour, I walked into the living room and found Evelyn holding two pairs of children's socks while the girls, barefoot, ran from one sofa to the other, gleefully turning her into their personal clown.
Well, well. The tables had turned.
"If you don't come put these socks on right now, you're both going outside in slippers!" she threatened.
It was useless. Anna and Aurora paid her no mind.
"Authority issues?" I teased.
Evelyn looked up, noticing me for the first time. For a brief moment, her eyes seemed to scan my arms, exposed by my workout tank. I almost teased her about the view, but held my tongue because of the children.
She gave a slight shake of her head, as if to clear it, and then replied, "They have their defiant moments. Even with me."
"So I see."
"I thought you'd already left for the hospital."
"Decided to get a workout in first," I said. "And where are you three off to?"
"The first installment of my...services... hit my account today. I need to go to the bank to sort some things out."
"Can't you handle it online or over the phone?"
"No. This requires an in-person visit."
"But does it have to be today? It's three days until Christmas; the streets are a nightmare. I thought you'd be decorating the tree." I pointed at the monstrous pine we'd bought. It looked even worse indoors, surrounded by boxes of ornaments and a tangled nest of lights. I seriously doubted any amount of decoration could save it.
"That's exactly why I need to go now, before the banks close for the holiday. We'll decorate when I get back."
"And why take the girls? It's freezing. It looks like it might snow."
"Unless you're taking them to the hospital with you, I don't have a choice."
I considered it for a moment. A bank would be incredibly boring for them. And taking them to a hospital lab was out of the question, especially given their hyperactive state this morning—they'd destroy the place.
I'd been leaving all the childcare to Evelyn. Maybe it was time I started pulling my weight.
"I can go to the hospital later," I suggested. "I'll stay with them while you're at the bank and leave when you get back."
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And that won't delay yoururgentresearch?"
"My research is well ahead of schedule, to be honest." And being ahead of schedule, to me, was the only acceptable standard. Delays were not a concept I entertained.
