“And you’ve got your own bathroom, including a soaker tub,” he adds, pointing toward another door.
“Holy shit, that’s stunning.” I gasp as I take in the claw-foot tub, the exposed brass pipe work, and funky faucets. The shower is also big enough to have a party in with jets everywhere.
“There isn’t much in the way of supplies, but?—”
“I’ve got everything I need. Don’t worry,” I assure him, but I don’t think he hears a word of it, because when I spin back around, he’s clearly questioning everything.
“I just…I want you to feel at home and?—”
“Everett,” I breathe as I step up to him and tip my head back so I can hold his eyes. “Everything is perfect. Thank you.”
He nods before coughing to clear his throat.
“I'll…um…I’ll leave you to…rest,” he says hesitantly, his eyes bouncing between mine.
“Okay,” I say, my muscles aching with the need to curl up in that huge bed and drift off into a peaceful sleep.
“Do you need anything? Food? Drink?”
“I’m good. The cookies will hold me off for a while.” I smile, and his eyes drop to my lips.
“Okay, good. I don’t have any plans today, so when you’re ready, I’ll order whatever you want in. Or we can go out. Your choice.”
“Thank you, Everett. I know the last thing you want in your life is me cramping your style, but I really do appreciate this.”
“Anything, sweetheart.”
I gasp, my entire body jolting when he reaches out and presses his giant palm to my swollen stomach. I’m still convinced it’s more bloat than baby, but the roundness is becoming harder to ignore.
Tears flood my eyes as his warmth seeps through me.
“I can’t take the sickness away, but I can do this. If you need me, I’ll be right out there, okay?”
The moment his hand falls away, coldness washes over me, and it gets even worse when he backs out of the room and closes the door.
A heavy sigh falls from me, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small smile on my lips.
I spin around and take in the room again, my eyes skimming over the vanity and the large mirror that sits above it, its thick, rough iron frame totally in keeping with the theme of this place. I can see myself sitting there getting ready for my day, and as I walk toward the other closed door beside the bathroom, I find a huge walk-in closet that makes me want to sob, it’s so perfect.
Damn, a girl could get used to this.
Going back to my shitty apartment is going to suck.
But, happy that that is a problem for another day, I grab my suitcase from the floor where Everett left it and carry it into the closet, opening it on the bench in the middle of the room.
While the bed might be calling to me, the tub is shouting louder. I grab the few things I’ll need before drawing myself a bath and pouring in a generous amount of the salts that are sitting on a shelf, waiting to be used.
With the morning sun streaming through the high windows, I strip down and step into the water.
It’s not as hot as I’d usually have it, but a loud moan of delight still slips past my lips as I submerge myself.
When I woke this morning and had to run to the bathroom almost instantly, I assumed it was going to be an awful day. I did not anticipate Everett storming his way in and turning everything around, but damn, am I grateful.
44
EVERETT
“There is a woman in my apartment,” I whisper-hiss into my headset as I hide around a corner while gunshots go off around me.
