Alice would want to go with Bill, so Eden needed to assure her she was fine to take care of the kids until Debbie came home. The thought both thrilled and terrified her. Hopefully, she could figure out how to keep the little cuties occupied.
Rudy gently guided her head back to his chest. "The down time is going to kill him. He was such a bear last year when he had hernia surgery."
"He's such an active man. It will be hard for him."
In the time that she'd been staying with the Wheelers, she'd never known Bill to sit still for longer than it took to eat a meal. When he was home, he was always working in the garden or on one home improvement project or another.
They sat in silence for a long time, and Eden couldn't help feeling like she was right where she belonged. Rudy's masculine scent wove a tantalizing web around her. The hint of his soap was so faint, she determined the essence she loved was all him. His pheromones were like a heady fragrance to her. And the hand that caressed her back warmed her in a way no words of reassurance could.
She tried not to think about the amazing kisses they'd shared and how much she'd like to repeat them. With their luck, something might go horribly wrong for Bill if they kissed again. It was silly to think that God didn't want her and Rudy together, but she still wasn't convinced it was a good idea.
They lapsed into silence and remained locked in each other’s arms for a long time.
When her eyelids grew heavy, she finally sat up and left the circle of Rudy's arms.
He startled and opened his eyes.
"You should probably go home and get some sleep." Although she wasn't sure he should be driving with how drowsy he looked.
He stared across the room. "I can't go home to that empty house, knowing how close we came to losing Dad tonight."
"Then, go sleep in Debbie and Austin's bed." She'd sleep on the couch so she could be close in case one of the children woke up.
"No, you should sleep in their bed. I could probably go upstairs to Savannah's or one of the boy's beds."
When he made no attempt to move, she put a hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"
He ducked his head and shrugged. "I just don't want to be alone right now."
"Then let's stay right here for a while." Eden grabbed another throw pillow off the other side of the sectional and tucked it behind her. "Take off your boots and lay your head on my lap."
That's how Helen had comforted her on those nights that she had been inconsolable after her mother's death.
"No I..." He shook his head. "You don't need to..."
"Come on." She tugged his shirt. "I've been so worried about your dad and your mom and you all day. I don't really want to be alone either."
With a little more coaxing, Rudy pulled his boots off and laid his head on her lap. The offer was meant to soothe and comfort him, but as she ran her fingers through his thick hair and caressed his shoulder, something warmed deep inside her. She couldn’t recall ever comforting someone like this.
"Thank you." A deep sigh escaped Rudy. "You know, I misjudged you when we first met."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you were just a spoiled little rich girl who didn't care about anyone but herself."
Eden's stomach tightened as she waited for further insult from Rudy.
"I'm glad I was wrong about you."
Was he though?
Eden reflected on how self-centered she used to be. She'd never been as demanding as her father and many other rich people, but she'd loved her conveniences. And she'd paid a lot of money for people to spoil and pamper her, thinking she deserved it. All because she had money.
It sickened her to think about how self-indulgent she had behaved. If she hadn't had the influence of Kennedy, the daughter of a humble mechanic, most of her life, Eden would likely have turned out as uppity and snooty as many of the people she detested in her father's social circles. Surprisingly, she hadn't missed the indulgences as much as she thought she would. They seemed so frivolous and insignificant in comparison to the life she now lived.
A life she liked. A lot.
* * *
