For the rest of the ride home, she talked, analyzing every interaction she'd seen between Helen and her dad, going back to before her mother died. "She was my mother's best friend. Mom convinced her to come work for us shortly after I was born to get her away from an abusive husband. She's always lived in the apartment over the garage. Never moved out, even after she got on her feet financially. After my mom died, I know my dad was grateful she was there to help with me.
"I'm not sure she ever dated. My dad has a little, but he hasn't been in a serious relationship since my mom died. I do recall walking in on Dad and Helen in the kitchen in deep conversation a few times over the years, but it wasn't like they were holding hands or anything." Eden let out a huff. "I wonder how long this has been going on. Will they continue to keep it hidden? Or will they eventually come out in the open with their relationship?"
Surprisingly, the thought of them being in a relationship didn't bother her as much as she thought it would. They'd both been alone for a long time and deserved to be happy. If they found that with each other, then so be it. And Helen seemed to be helping her father make changes for the better.
Eden only hoped it would last.
* * *
The house wasdark when they arrived home, but Alice had left the porch light on for them. Disappointment filled Eden when Rudy pulled his hand from hers to get out of the car. She'd grown so used to the connection that she missed it immediately. She half hoped he'd take the opportunity to give her a good night kiss on the porch, but that was ridiculous since they would both be going inside.
Evidently the thought never crossed Rudy's mind because he opened the door and walked right in, holding it open for her.
"Thanks for going with me tonight. It was nice not to have to face my dad alone."
"You're welcome." He locked the front door and turned off the porch light, throwing the entry into almost complete darkness. "Things probably could have gone better, but I suppose they could have gone worse too."
"Yeah." She left it at that because she didn't want to rehash the evening right now. She wanted Rudy to take her in his arms and kiss her, but waiting for him to make a move was torture. She couldn't bring herself to make the first move though, because she'd been the one to insist they not kiss anymore.
She turned to go down the hall, but Rudy caught her hand and tugged her back to the dark entryway. She bit her lip to hide the smile that tried to take over her face. Not wanting to appear too eager, she took a small step back but met the wall.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"What do you think I'm doing?" He stepped closer, and her breath stalled in her lungs. His rugged, woodsy, masculine scent teased her nose.
She leaned into him and inhaled, filling her lungs with his intoxicating smell.
"Did you just sniff me?" Grinning, he pulled back a little.
She cursed herself for not fighting the urge to smell him, but she refused to be embarrassed.
"Maybe." She couldn't hide her smile any longer. "Are you trying to up your game?"
He grinned and shifted closer still, bracing his arms on the wall on either side of her head. "Depends. Is it working?"
Her heart rate kicked into overdrive, and her lungs seemed to have stopped working altogether. She grew lightheaded from the lack of oxygen to her brain. Or maybe it was his proximity that made her lightheaded. He didn't touch her, but he stood so close she couldn't think straight. His heady scent wreaked havoc on her senses, not to mention the warmth emanating from his body.
"If I say no?" Her words sounded as breathless as she felt.
"Then I'm just taking a moment to express my disappointment in your dad this evening."
Eden frowned. Her dad was the last thing she wanted to discuss right now. "I'm sorry he grilled you about your job and finances. He promised to be nice, but I should have known—"
"That's not what I'm referring to."
"Do you mean how he tried to ambush me with that job with Tad McAllister?"
Rudy pressed a finger to her lips to quiet her. His warm breath caressed her cheek, and her mouth went dry.
"I'm disappointed he didn't ask us for a public display of affection."
"Oh." The word came out breathily and rushed. "I-I guess he's accepted that we're in a relationship."
"Haveyou?" He pressed a feather-light kiss to the hollow below her ear.
She sucked in a sharp breath. "Have I what?"
"Accepted that we're in a relationship?" He dipped his head to kiss the pulse that raced at the base of her neck near her collar bone.
