Tabs turned my way, and the fear on her face beckoned me closer. “He has horrible claws and scales for skin. He’s as tall as a house, Anna. I cannot outrun him.” She choked on the last word.
I deposited my candle near Graham’s and sat beside her on her bed, just in time to catch her little body as she crumbled into a fresh sob. Graham shifted near my feet, and my eyes caught on the thin, loose nightshirt beneath his open banyan, the line of his neck, and each shadow along his bare chest, which rose and fell with one—two—breaths.
I cleared my throat before saying into Tabs’s hair, “If such a thing as a sea monster existed, your brother would take care of him, I am sure. There is no need to fear.”
“Graham?” Tabs cried. “He cannot even hold a sword properly.”
“I beg your pardon?” Graham’s tired voice came out affronted. His brows knit together at the assumption of his weakness against Tabs’s imaginary foe. “I could fight off any sea monster ten times the size of Highcliffe House.”
“Tentimes?” I blurted in disbelief, and Graham’s eyes flicked up to mine. I clapped my hand to my mouth to cover the humor, but he’d seen it. His face split into a grin.
“A hundred times,” he exaggerated. “Indeed, the next time the dark monster of the sea comes, send him straight to my room. Five minutes against my sword should send him diving back into the depths.”
Tabs’s lips twitched as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “His eyes are so dark, and his teeth are so scary,” she whined. “Once you see him, I know you’ll be too afraid.”
“Graham Everett?” I countered. “He has the fiercest glare on this side of the sea. Show her, Graham.”
“Show her?”
“Your fierceglare,” I enunciated, nodding my head to Tabs.
“Right. Of course,” he said, straightening. He ruffled his already fluffy hair—a nervous habit, perhaps? Then he formed his fists into claws, scrunched up his face, and bared his teeth. He growled, low and menacing.
A thrill shot up my spine, and Tabs shrunk into my side. She smelled like strawberries and cream, her favorite after-dinner dessert. “Graham!” she laughed. “I do not like you doing that.”
“See?” I squeezed her tight, grinning at Graham over her head. “Ferocious.”
Tabs yawned and gave me more of her weight. I rubbed her arm, while Graham reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Your brother is right,” I said. “It is very late, and you will be tired tomorrow if you do not sleep tonight.”
“I want to come sleep in your bed,” Tabs whined to Graham, reaching out for his arms. Her nightdress was trimmed with ruffles and lace. Clearly, the baby of the family.
Graham reached forward to wipe her wet cheeks dry with his sleeve, his arm brushing mine. I felt sparks of warmth all through me. “You are brave enough to sleep in your own bed.”
“Pleeease, Graham. Only one night more. I swear it.”
“She’s had quite the day,” I reminded him. Urged, more like. And for once, we felt like partners. A united front.
“Very well.” He sighed, and Tabs threw her arms around his neck. His shoulders relaxed under her weight, and together, we stood.
Tabs’s already tiny room seemed to shrink, especially with the three of us crowded between her bed and the doorway. I retrieved my candle and started to turn but could not fit around Graham holding Tabs.
“Ah, sorry,” he muttered, trying to retreat but bumping into a chair behind him, stumbling sideways.
I reached out to steady him as Tabs slid down from his hold to land on her feet.
She led out of the door first, stumbling down the hall toward her brother’s room, and I handed Graham her candle.
Slowly, he sidestepped out the door, then turned and leaned against the doorframe, boxing me inside. Our two candles flickered between us, casting him in gold and shadow,and the depths of his eyes searched mine. “Thank you,” he said, lingering. “For coming. She settled much faster than usual.”
“All she needed was a less ferocious face,” I teased.
Surprise and another sleepy grin brightened his features. “Well, then, lucky for us, your face is the opposite of ferocious.”
“Oh?” I smirked, then poked his chest.
I poked his chest.My bare finger. On his bare, rather firm, chest.
