His taunting expression quickly shifted to deep concern, a muscle in his jaw clenching.
“Vera,” he said tenderly. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
My lips parted and I shook my head because I couldn’t let the words come out without a chorus of hiccups and sobs.
And then he pulled me into his arms, turning me away from the entrance. He smoothed a hand over my hair while his other hand rubbed broad circles on my back.
I gasped at the relief of being touched. Being held. Brody and I had gotten to a point where we rarely touched outside of sex. But being held by Eli, his body shielding me from the very full lobby and bar... I felt briefly soothed.
“I’m getting your shirt all wet,” I said. “And I’m wearing all this stupid makeup.” I pressed a palm to his chest and tried to push back from him, but his arms only tightened around me.
He rested his chin atop my head. “Don’t push me away right now.” His voice verged on desperate, like he needed this as much as I did.
We stayed like that for a while and if anyone noticed or cared, I couldn’t see them.
I focused on the sandalwood scent of his cologne and the fresh linen detergent he kept stocked in the apartment. At least he’d changed out of his tux and into a black T-shirt, so my mascara stains would be hidden.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” he asked.
I nodded into his chest.
“Wait here,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m going to close out my tab.”
While he ran back up to the bar, I turned to the window to see a distorted version of my reflection. I rubbed under my eyes as best I could to wipe the makeup away. There was nothing to be done about my puffy face and the swelling under my eyes.
Eli returned and without hesitating took my hand, pulling me out to the street and through the throngs of people. Once we had made our way past the crowds, his thumb ran back and forth across the top of my hand before he let go.
I fought the hollow feeling at the loss of his touch. There was no excuse to hold hands. I hadn’t even wanted him to in the first place.
We walked in silence up to Canal Street, and I felt Eli’s eyes on me, concern radiating from him.
“I’m okay,” I finally said.
“It’s okay if you’re not.”
We paused at the crosswalk, waiting for the signal.
He rocked back on his heels with his arms folded over his chest. “Do you want to tell me what had you so upset back there? Did someone say something to you?”
I sniffed. “You gonna beat them up?”
“Maybe. I’m not a surgeon, after all. These hands aren’t too precious.”
“Well, unless you plan on going a few rounds with Ruby, then down, boy.”
“Ahhh.”
We crossed the street into the Quarter and he didn’t press for information, but I wanted to talk to him. I wanted him to know.
“I asked her why she invited you.”
“Did you, now?”
“She thinks she knows what I need, but she never asks what I want.”
He inhaled through his nose and nodded slowly. That was the closest I’d gotten to asking him to leave.
“It’s not that I don’t want you here—”
