Page 109 of When the Smoke Clears

“I should get started on dinner. Do you eat red meat, Everleigh?” Mom stands and makes her way to the kitchen.

“I do. How can I help you?”

“I don’t need help. But thanks for asking. Will, you should turn on the porch heaters and show her the view of the lake.”

I hum, but not in agreement. It’s more of a hmm . . . what the hell is happening?

“I’ll grab a sweater,” Everleigh says, taking her mug to the kitchen before padding her bare feet toward the guest room across from mine.

As Mom surveys dinner options in the fridge, I follow Everleigh.

“You invited me,” she says, pulling a sweater from her suitcase on the end of the bed as I quietly close the bedroom door behind me.

“I did. I just didn’t anticipate you counting to ten after I left and then jumping into your truck to follow me.”

“I counted to fifty. How long did you want me to count?” She turns, threading her arms through her red sweater and pulling it on over her white T-shirt. I love how those faded jeans hang low on her hips, giving me a peek of her navel when she lifts her arms.

“At least a hundred,” I say.

“Because you’re old and you need a longer head start.” She slips on black fuzzy socks.

“If you’re going to bust my balls, at least fondle them first.” I step in front of her as she snorts. Then I duck and nuzzle my face into her neck.

God, I want to get lost in her.

“Twenty years, William.” She threads her fingers through my hair, and it makes me shiver. “Your parents are twenty years apart, and you never mentioned it?”

I kiss her neck and slide my hands down her back to grab her ass. “My mom was legal when my dad stuck his dick in her.”

Everleigh giggles. “Don’t say it like that.”

I grin before teasing her earlobe with my teeth.

She grips my hair and pulls her head back just enough to brush her lips against mine. “You should have seen the look on your mom’s face when I said I was your friend, and you invited me to spend the week with you.”

“About that . . .” I stand straight and take a step back before I do something stupid like take off her clothes. “Where did you get this address? Jamie? Maren?”

“Your parents own this property. It’s public record. It’s called the internet, William.”

“You could have texted me.”

“You would have told me to wait a few days. Which, by the way, you didn’t tell me to wait a few days. You told me to come stay for a few days.”

I shake my head, rubbing my hands over my face. “I can’t believe you get paid to help people’s mental health.”

“Most therapists and psychiatrists get therapy. It’s considered self-care. And if I had one, I’d tell them about you. But I don’t, so my flaws go unchecked.” She shrugs with her palms up. “If you want me to go home, I will. But I know you want me to stay until we have sex, then you’ll send me home because you’ll have a dip in testosterone from the oxytocin release during sex, and that will cause a desire to withdraw. That’s why I’m not having sex with you until I’m ready to leave.”

I can’t imagine why she’s still single.

“Then why are you here so early? I only invited you for sex.”

“I thought I could give your mom free therapy. And maybe I can meet your father.”

“My father won’t remember you. His memory is shit.”

Everleigh grins. “Don’t be so sure. I’m pretty unforgettable. And maybe you should leave the psych evaluation to me. Now, show me this fantastic lake view. Then let’s help your mom finish dinner.” She brushes past me toward the door.

I grab her wrist, and we stand idle, backs to each other. No words. Just a pause. My fingers tease her palm. Then I release her, take a breath, and follow her to the main room.