the waiting Bentley. Still lost in the aftermath of everyth

's heavy door closed,

of Everett's body. She slid to the far side of the leather sea

flicker of amusement in his dark eyes.

to stare out the window, her shoulde

though it was an act, the humiliatio

ense of victory. Instead, there was ju

ot path down her cheek. She quickly

h

ted his weight, closing the dis

Instead, he used his own hand, his long fingers gentl

ghtly rough, calloused, yet they

ze, her enti

cent of cedar and something darker

which had been so heavy moments before, bega

so low it was almost a vibration again

across her skin, sending

that she could clearly see her own wide, startl

ad nothing to do with anger or grief. For a terri

ity. She jerked back as if burned, p

on fire. She cou

readable, as if nothing had happened. But she saw his han

as a hundred times more

Why had she reacted like that?

g her? Or was he

he absurd thought. He was Leo's uncle.

lled up to

y threw the door open, despera

ing today. I..." She fumbled for wor

stood before her, his tall fr

e Everett," he interr

ed, the name feeling

t as he had the night before, he gently ruffled her hair. The