Settling into his seat, he looked at Leah again. Her beauty continued to intrigue him, but he was much more interested in her gift of drawing people out of their dark hiding places. A delicate thread of vulnerability drew him to Leah, and the memory of Desiree danced on that connection, as if begging to be explored. “I’ve talked more about her to you than anyone in the last year.” His voice was ragged with stifled emotion.
“I’m glad you feel you can share her memory with me,” Leah responded.
Trev looked into her face, glad to see that she held his gaze in spite of his anguish. She sat with him in this place where sorrow edged into everyday life, calming him with her delicate voice and warm presence. But the comfort of it dissipated in the truth he dared not tell. He cleared his throat. “Yes, but it was a while ago.” He stood, snapping the tenuous link between them. “Well, I’d best get back to work.” He stopped. He didn’t want to leave things as he had during their garden walk. He wanted to offer something more than a quick, jagged exit. And he wanted to gaze at her one more time. He met her eyes and lowered his voice. “I hope you’re happy here. I know my parents love you.”
Leah’s eyes lit up. “Yes. Your parents are delightful, and I enjoy the grounds and environment.”
Leah’s radiant gaze almost forced Trev back into his chair. When she smiled, her eyes brightened with luminous transparency. If she carried any secrets, he couldn’t spot them. He longed to join her in that crystalline space.
He returned her happy expression. “I’m glad. I want you to be contented here.” The truth of his words broke through his gloom. Yes. Leah’s happiness in his home pleased him.
He backed away, even as he wanted to move toward her. But he kept his eyes on hers until he needed to turn.
As he moved up the stairs, their softhearted exchange lingered. It illuminated the melancholy space within the inner chambers of his heart that had grown dark with Desiree’s death.
Behind his desk, he replayed the conversation that had just taken place, trying to keep the light of it alive, but he didn’t fool himself. Leah was responsible for the joy he found in the midst of despair. If he wanted this delicate flame to continue its glow, he’d need to find a way to return to her. Joy, tentative and precious battled his ever-present fear that refused to give in to her sweet solace.
If she knew the full story of Desiree’s passing, Leah would politely find a way to distance herself from him. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t help himself. Her charm lingered around him, like a whispered promise that traced itself in the cracks of Trev’s heart. More than anything, he hungered for more of her.
Chapter 10
Leah sat several feet away from Rebecca and Paul on a bench of her own. The grounds of Walnut Ridge surrounded her in beauty and color, a sharp contrast to her one-bedroom apartment with asphalt for grounds and streetlights in the place of trees off Highway 62. But with her work with the Michaelses, she spent more time here than in her apartment, and after a month Leah was beginning to feel at home. Maybe too much at home.
Her last shared lunch with Trev had both satisfied her and left her wanting more. More of his story. More of his presence. More of him. At the same time, she settled gently into his company as if they’d known each other for years, the familiarity growing between them, both fresh while feeling timeless. Each bit he shared about Desiree coaxed a growing communion, feeding a deeper desire Leah couldn’t quite name.
She glanced over at the older couple. Both of them looked happy and healthier. In the month since her employment, Paul still used his walker, but only out of doors. Rebecca had grown in strength and agility. Her stair work had grown to six trips twice a day. From somewhere, she’d scrounged up some hand weights, and she was using them to build upper-body strength. Her eyes had brightened considerably along with her mood.
Leah continued to watch as she and Paul talked with their heads together, looking over Rebecca’s phone. It appeared she was texting. What would it be like to grow old with someone? That pesky nesting instinct had caught up with her once again. Leah shut it down. She had a job to do and many years of schooling. There wasn’t any room for romance. Her father had made that clear when she was fifteen. Longing and loneliness settled in Leah’s chest. Somewhere within the last month, she’d forgotten that her studies were all that mattered.
Turning away from the older couple, she took in the expansive view of Beaver Lake. It wouldn’t do to dwell on the impossible and having a family fit that description. Her time was better spent enjoying the cool morning, a rare gift in mid-June.
Leah loved these moments when Paul and Rebecca were happy, allowing her mind to wander back to Trev and the puzzle of their last conversation. In spite of his eagerness to speak of Desiree, there was something he refused to share. He chose his words carefully, and Leah could feel the secret pressing him into a deep abyss when he ventured too close to its hiding place.
Looking up, she was surprised to see Rebecca and Paul standing in front of her. She hadn’t heard them draw near. “Paul and I would like take a trip into Eureka Springs today,” Rebecca said.
Leah furrowed her brow in concern. “That little town is parked on a hill, and the sidewalks are notorious for being broken up with concrete. It’s a tough place for anyone to walk, but for Paul, I think it’d be a real challenge.”
Rebecca agreed, but she was determined. “We’d like to go to the Crescent Hotel for some pizza. That shouldn’t be too hard to navigate. And in town, there’s a festival. A young dance troupe will be doing some ballroom dancing in the park. We’d like to go and watch after lunch. Stephen can get us close enough where we can walk straight to Basin Park from the street. We need out of this blasted house.”
Leah nodded. “I couldn’t agree more, but don’t you want to try something nice and safe like a movie or a restaurant with easy access? Bentonville might be the better choice.”
“Nope. We’ve already been to Bentonville. So we go big or stay home, and we’re done staying home. Aren’t we, Paul?”
Paul had come to stand beside his wife. He nodded. “Trev has agreed to take the afternoon off and come with us. He can help if we need him.”
Leah blinked, trying to keep a poker face as a jolt of surprised pleasure sped through her. “Well, it looks as if I’m outvoted.” She stood. “But I’m counting on the two of you to let me or Trev know if either of you feel like it’s too much or you’re having a hard time navigating the area.”
Rebecca and Paul grinned, first at Leah and then at each other. She read some covert exchange between the couple but didn’t ask. It wasn’t any of her business.
She came up with a different question. “Will Allison be coming with us?”
Paul’s face fell. “No. We were hoping for her company, but she wants to stay home.”
Immediate regret filled Leah. She wished she hadn’t brought up Allison. It never turned out well.
Rebecca moved away from the uncomfortable topic. “Paul and I will get cleaned up, and we’ll meet you at the front door in an hour. How does that sound?”
“Great!” Leah warmed to the idea of spending some time in town. She also needed to get out of the house.
An hour later, Stephen was helping Paul and Rebecca into the back of the car. Leah reached for the passenger side door, but Stephen stopped her. “I’ll get that door for you, miss.”
Leah pulled back and wrung her hands. She wasn’t used to having someone help her in or out of a car. She stepped away, allowing Stephen to open the door and help her settle into her seat.
A slight panic rippled through her. Where was Trev? The Bentley wouldn’t fit all five of them. Had he changed his mind? She desperately hoped not. She needed his help with his parents if they were going to navigate Eureka Springs, but beyond the need, she also simply wanted him near.
She stifled her anxious question as a second garage door opened and Trev pulled into the bright sun in an electric-blue convertible M5 BMW with a sporty twin grill and LED running
lights. Leah’s eyes grew large.
Stephen grinned at her from the driver’s seat of the Bentley. “It’s pretty, isn’t it, miss?”
Stunned, Leah nodded. The car gleamed under the sun. “Yes. It’s beautiful.”
Rebecca piped up from the back seat. “Would you like to ride with Trev?”
The question alarmed Leah. Did her admiration spill into improper eagerness? “No!” Leah stated emphatically. “I mean, I’m sure he’d like some time alone … with his car …” Inwardly, Leah cringed in awkward chagrin. She hoped the color in her face didn’t match the hot embarrassment racing through her veins.
Rebecca patted her shoulder from the back seat. “Maybe on the way home.”
Maybe not. She’d already shown everyone in the Bentley what it meant to be poverty-stricken by the way she ogled Trev’s car. She didn’t want to flash that truth in front of Trev while driving to or from Eureka Springs. She kept her eyes on the floor of the Bentley.
The drive to the Crescent Hotel was short. Once they arrived, Stephen drove to the entrance before stopping the car and hopping out. He first helped Rebecca and Paul out of the vehicle before opening the passenger door.
As Stephen offered his hand, Trev came from behind. “I’ll do the honors,” he said.
“Of course.” Stephen moved out of the way.
Trev offered Leah his hand. Warmth resonated from his lake-blue eyes, stopping her breath. The touch of his strong palm against her fingers thrilled her, somehow tying her to Trev in a way that felt brand new while arousing that gentle familiarity.
Until she stepped out of the car in her tennis shoes, jeans, and oversized gray T-shirt. She hadn’t noticed how the others were dressed until this minute. Rebecca wore a gorgeous pant suit in forest green, setting off her collar-length gray hair. Paul was dressed in khakis with loafers and a light blue cotton shirt, while Trev was decked out in charcoal chinos and a butter-yellow linen shirt.
Leah glanced at his feet. Peeking from below the hem of his chinos were white athletic socks. She held back a giggle. This was Trev. They were going to eat pizza with his parents. She worked for him, and he offered his hand. It wasn’t rocket science or even love. It was a courtesy displayed from the moment they’d first met.
She tried to shake the thick embarrassment over the way she was dressed, but it clung to her like the afternoon’s sticky humidity. “I’m sorry about the way I look …” she mumbled. She didn’t want to explain how she had never been able to afford the kind of clothes the Michaels family so easily wore.
Trev bent down and whispered in her ear. “As long as you’ve got socks, you’re good to go.”
His breath against her cheek sent a new enticing charge down her spine. She scrunched her toes and smiled. She and Trev might be worlds apart, but they shared a love of socks, and right now, it was enough.
Rebecca came to her left side. “Don’t worry,” she said. “This is Eureka Springs, not Los Angeles or even Seattle. No one here cares. Least of all us.” She tucked her arm through Leah’s. “Now, my girl. Help me find that elevator. I’m not ready to tackle stairs in public just yet.”
Leah laughed and pulled Rebecca’s arm close to her body.
Trev stepped away. “I’m going to help Dad.”
The two men followed close behind. The rest of the afternoon was spent eating pizza, enjoying the views from the Crescent Hotel, and acting like tourists in a venue Leah knew well with its dark wood and gorgeous setting. A few hours later, they sat in Basin Spring Park in downtown Eureka Springs under a canopy of green leafy trees. Leah welcomed the shade as she sat between Rebecca and Trev and watched young dancers move with grace and ease through a ballroom routine.
Leah leaned over, whispering in Trev’s ear. “I wonder who made those costumes. They’re gorgeous.”
Trev bobbed his head toward a young woman with feathered black bangs sitting next to a striking man. “She made them. Her name is Indigo Williams. She owns the Silver Stitch here in town. She’s dating my neighbor, Cole Demetrius.”
As if on cue, Cole turned toward them, giving them both a wave. Leah flashed a timid smile. She hoped Trev’s neighbor didn’t assume she and Trev were dating.
Trev didn’t seem the least bit perturbed by the thought and returned the salutation with a warm smile and wave. “Cole started a fund for the arts here in Eureka Springs. I’m not sure of all the details, but he and Indigo met through the dance troupe. It wouldn’t surprise me if they got married soon.”
Leah sat back and blushed. Marriage wasn’t on her agenda, and there was no reason to talk about someone else’s.
After the dance, Leah watched all of the young people gather around. Cole and Indigo joined them, Indigo’s arm entwined with Cole’s.
“They look happy, don’t they?” Trev motioned toward Indigo and Cole.
A familiar and wistful desire came over Leah. “Yeah, they do.” It’d be nice to belong to someone, to have a level of intimacy and comfort that came from falling in love. She had thought she and Justin belonged to each other that way, but their relationship was nothing but a big fat lie.
She recalled her earlier worries about Trev and his similarities to Justin because of his money. Men in high tax brackets didn’t choose women like her unless they wanted to create a spectacle, as Justin had with his parents. Although that didn’t seem to be the case with Cole and Indigo. Apparently, she was a working woman who owned a business. Cole draped his arm around her shoulder in casual honesty that spoke to his love for her. Trev never caused any sort of scene either. He shared meaningful things with her, unlike Justin.
Leah exhaled, once again easing in his company. He’s not like Justin. Paige’s words were true. Leah didn’t have to worry about Trev taking any kind of advantage. Maybe Trev wasn’t the only one who needed a friend. Maybe she needed a friend, too.
Rebecca interrupted her thoughts. “Let’s head over to the Sweet Shoppe for a bite of fudge. I hear Brooke has a new flavor.”
With a final look toward Indigo and Cole, Leah left Trev’s side and stood between Rebecca and Paul to help them navigate the stairs and sidewalk to the Sweet Shoppe. Trev followed her lead and flanked his father. Together, the four of them made their way through the crowd.
Once in the shop, Paul asked, “Can we get this to go? It’s been a big day, and I think I’m ready to go home.”
“Absolutely,” Leah replied. She considered the ride back to the Michaels’ home, wishing against her better judgment to ride with Trev in his bright blue Beamer. The wistful longing for the same gentle and easy relationship she witnessed with Cole and Indigo made her crave something she’d never considered available.
She wished the yearning would leave, but it only grew while she and Rebecca ordered their pieces of fudge and Trev stayed back at the table with his father. When they finished their purchases, they made their way to the curb to find Stephen waiting for them. He helped Paul into the car. Rebecca followed.
Before Stephen opened the passenger side door, Trev stepped next to Leah. “I’d love to take you home in the Beamer.”
Leah’s face and ears burned with embarrassment. Had Trev read her mind? “Oh, um, I should probably go with your folks. I mean—”
“Nonsense, dear,” Rebecca said from the open window of the Bentley. “We’ll be fine. You and Trev enjoy the drive and take a detour or two. There’s some beautiful countryside around here.”
“Are you game?” Trev asked, offering Leah his arm.
Leah looked up into his lake-blue eyes, warm with possibility. She recalled the time she’d tapped Trev’s arm during their first meeting. He had frowned, pulling away. Now, he was offering her that touch. A happy boldness overcame Leah. “Yes, I’d love to.” She placed her arm through the crook of his elbow.
Chapter 11
As Leah stood on the sidewalk, alone with Trev, a sense of loss and uncertainty shifted within her like sands under the pull of the tide. Whenever she spent time with the Michaels family, Rebec
ca and Paul were present. Even when she and Trev were alone, his parents were always close by, the constant reminder of her responsibility and her reason for being in their home. With them pulling away from the curb and her hand snuggled in between Trev’s arm and his shirt, Leah lost her bearings.
The warm strength of Trev drew her closer. If she wasn’t careful, those shifting sands would drag her under into an unknown world of … what exactly, Leah didn’t know.
Crossing the street, Trev opened the passenger side door of the car and settled Leah into her seat before folding himself behind the steering wheel, the interior wrapping around the two of them like it was made for this moment. The car gave a low growl of life, and Trev pulled the vehicle into reverse with the crystal gearshift before effortlessly moving into drive and nosing into traffic. Leah watched his strong hands as he steered, admiring every part of him.
Trev gave her an easy smile. “I remember your application mentioned med school. Do you plan on attending right after you get your bachelor’s in nursing, or will you work for a while?”
“I’ll start applying as soon as I begin my senior year.” Leah eased into the seat and the conversation.
“What about friends? Do you study with anyone? I’d think there’d be a lot of camaraderie around this kind of thing.”
Trev accelerated the Beamer as they reached the edge of town. The engine responded to his push on the gas, and they picked up speed. Coupled with the sun and wind streaming through the convertible, the motion of the drive pried something loose in Leah. She was liberated in an entirely new way. The pull of the car and the rushing wind lulled her into a seductive comfort and ease. “I had a group of friends, but they graduated last year.” The story of Justin surprised her with its desire to be shared here and now. The betrayal and hurt had fused with her identity, making her who she had become, yet she denied it almost every day in the company of others.
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