by Jill Sanders
He was relieved to find that Eve’s X-rays had come back clear. The doctor started talking about a bruised larynx and how to help relieve the swelling and pain for the upcoming days to a week.
“She’s lucky you were there so quickly,” the doctor said. “She’ll need to see a mental health specialist…”
“She didn’t do this to herself. The rope was tied more than five feet away.” The doctor’s eyebrows shot up. “I had to cut the rope off her, there wasn’t any slack. She couldn’t have hoisted herself up and tied the rope off, then kicked the stool out from under her. There’s no way,” he said calmly.
“That may be true, but after something so traumatic, we still want to gauge her physical and mental well-being before we release her.”
He felt frustrated but nodded and decided to call Barb and Phil to see if they agreed with his assessment.
After talking to Barb, he was assured that she was on her way to take pictures of the scene for evidence.
When he stepped out into the waiting area, Brent rushed to his side and bombarded him with questions.
By the time he stepped back into Eve’s room, he was almost a hundred percent sure that her ex had nothing to do with harming her. He may be a spoiled ass, but he wouldn’t have harmed her physically. That was made clear.
He’d heard that the mental health doctor had assessed Eve and signed off on her going home after the doctor agreed.
Of course, they needed a ride. Thankfully, Kathrine and Genie showed up just before they received Eve’s discharge papers.
They rode in the back of Kathrine’s minivan towards the inn. He filled them in on Eve’s condition and they threw questions at Eve, questions he tried to answer for her, since she was not supposed to talk for the next twenty-four hours. Or try not to, at any rate.
When they pulled into the parking lot of the inn, he noticed the police cruiser next to his truck.
“Eve, can you hang out here while I head in and talk to Barb and Phil really quick?” he asked.
Eve nodded and reached for his hand.
“I’ll tell you everything they tell me. I promise,” he said with a smile. “Kathrine, would you stay with Eve?”
“We both will,” Kathrine assured him.
He jogged up the stairs and found Barb and Phil in the front lobby talking with Patrick.
“Well?” he asked coming to a stop.
“Well,” Barb said, “we both agree with your assessment. Honest, if you hadn’t pointed it out, we wouldn’t have checked the length of the rope, the height of the chair against Eve’s height. But we found it was two feet too short. The way the knot was tied up, she would have needed the stool as well. Even a seven-foot man with monkey arms couldn’t have hung himself like that.”
“We’ve taken pictures and are heading out to check the whereabouts of all of her family members,” Phil said.
Barb added, “We heard that Eve’s ex is in town. We wanted to—”
“I’ve already crossed him off my list of suspects,” Dylan broke in. “But have a chat with him. He’s staying here at the inn. I’m going to take Eve home. She’ll be home for the rest of the week,” he said to Patrick, who nodded. “If you need anything, call me first.” Again, the man nodded in agreement.
“How’s she doing?” Barb asked.
He filled them in quickly, then grabbed Eve’s purse and jacket from her office, using the spare keys she’d given him.
Jerry from the kitchen rushed to catch him as he stepped outside.
“We heard about Eve,” he said, holding a large brown bag. “Soup, honey cakes, and some concoction that Erika swears by for a sore throat.”
“Thanks.” He took the bag and told him that he’d have to fill everyone in on how Eve was doing later. Right now, he wanted to get her home.
“Tell Eve we’re all thinking of her and to not worry about anything but getting better,” Jerry added.
He knew the gossip would fill the inn by the time they made it home but figured they might as well get the story right.
When he made it back to his truck, he had just helped Eve in the passenger seat when her parents’ car came to a screeching halt next to his truck.
“Eve?” Her mother rushed from the car. Dylan saw Eve tense as the woman wrapped her arms around her.
30
Falling stars
Eve couldn’t believe it as her mother threw herself at her and held on. Tears, real ones, slipped down her mother’s face.
“They told me… that you’d died,” she said between gasps.
He glanced over her mother’s shoulder at her father, who looked just as concerned for her.
Eve shook her head no and looked to Dylan for help. Her head was splitting, her throat was on fire, and the skin around her throat, where the rope had burned her during her struggles, topped the charts of pain.
She wanted a hot bath, a couple aspirin, and to lay in bed holding Dylan for the rest of the week. But now that her parents were involved, she doubted she would get any of that soon.
She sat there in silence as Dylan quickly explained what had happened, how he had performed CPR to get her heart started again and bring oxygen into her seized-up lungs.
She didn’t remember anything except struggling against the rope, then losing consciousness. The next thing she remembered, Dylan was laying her on the gurney, and she was being rolled into the back of the ambulance.
The pain had been so intense, she’d gripped his hand and held on as tight as she could, wishing for the blissfulness of unconsciousness again. She hadn’t known he’d done CPR on her until she’d heard a nurse telling her that she had a few bruised ribs because of the compressions and that it was normal after CPR.
Dylan had saved her life once when he’d been there to drag her out of the darkness that was her family. Now he’d done it again, only this time literally.
If there had been any shred of doubt in her mind about what kind of man he was, it had died in the boathouse.
She felt herself shiver, and she reached for Dylan’s jacket and tossed it over her shoulders.
“Eve needs to get home,” Dylan broke in suddenly. He must have seen her struggling to stay warm. The evening air promised more snow, even though the reports said it would clear up for a day or two before more of the fresh powder was due.
She didn’t pay too much attention to what her parents said, since she was fighting the pain. She rested her head back and closed her eyes.
When the truck started and the heater hit her, she drifted off completely, only waking slightly as Dylan carried her into the house.
She felt him remove her boots and jeans and slide on a pair of her cotton pajama bottoms. The sweater was next. He gently removed her bra and she sighed with the feeling of being freed. Then he tucked an oversized shirt on her.
Her eyes opened and she smiled down after noticing her grandfather’s pink shirt.
“Sorry, it’s the only one I could find at the moment.” Dylan smiled down at her. “Here, see if you can swallow these.” He held out two aspirin for her and some water. “I’ll make you some tea and honey. It’s supposed to help…”
She cringed at the pain of swallowing and then shook her head. “Sleep,” she mouthed. “Too tired.” She tried to pull the covers over herself. Dylan was there to help her.
“Sleep then. I’m right here.”
“Palmer?” she asked, trying not to use her voice.
“She’s at my dad’s until you feel better.”
“Tomorrow,” she said. “I want her here.”
He nodded and smiled. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll have Dad drop her off tomorrow after school.”
She nodded and closed her eyes.
The next time she surfaced, it was to the smell of something wonderful.
“Think you can eat?” Dylan asked her and helped her sit up in the bed.
Her stomach growled loudly, causing Dylan to chuckle. “I’ll take that as a yes. The staff sent over some soup and bread.” He nodded to
the plate he’d made. “Think you can eat some?”
She nodded and sat up, moving slowly. For some reason, every muscle in her body ached as if she’d just run a marathon.
“Doing okay?” he asked.
She shrugged, the motion causing her to moan softly.
“Hurt?” He set the tray down. “After you eat, you can take a bath. I’ll get one started…” He turned to go, but she reached for his hand to stop him.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
His eyes softened as he sat next to her. Gently taking her face in his hands, he kissed her. “Any time.”
She smiled and he watched her take a few sips of the soup. The warmth of it initially shocked her sore throat, but after a while, it was too good to matter.
“I’ll go make you a bath.” He got up, then snapped his fingers and turned back around, pulling something from his pocket. “If you need anything…” He handed her a small black toy cat.
“You squeeze.” He showed her, and a very loud annoying sound came from the thing, making him laugh when she jumped. “Yeah, I can hear it even if I’m out in the garage.” She smiled and tucked the toy next to her. “My dad’s cruel joke.” He shook his head. “He used to buy Palmer the loudest things he could find.” She laughed, then instantly regretted it. “I’ll go make you a bath.” He disappeared and she tried to eat more of the soup.
When she had eaten as much as she could, she swung her feet over the bed, set down the tray, and moved into the bathroom.
Dylan was leaning over the tub, pouring some bright pink bath salts into the water.
He glanced over at her and frowned. “Palmer has these. They smell like bubble gum, but I figured it was better than nothing.”
She smiled and nodded.
“Need any help?” he asked.
“Trying to get me naked?” she said, trying out her voice, since the soup had helped. It was scratchy, but some of the pain had already let up.
Dylan stood and moved over to her. “Always, but for now, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
She nodded, realizing that the short trip into the bathroom had already worn her out.
She sat on the edge of the garden tub and let him pull the T-shirt over her head and the pajamas off her.
“Here.” He gave her his hand and she stepped into the water, slowly.
Sinking below the warm water, she groaned with pleasure.
“Keep making those sexy sounds, and I’ll join you in there,” he joked as he held up a washcloth. “You have some blood.” He motioned to her neck.
She leaned back and waited as he gently rubbed the dried blood away from her skin. Closing her eyes, she let every muscle in her body relax as he chatted about life to keep her mind from what had just happened.
It was so wonderful to listen to him talking about how they needed to prepare the house to bring the puppies home. He even talked about work, how the guys had finished gutting the last room today.
“That means we’ll start patching the walls and painting next week. Once that’s done, the flooring will go in.” He was running the washcloth over her shoulders and legs, any part of her not under water. She could have fallen asleep right there.
“So, something tells me that was the first time your mother has hugged you in a while,” he said, surprising her.
She opened her eyes and shrugged. “I can’t remember the last time.”
“Do you think it was for show?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
She thought about it and shrugged again. “She seemed sincere.”
“I agree.” He nodded. “It was just strange, seeing emotions other than anger and annoyance from them.”
She smiled. “You really do know my parents.”
He chuckled. “All of your family, actually.”
She nodded in agreement. “Reggie’s, Steve’s, and Ramona’s deaths are nothing more than a nuisance,” she said. She’d been thinking it for a while, but after assessing her family’s behavior, that was the best she could come up with.
“Yeah.” He felt the water and frowned. “The water’s grown cold. Do you want me to heat it?”
She shook her head. “I’m tired again.”
He nodded and stood up to grab her a towel. “Here.” He stopped her from standing on her own and helped her out of the tub. “Feel light-headed?”
“A little. I could use some more of the soup.”
“Good.” He chuckled. “Because they sent a whole gallon of the stuff.”
She smiled and leaned against the counter as he dried her off.
Closing her eyes, she enjoyed having him gently rub the soft towel over her skin.
“You’re cold,” he said halfway through. She shook her head. “You’ve got goose bumps.” She smiled and watched his eyes heat. “Oh.” His eyebrows rose slightly. “When you feel better.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “My throat hurts, not the rest of me.”
That wasn’t true. The rest of her was on fire for him. Her body demanded release.
Instead of continuing to dry her off, he wrapped the towel around her body and lifted her into his arms. She intertwined her fingers into his hair and kissed him as he carried her into the bedroom.
“Let me know if I do anything to hurt you,” he said as he gently laid her down on the bed.
“You could never do anything to hurt me,” she said and poured everything she had been feeling for him into the kiss.
His hands ran over the towel and pulled it aside, exposing her as his eyes ran down her skin. “So beautiful,” he said, bending his head lower to trail kisses over her breasts. He took her nipple into his mouth and sucked lightly until she arched for him and reached to pull off his shirt. She wanted skin on skin, to feel his warmth next to her.
He leaned back and pulled the shirt off, tossing it aside. He was more impressive each time she looked at him. Her eyes trailed over the lean, toned muscles that ran over his shoulders and arms, traveling down his pecs. She took in the sexy way his ribs turned into a perfect six-pack and the light dusting of dark hair that started below his navel and disappeared into his jeans.
Reaching, she ran her hands over the same trail and he sucked in his breath. Unsnapping his jeans, she nudged them down his hips, exposing his hip bones, which jutted out, making a perfect V leading to his sex.
She couldn’t explain how turned on she was. Maybe it was because she’d almost died—well, had died, really—but she needed him. Needed to feel alive and loved.
She watched him toss off his jeans and grab a condom from his nightstand. She laid her hands flat on his chest and forced him to lie down as she climbed over him.
“Are you up for this?” he asked again, making her smile as she wrapped her hand around his cock. “I’m as up for this as you are.” She positioned herself and slid slowly down on him, moaning with pure delight as she went.
She’d often wondered what it felt like when men said they’d lost control during sex, taking what they wanted. As she began to move over him, she realized she could now describe that sensation perfectly.
It was as if her body took over. Dylan’s hands gripped her hips, holding her, moving her as she rode him, taking everything that she wanted.
He sat up, trailing his mouth over her breasts, then reached up and pulled her head to his. He kissed her as she felt herself slip over the last edge, the one she’d denied to herself, the one she’d promised that she would never cross.
Even though she’d told him that she loved him, she had kept a piece of her heart locked away. Without trying, she willingly gave it to him now. Whatever he did with it, she would deal with later, but for now, she was going to enjoy being alive.
He hoisted her up, reversing their positions until he hovered over her. His mouth closed over hers as he continued to pound into her soft flesh.
Her legs wrapped around his narrow hips, holding him, letting him take his fill of her. She hadn’t expected to feel her needs build again
, but the more he moved, the more they grew. She arched once more when he flicked a finger over her clit as he was fully embedded into her.
She moaned his name as she felt him stiffen above her and cry out her name.
She must have slept for a little while again, and when she opened her eyes, he was fully dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
She lifted her hands over her head and stretched.
“Perfect,” she sighed, noting that her throat felt so much better.
“I know it’s kind of crazy, but I built a fire out on the back patio. The snow’s really coming down and I thought you might like to sit out and watch it.”
She sat up, the sheet slipping down to expose her breasts. His eyes moved down there, and he sighed. “Or we could stay inside…”
She laughed and shook her head. “Is there more soup?”
He smiled. “It’s already heated. Plus, my dad and Palmer dropped off some fixings for s’mores. They were making some tonight too. Palmer wanted you to know that, if she couldn’t be here for you, at least you’d be having the same thing for dinner.”
Eve’s heart melted a little more. “I’ll get dressed.”
“Here.” He held up her fuzzy pajamas. “It’s cold out there.”
She laughed and hugged them to her. “Do you know how happy it makes me that you like these?”
He laughed. “They’re as sexy as that pink silk you purchased.”
She blushed, remembering how he’d enjoyed the sexy underwear she’d purchased. Still, looking back at their time, he’d really enjoyed undressing her in anything she’d worn. Even the fuzzy pajamas.
She pulled them on, and he held his thick winter jacket for her to step into. Then he held up some wool socks. “You can wear my boots,” he added.
She stuck the socks on her feet and groaned with pleasure as they warmed her feet instantly.
Stepping into his wool lined boots, she hugged his heavy jacket around her and stepped out onto the covered part of his deck. He had a firepit sitting just at the edge of the covering. Two chairs sat close to it. A small table with a covered pan and two steaming mugs of hot liquid sat nearby.
