Bare All

by L M Allen

  Bare All

  Lay Me Bare, Volume 3

  L M Allen

  Published by L M Allen, 2021.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  BARE ALL

  First edition. November 4, 2021.

  Copyright © 2021 L M Allen.

  ISBN: 979-8201323622

  Written by L M Allen.

  Also by L M Allen

  Lay Me Bare

  Lay Me Bare

  Bared To You

  Bare All (Coming Soon)

  Watch for more at L M Allen’s site.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By L M Allen

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

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  Also By L M Allen

  About the Author

  To all new and aspiring authors; keep going. You got this.

  To all those who support them; you rock.

  Chapter 1

  “Eva?” I can hear Will speaking quietly. He’s close. Soft lips brush mine, coaxing them into a smile. I stretch on the picnic blanket, encouraging my body from blissed-out slumber to blissed-out awake, and inhale deeply. The scent of wild flowers fills my head and I laugh out loud. “What’s funny?” Will’s gentle caress feathers down my arm and his fingers curl around my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the sapphire he put there only a few hours ago.

  “Not funny ha-ha. Funny, as in un-bloody-believable.”

  “What’s that?” I can hear his smile. My eyelids slowly open and blink in the bright sunshine. The deep blue summer sky is replaced by the deep blue of my favourite eyes, smiling down at me as he shifts and leans over my body.

  “We’re getting bloody married!” I laugh.

  “Hmm. Tomorrow good for you?”

  “Funny.”

  “I want it all, Eva. With you. For us.” He gazes into my eyes and speaks quietly. “A family. A home...”

  “A home?” His head tilts slightly to the right, a serious expression on his face as he studies mine. I nod firmly. “Get dressed.” I push up to sitting and drag on my T-shirt. I glance at Will, still motionless and not putting on his clothes. “Or you can go like that if you prefer?” I shrug. I might prefer that too.

  “Go where?”

  “Get dressed...or don’t...and I’ll show you.” I grin at his grin.

  “Not even married yet and she’s already bossing me around.” He shakes his head in mock sadness as I button up my jeans, and he reaches for his own.

  I watch Will pull his shirt on, and grab his hand before he can button it. “This way,” I grin and tug him after me.

  We walk hand in hand through the woodlands, each casting glances at the other. “This is a bit big,” Will says, wiggling my engagement ring side to side. “We can get you something else if you’d like...” He stops talking when his eye catches mine. “Or not.”

  “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  “It was my grans.”

  “Wow.” I bring our joined hands up to study the heirloom again. “I love it even more now.”

  “We’ll get it resized then.” He smiles down at our tangle of fingers and kisses the back of mine. I love the way he does that.

  After a few minutes of walking through huge ferns and even taller trees, weaving around patches of wild flowers and dodging stingers, we emerge in a pool of sunlight at the edge of the woods. “Where are we going?” Will asks.

  “Home.” I point to the chunky oak gate set in a towering brick wall a few meters away and take a breath. I haven’t walked through that gate in years. Never thought I would again. I glance at Will and step forward to twist the handle before I can change my mind.

  I push the gate wide, my gaze downcast before I force it up. The air in my lungs turns solid. I hold my breath and wait before trying to inhale again.

  “I don’t understand.” Will’s forehead creases as his eyebrows draw together.

  “Eden.” I gesture to the sprawling pile of bricks before us, barely able to look. “My dad built it. For me.” I force my eyes up and take in the only place that will ever be home to me. It’s still exactly as I remember it.

  The honey-coloured bricks seem to glow warmer in the sun under its black slate roof. The green spikey palms and pots of seasonal flowers still fill every corner, even down to the roses surrounding the door.

  It was originally four huge barns. Now it’s one enormous house, arranged around a courtyard that we can’t see from here, but will no doubt be filled with the enticing aromas I remember beckoning me from my bed as a teenager with the promise of a quiet corner to cuddle up in. Or the acres of open space and the multitude of trees that provided a playground for me and Davey, and Gary, when we were growing up.

  “So...why don’t you live here now?” My jaw and chest tighten, and I feel my face scrunch up. “Eva?” Will steps in front of me. “If this is too much...”

  “It’s not that. It’s...a long story. Come. I want to show you.” I do. I do want to show him. I do.

  “A story you are willing to share?”

  “Not yet.” My voice has dropped to barely audible. Will squeezes my fingers tight in understanding, and we start walking again through the lush grounds towards the house. I can feel Will looking at me as I keep my attention fixed to my boots. He draws a deep breath.

  “Did...you...live here with...?”

  “No! God no. Nothing like that.” I shake my head for emphasis.

  “Okay. Good.” He lets out the air he’s been holding. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...” I glance up at him.

  “We both have a past, Will. But this is about the future.” The future. Leave the past where it is, my brain whispers sagely. But for ghosts to stay buried, first you have to face them.

  I reach up to the ledge above the door and walk my fingertips along, until I feel the cool metal of the key. Will cocks an eyebrow and smirks. I shrug as I slide the key into the lock and twist it. That key has been there for years. The door creaks open and I push it wide before we step through.

  It’s exactly as it should be, not a thing out of place. And spotless. Jan, the housekeeper, and her husband Tom, who looks after the grounds, do an exemplary job. I step further in through the back door with Will at my side. I trail one finger lightly over the kitchen worktop, tracing the edges of a corner. “This is where Davey knocked his tooth out. Blood everywhere. Idiot.”

  My feet inch forward. My hand trails behind me. “This is where Mum murdered the curry.” I rub my thumb over the permanent stain. “We ribbed her for weeks for that one.”

  “This was your family home?”

  “Yeah.” I give him half a smile and glance over at the table. Will follows my gaze, frowning. “My dad died here,” I tell him quietly. “There was nothing we could do...” I can see it all now. The way his cutlery clattered to the floor. The look on his face.

  “Oh, baby. I’m sorry.” He pulls me close, and I lay my head over his heart, his
warm skin with my freshly scrawled signature across it. I’m concerned for about half a second that I’ve smudged the ink I’ve just left there spelling out my new nick name, Wild Thing, but quickly decide I don’t care and hold on to him tighter. After a few minutes, he says, “Tell me about him. About your dad.”

  “Oh...he was...my dad.” I shrug. “He was my bloody hero. My protector. My playmate. He was everything to me.”

  “I’ve never heard you talk about him before.”

  “No. I try not to. It always makes me cry.” And sick with guilt. I shake my head and push the thought aside. “He taught me to climb trees. To look after myself. He even taught me to shoot.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Aha. He called it basic weapons training. I loved it. Learning how to be just like my daddy. He even set me up an assault course.” A sad smile tugs at my mouth. He didn’t tell me why I needed to know at the time. “Come. Let me show you the rest of this place.”

  “It’s a beautiful house,” Will says, his eyes sweeping over the huge kitchen diner that’s about as big as The Nook. As we walk past the utility room, he cranes his neck to see through the open door. I readjust my grip on his hand and thread my fingers through his, before we walk out into the circular hallway and stop at the foot of the sweeping staircase. I point to the room on my far left.

  “Living room is that way.” I move my extended finger around to each closed door in turn. “Snug, study, dining room, garden room off it, and the stairs to the playroom are that way too. There are six bedrooms upstairs, all en suites with walk-in wardrobes, and the attic room.”

  Will and I move through each room, one by one, before heading back to the snug. I lead him over to the sofa and we sit close together. It’s a small sofa.

  “So...what do you think?”

  “It’s incredible, Eva. Just like you.” I roll my eyes but laugh despite myself.

  “You think it could be home? It needs modernising and redecorating, I suppose...” My gaze travels over the faded paintwork but my attention flies back to Will when he inhales sharply.

  “You want us to move in?” He shifts around to face me.

  “Why not?” I shrug and try to ignore the sharp stab in my chest. “It’s just standing here, empty. The Nook isn’t really big enough for four, and Escape is—” He seals his lips on mine, silencing my ramblings. He begins to move further towards me, pushing me back against the squashy cushions as his hands lift to my hair.

  “Can I do it?” he breathes between kisses.

  “Huh?” He breaks away from my mouth, trailing kisses along my outstretched neck.

  “The modernising. Can I organise it for us? Property is my thing.”

  “Okay.”

  “Yeah?” His head snaps up. I nod, and his face breaks into a smile. He thought I’d say no?

  “Yes. Let’s make it ours.”

  “I bloody love you.”

  “I know.” I sigh. “You’re only human.”

  “And she’s so modest with it,” he teases me back. He starts to lean in again when the front door bangs shut. Will is on his feet fast. And Jan wanders in.

  “Ooh!” Jan jumps so much she drops the little bag of shopping, and her hand goes to her chest. “Eva!” she gasps. “You gave me a fright!”

  “Sorry, Jan.” I stand beside Will. “This is Will. Jan is Dad’s...my...our...housekeeper.”

  “Jan. Pleasure.” Will holds out a hand with a killer smile, and Jan melts all over his boots as she carefully places her palm in his. “Let me help you with that.” Will scoops to pick up Jan’s shopping bag and she hiccups, her wide eyes glued to my left hand.

  “You’re getting married?”

  “We are,” I tell her softly. I still can’t believe it. She squeals like a school girl as my eyes drop to my ring.

  “Jan,” Will says, his face serious, his tone conspiratorial. “You wouldn’t believe the hassle I’ve had, trying to get her to agree to marry me. But now that she’s said yes, I’ll make sure you get an invite.”

  Jan giggles in a simpering way I’ve never heard her do before, adding to the overgrown schoolgirl vibe when her cheeks pinken.

  “Shall I put this in the kitchen for you?” Will asks, smiling as though he knows the effect he has on female hormones. But of course he does. He built a business from it. I’m still not sure how to feel about that. She nods mutely, blushing and fidgeting. Good God, Jan!

  “Is Tom with you, Jan?” I ask, reminding her she’s already married to a good man.

  “Y-yes, he’s in the garden,” she says breathlessly, watching Will disappear.

  “We’ll go say hi before we leave then.”

  “Who’s Tom?” Will asks, strolling our way again.

  “Jan’s husband.” He glances at my face and half smirks. I can see what he’s thinking, and I don’t like it. I am not jealous. Never have been. “And our groundskeeper.”

  “Tom with the strawberries?” That man misses nothing!

  “Yes, Tom with the strawberries.” I smile. “We send our surplus to the farm shop. I’ll show you.”

  “Are you telling me that you bought your own strawberries from the farm shop?”

  “No. I’m telling you that you did.”

  I lead Will out through the back door and across the lush, well-kept lawn with Jan on my other side. It’s a shortcut to the orchard and the allotment.

  “We’ll be able to pick these in a few months.” I reach up and run the leaves of the fruit tree through my fingers as we pass by.

  “What are they?” He lifts his gaze to the branches and the blue blobs beginning to form.

  “Damsons.” Will’s mouth curves in a soft smile.

  “I can’t wait to taste them.”

  “Will you be moving in, Eva?” Jan asks, a cautious note to her voice.

  “Yes. Eden will be a family home again.”

  “It’s a great place to raise a family,” Will says softly, and Jan’s eyes fly to mine.

  “Will has a daughter too,” I tell her, quickly dispelling any silly ideas.

  “Oh...I thought...maybe...” Her eyes flit to my belly.

  “Nope. Two’s good. Mae and Summer are as thick as thieves. They’d give any blood sisters a run for their money.” I sneak a peek at Will. I hope he’s not freaking out. I know he’s not mad keen on the whole pregnancy thing. God knows I could do without another pregnancy-related outburst. He’s nearly frowning, so I change the subject fast. “How are your boys, Jan?” And she’s off, filling us in on every detail of their student lifestyles until Tom shuts her up with a quick kiss.

  “Eva.” He smiles warmly and turns an assessing gaze on Will. “And who’s this?”

  “This is Will, Tom. We’re moving back in.” Tom’s eyebrows disappear under his sun hat.

  “Well, now. There’s a thing. I’m glad.” He nods firmly. “A house like this shouldn’t be empty. And a girl like you shouldn’t be lonely.”

  “I was never lonely, Tom.” He squints one eye at me.

  “You take care of her, young man. She’s pure gold.” Tom holds out a hand, and Will takes it.

  “If she’d let me, Tom, I would.”

  “Oh, let’s not start now. We all know I’m a big girl. We just wanted to say hi. We’ll get out of your way.”

  “What’s the rush, Evie?”

  “Tom...”

  “Why don’t you both come along to the after party tonight, Tom?” Will asks, producing a business card like magic. “You can grill me all you like, but I promise you you’ll never find a man who loves her more.” Tom takes the card from Will’s fingers, his face softening.

  “But...um...you should know...Davey...”

  “Oh, Eva, Davey would be thrilled for you,” Jan says in a tight voice. I half chuckle, barely able to believe my own life.

  “Davey is...going to be there.” Tom looks at me hard for several moments, and I hold my breath. I can see him thinking.

  “I bloody knew it!” he booms at last. “I knew
that boy wasn’t bloody dead! Didn’t I tell you, Jan!” And he catches her as she stumbles, his reflexes still lightning fast. “Let me guess. He was on ops? Deep cover? Off grid? Secret squirrel?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Ted almost let it slip, y’know.”

  “Oh, did he?” You wait ‘till I see fucking Ted!

  “You know how it is, Eva,” he says, matter of fact. “He had a job to do.”

  “You sound like you miss it.”

  “Sometimes,” he admits, and his eyes get distant.

  “Well, I don’t,” Jan blurts. “Keeping everything together...not knowing if your husband is dead or alive, and trying to raise two kids. Waiting for that knock on the door. I don’t know how Joyce did it. All that undercover work your dad did was absolutely suicidal. It’s bad enough...” She gasps and clamps her mouth shut.

  “He knew what he was doing, Jan,” Tom says sternly. “You’d go a long way to meet a better soldier. A better man. I’d be dead without him. And God only knows where we’d be if he hadn’t done this.” He smiles kindly and waves an arm around, indicating the grounds. “And you, of course.” Will looks like he’s going to ask. I nudge him hard.

  “We need to get back. Maybe we’ll see you there?” I nod at the card in Tom’s hand.

  “Maybe you will, Evie. Maybe you will.” I tug on Will’s hand, flashing a smile to Tom and Jan, and Will follows me back towards the gate.

  “Err...Eva?”

  “Hmm?”

  “The groundskeeper is ex-SAS?”

  “Aha.”

  “What did he mean...?”

  “Just that Dad gave them both the jobs here. And I kept them on.” I can feel my jaw tightening, hoping that is the end of Will’s questioning. I glance at Will. He knows there’s more. And he knows that I know that he knows. His eyebrows pull together, but he drops his gaze and nods.

  “I suppose we should get back. We have a party to go to!” I give him an excited smile and make my feet walk faster.

  Chapter 2

  When we get back to Escape an hour or so later, Will stops dead in the lobby, his eyes fixed on the door to the bar. I follow his gaze and smile. “Like the proverbial honeypot.” I kiss his jaw lightly. “I’m going to shower and change. See you in a bit.” I glance back at the bar full of honeytraps before I head for the stairs and the shower, as Will stalks towards his staff in stiff strides.