Page 76 of Eva's Shelter
She ignored the hard look Nichols aimed at her and focused instead on the tears glistening in Abe’s eyes. She could practically hear Nichols adding ‘enemy sympathizer’ to his list of complaints against her. But what had this all been about, if not to restore a man to his rightful place where he was willing to cooperate for the greater good?
In Russian, she invited Abe to the Morris family dinner as well.
He declined with a wan smile, offering a blessing on her and her house instead.
As the official business wound down and everyone went their separate ways, Eva contemplated Abraham’s words. Where was her ‘house’ as he’d put it? It seemed incomprehensible to feel most at home in Haleswood after such a short time, but it was true. When had she become a small town girl?
With Bakr out of commission, she could go home to the CS office and her apartment in Columbia. She could go home to New York and sip mimosas with her family over Christmas brunch. She slid a glance at Carson. Columbia wasn’t that far away, just over an hour’s drive. Would he visit her?
Would she visit him here? An hour’s drive was a long commute for a booty call—if Carson was willing. If she followed up those nights with a Midnight Rooster breakfast, she could keep up with everyone. Maybe find out who his sister was dating.
Good grief. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t left town yet. She couldn’t be missing the Haleswood camaraderie and friendly routine at the Midnight Rooster already.
She gladly handed Carson the car keys and let him drive. He was quiet until they turned onto the main road. “What’s the matter?”
“Just winding down.” She pulled the elastic band out of her hair and rubbed at her scalp. “It’s going to take forever to get my hair dry. We’ll be late for your family dinner.”
“I can stop by, make excuses and load up a couple of plates to go.”
She laughed. “It’d serve Nichols right if he showed up and we bailed. But no.” The bruising on Carson’s face and neck might bother them, but she knew what his being there meant to his family. “They’ll want to celebrate that your case is closed. And I’m sure Ruth wants her house back.”
“Tomorrow’s soon enough. Ruth and the sheriff were headed to dinner with Allie and Ross at his house.”
“So much domestic bliss.” The trace envy she felt surprised her. “I’m happy for them.”
“Do you need to call your family?”
“Tomorrow is soon enough.” She yawned. “They didn’t know about any of this so they didn’t know to worry. If you want to just drop me at Ruth’s and go alone to see your family I’d understand.”
“We’ll go together.” He reached across and caught her hand. Under the warmth of his touch the envy faded to something closer to contentment. It might be too early for all the long-term logistics, but for tonight, she was exactly where she wanted to be.
Chapter 21
Itwasnearlymidnightwhen Carson pulled up in front of his house. When he opened the door, Sheldon leaped over the back of the seat and out of the car, racing around in circles. “He’s glad to be home.” Eva’s throaty laughter carried across the cold, still air.
“Me too.” For a second, he just enjoyed the view of her wide, warm smile.
He felt an answering grin on his own face and knew they were both too wired to sleep anytime soon. Maybe, after the insanity of taking down Bakr, he should wait until morning to tell her how he felt. He should definitely wait to tell her what he wanted to do about it.
Inside, he crouched at the hearth and built up a fire, giving himself a chance to gather his thoughts. When the kindling caught, Sheldon turned three times in a circle and curled up where he could keep an eye on them.
“Your family does Christmas Eve big,” she said, flopping back on the couch.
“We have generations of practice.”
Cleaning up and changing clothes made them very late to dinner, but they’d been forgiven quickly enough when his grandmother had someone new to fuss over. Nichols had handled the whole situation with a friendlier version of his normal stoicism, thanks to Eva’s persistent social guidance.
She giggled. “I thought Nichols would have a coronary when he saw all those people.”
“You seemed to have a good time tonight,” he said. “At dinner,” he clarified, stretching out next to her on the couch.
She’d been beautiful, fitting in with his relatives like she’d been a part of boisterous Morris family dinners for years. Now, if he could just find the words that would keep her with him for years to come.
“Too bad your family’s got nothing on Battaglia gatherings.”
“Really? That’s hard to imagine. Do you miss your family?”
“Sure.” She laced her fingers through his. “I’ve been away a long time, helping Ross get CS started.”