The mystery of what happened to the ten-thousand dollars that Tanner sent to Eve had been solved. She put the money in Daisy’s name. But that wasn’t all. Over the past year, she added to the account. A little here, a little there.
The salary Dylan paid Eve since they arrived in Seattle? Every dime went to Daisy.
“What was Eve thinking?” Levi wanted to know. “She must have known that you would take care of Daisy’s financial needs.
“Eve was sixteen when her mother threw her out of the house.” Dylan shrugged. “My guess is she didn’t want Daisy to ever be alone and without money to pay the bills.”
“First. Eve’s mother?” Levi hissed. “What the fuck.”
“I know.” Dylan didn’t see a time when he would think of Eve’s mother without wanting to punch his fist through a wall. “And you thought Piper had a cold bitch mom.”
“She does,” Levi said. “But nothing compared to Eve. Yikes! How did she turn out to be such a sweetheart—aside from the whole breaking your heart thing.”
Dylan wanted to hate Eve. The impulse lasted all of five minutes. He loved her. The worst part was not knowing if she was okay. Again, and again, one sentence ran through his head. Please, be safe.
The front doorbell rang.
“Are you going to answer that?” Levi asked.
“Nope.” Dylan’s chin dropped to his chest. “If Eve came back, I wouldn’t say a word. I’d open my arms and pull her close. No questions asked.”
“Now’s your chance,” Levi said.
“What?” Dylan’s head shot up.
“The doorbell.” Levi pointed to the security monitor. “Eve’s the one who pushed the button. Still plan to ignore your guest?”
Dylan left his chair as though shot from a cannon. He skidded into the living room and tripped over the sofa. He banged against the wall before almost ripping the front door off its hinges.
“Eve?” Dylan blinked. “You’re back.”
“Dylan—”
“I don’t care.”
Dylan lifted Eve into his arms. He slammed the door and turned the lock.
“I won’t let you go. Not again.”
“Thank God.”
With a watery laugh, Eve kissed him. Neither noticed when Levi tiptoed past. If the house crumbled around them, they wouldn’t have cared.
“Thank you for coming back,” Dylan said a while later. He sat on the sofa, Eve on his lap. “I swore I wouldn’t ask, but where did you go. What made you return? You won’t leave again. Right?”
“In order of importance,” Eve said. “No. I won’t leave. Even if you throw me out, I’m sticking. Get used to the idea.”
“I spent three miserable days without you.” Dylan shuddered. “Neither of us gets to leave. Deal?”
“Deal.” Eve sealed the agreement with a kiss.
“Where did you go?” Now that the ground under his feet felt firm again, he was ready to ask more questions. And demand some answers.
“The bus headed east. Otherwise, I have no idea where I ended up,” Eve told him. “I bought a bus ticket for Tallahassee.”
“Florida?” Dylan frowned. “Why?”
“The bus was about to leave, and the destination was far away.” Eve sighed. “I don’t know how far I traveled before a thought hit me.”
“What thought?”
“Why did I leave the only place I wanted to be?” Eve touched Dylan’s face. Tears filled her eyes. “Why did I leave the man I love?”
“You love me?” Dylan whispered. Eve nodded. He felt the cracks in his heart begin to mend. “Why did you leave?”
“I was angry. Hurt.” Eve wiped her cheeks. “I couldn’t stay with a man who lied.”
“I didn’t lie.” Dylan needed Eve to understand. “Daisy is safe. She’s happy. I know you hate Tanner, but I plan to watch him like a hawk. I will always be here if she needs me.”
“I know.”
“You do?” Dylan searched Eve’s face. All he saw was the love shining from her eyes. “You don’t hate me?”
“You have no idea how miserable I’ve been?”
“I think I do,” Dylan said.
“I’m sorry.” Eve sighed. “The bus pulled a stop in some town or other, I can’t say where. Finally, I pulled my head out of my backside. I grabbed my bag and got on the first bus back to Seattle.”
“And here you are.” Dylan pinched Eve’s thigh.
“Hey!” she exclaimed.
“Just wanted to make certain I’m not dreaming.”
“You’re supposed to pinch yourself, not me.”
“Oh. Right.” Dylan gave Eve his best innocent smile. She wasn’t fooled for a minute.
“Because I screwed up—big time—you get a pass. Once.”
“Fair enough.” Dylan pressed his lips to her forehead. “Eve?”
“Yes?” she asked with a happy sigh.
“We stink.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
“PIZZA. FRIED CHICKEN. Egg rolls. A cheeseburger. Chocolate cake.”
“I asked what you wanted to eat,” Dylan said.
“And I told you.” Eve smiled. “You want me to choose?”
One long shower, a marathon lovemaking session, and two short hours after Eve came home, they lay in his bed, in each other’s arms. Since neither could remember the last time they ate, food suddenly became essential.
“Choose? What was I thinking?” Dylan rolled from the bed and to his feet. “Shit. My phone is downstairs.”
“Don’t bother with putting on a robe.” Eve smiled. “Naked Dylan is the best.”
“What if the housekeeper arrives while I’m ordering dinner?”
“She’ll be so thrilled, she’ll off to work for free for a year,” Eve said with a wink.
“Okay.” Dylan laughed. Stopping at the door, he turned and frowned. “Eve?”
“Hm?”
“You’ll be here when I get back. Right?”
“I promise.”
With a nod, Dylan closed the door behind him.
Eve sighed. She understood why he asked. She hurt him when she left. She hurt herself. Never again. Dylan would never have reason to doubt her love. From today on, they were a team. Whatever came along, they would face the highs and the lows. Together. Forever.
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
EPILOGUE
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
DYLAN WATCHED AS Eve rushed around the bedroom. A new red backpack on hung on a chair near the door, zipped and ready to go. For the tenth time—at least—she stopped what she was doing and checked the
