Eye for an Eye (Take a Chance #2)- Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,85
to tell you, but yeah, you look like a hot mess.”
Chuckling, I then say, “Why don’t you go get in your pyjamas, freshen up, and then I’ll go get the others.”
She nods. “Thank you.”
Pulling her into my arms again, I lean down and kiss her, sliding my tongue over hers. “No need to thank me.”
“Alright, you two,” Rebecca grouches. “You go and tell your family it’s all clear in about five minutes and I’ll help Evie get herself together.”
I meet Evie’s gaze, silently asking her if that’s what she wants. Her body sags, and her fingers tighten around mine. “Go. I’ll be okay.”
“Be back in five,” I tell her, kissing her one last time.
She shares a look with Rebecca as I leave, but I shake it off, knowing she probably wants to speak to someone who has been in her life longer.
Once the door clicks shut behind me, I head downstairs, making a promise to myself: Even if what we have doesn’t last, I’m going spend our time together making sure she knows what it’s like to be loved, to have family. Because seeing her tonight, it’s clear she hasn’t had that in her life.
No one should feel like they don’t deserve kindness, and that is what she was getting at. It wasn’t about the room, the move, or her belongings, it was the act itself, the kindness it showed her.
It’s another thing I need to unpuzzle when it comes to her.
I smirk when I see Mum still on the stairs. “Is she okay?”
Bending down, I kiss her cheek. “Thank you for doing all of that for her.”
Mum swats me away. “It was nothing.”
“You’ve never done anything like this with previous girlfriends.”
“That’s because they weren’t really girlfriends. But even if you weren’t with Evie, I’d still be doing this for her. She’s a lovely young girl, but she has an old soul. I see a lot of Jaxon in her.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, straightening.
She shrugs, looking away. “I know I let you all down after your father died. I was suffocating in my own grief.”
“Mum,” I choke out, placing my hand on her arm.
“No, it’s fine. It’s true. But Jaxon, he stepped up. You all did. But Jaxon, he had to grow up far too quickly. He took on roles he wasn’t prepared for and I see that same strain in Evie. She’s not had it easy. It shines like a beacon from her.”
“She hasn’t had it easy. But she has us.”
Mum beams, patting my cheek. “She sure does. Now, I’ll go on up and get the DVD player out. I saw it in the cabinet.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You just want to check on her.”
Her shoulders sag. “I do.”
“Go. I’ll be up in a minute with the others.”
I let her go on up and take in a deep breath, preparing for the mayhem that will happen with all of us in the room, even if it is the largest Paisley has.
Hopefully they won’t be there all night and will take the hint that I want to be alone with my girl.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
EVIE
Rain splatters against the glass as I lay cuddled into Wyatt’s chest, staring out of the window. His fingers slide up and down my naked back, leaving goose bumps in their wake.
My arm is over his stomach, my head against his shoulder, and my leg is cocked over his thigh. I’m blissfully happy, and after everything that happened a few days ago, I didn’t think that would be possible.
For five days, Wyatt and his family have gone above and beyond to make sure I was settled in and relaxed here. They are always calling in, much to Wyatt’s dismay. He wants me to himself, but I know he secretly likes how loving his family are towards me. He wants them to like me, to accept me.
His mum has visited me the most, and often. I ended up at the main house to spend time with her or help her with the few animals she has on the farm. Our time together will be treasured; always. She is an amazing woman with a big heart.
Rebecca didn’t want to be outdone and had booked painters to come and decorate the spare bedroom for me at her house. The bed and breakfast is magnificent and homey, but it isn’t ideal long term, and I agreed with Rebecca. She wants me to have a home, and to make sure that happens, she had her spare bedroom cleared out. It