Holden's Resurrection (Gemini Group #6) - Riley Edwards Page 0,48
taken.
No, not the new Charleigh. Instead, she’d blanked her expression and prepared to take it on the chin. Holden’s Charleigh would’ve turned to her man and been honest. She would’ve told him she was scared and clung to him tight knowing he’d protect her.
He’d fucked up in a good many ways, but one of the worst fuck-ups he’d perpetrated was turning his back on a good woman. And since he’d done that, she’d changed in ways he didn’t like. She was still the spitfire she always was, but now there was a weariness to her that he hated.
He’d done that. He’d hurt her. He’d screwed up so badly she’d been on her own, forced to handle everything herself. Not only for her, but for Faith as well.
“This isn’t necessary,” Charleigh complained.
Holden got close and lowered his voice.
“It is and you know it.”
When her brown eyes settled on his, he saw it. Relief. She’d never admit it. As a matter of fact, Charleigh was going to fight it and pitch a fit. But, he much preferred that over the fatigued worry he’d seen earlier.
“We’re not your problem,” she hissed.
“You’re right, you’re not. Because me looking after you and Faith isn’t a problem.”
“You know what I mean.” Charleigh continued to hiss, but this time she narrowed her eyes and flattened her lips.
“No, Leigh-Leigh, I don’t know what you mean. You’re not taking Faith back to that apartment. At least not right now. First, she doesn’t need to be there. Second, you’re not ready to go back there. And before you deny it, remember who you’re talking to. I know you. I saw it the second worry crept in. We’ll stay here a few days and go from there.”
“We?”
“Yes, we.”
Those narrowed eyes turned to slits and she shook her head. “You are not staying with us.”
“I am. I promised Faith I wasn’t leaving. Besides, look around, this place is huge. There are five bedrooms. Evie stocked it with enough food for a month.”
Something passed over Charleigh’s features. Her shoulders snapped back, and a look of defiance took over.
“We’ll go stay with Jameson and Kennedy.”
What the fuck?
“You’ll go stay with Jameson?”
“Kennedy,” she corrected. “She won’t mind and Faith will be comfortable there.”
Holden’s eyes sliced to the little girl who was still dancing around the room, then looked back to Charleigh.
“She looks pretty damn comfortable here.”
“Well, I’m not.”
The little girl danced over to them. “Can I go upstairs and pick out my room?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Charleigh made a grunting sound and Holden chose to ignore it.
“After you pick your room, I’ll take you up to the roof,” Holden told Faith.
“The roof?”
“Yep. There’s a widow’s walk.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s like a deck but on the roof. You can see all around Cliff City from up there.”
“This place is awesome. I wanna live here forever.”
Holden shot Charleigh a smile and she returned a scathing glare.
At least he had Faith on his side.
Nine hours later, Holden sat in the kitchen. Since Charleigh had taken Faith upstairs to go to sleep, the house had been too quiet. Normally, he reveled in silence and preferred to be alone. But the house was too big, too quiet, too lonely with Faith and Charleigh moving around. Without Faith’s constant chatter.
Not much had changed in the hours they’d been there. Faith had excitedly checked out every room. Charleigh had followed behind her daughter, disgruntled. Holden had taken Faith down to the dock, but without being able to get in the water there wasn’t much to do out there. Then he’d made them dinner, and throughout their meal, the only conversation had come from the eight-year-old. She’d told Holden all sorts of stuff—from her new school, the friends she’d made, the teacher she didn’t like, her favorite subjects. When she’d exhausted all things school-related she’d moved on to wanting to play softball in the spring. Charleigh had remained noncommittal about Faith playing, and only spoke when Faith had asked her a question.
Charleigh’s wariness was back in full force and Holden was second-guessing his decision to push his way into their lives. He wanted in—that had not changed—but he’d begun to wonder if he was causing more harm than good. He hadn’t given her an option when they’d left the hospital. He hadn’t asked if she was okay with him staying—mainly because he knew she wasn’t but he hadn’t thought she’d retreat into herself.
All of his friends were married. They had homes and wives to take care of, but he knew if he asked, one or all of them would