Looking to the front of the foyer, she noticed the frontdoor slightly ajar. Silently she stepped closer, holding her breath for unknownreasons as she opened the door to the increasing shouts. The ice-cold wind torethrough her thin satin nightgown as she stepped onto the porch. Yards away bothmen faced each other in unyielding stances. Although the words being flungheatedly at each other were foreign, Everly couldn’t miss the rage that lacedtheir tones. Her heart jumped when Zane took a threatening step forward.
They were going to fight, she was sure of it.
Seeing Reid’s fist clench in reaction, Everly shouted. “No!Stop!”
The brothers froze. Reid’s look of shock instantlydisappeared as he watched her step barefoot down the steps onto the cold earth.Casting his brother one last furious look, Reid set off towards her with angrydetermination.
“Reid what’s going on? You two were about to… Reid!” Shesquealed. Hoisting her up into his arms, Reid carried her back up the stairs.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” he growled, stomping back intothe bedroom. “You’re barefoot and have on a thin nightgown. It’s freezingEverly!” His tone was condemning, but she didn’t let herself take it to heart.
Looking up at his rigid profile she knew he was angrier athimself or even Zane, more so than her.
Ignoring his anger, she let him set her on the bed as hegrabbed a towel to clean her feet.
“Why were you two fighting? What’s going on?” Even as sheasked the question, she knew what was happening.
The pressure between the two for the past few days waspractically unbreathable. The jealous behavior was nothing new to her, growingup she watched her “mothers” desperately vie for her father’s affection. Everlyhad seen every desperate, needy antic the women did to one another just to feelvalued in her father’s cruel eyes. Everly hated how he made the women feel, shehated how he did nothing to intervene or reassure the women, he just watchedand enjoyed the sad acts. Was that what was going on now? Panic blossomed inher heart as she watched Reid tenderly clean her feet. Was she making them feelthis way?
Looking up, Reid must have noticed the panic in her eyesshining back. Rubbing the cool skin on her arms, Reid kissed her softly. “Ilove you baby, Zane loves you. You have done nothing wrong at all.” Hereassured her by kissing her again, as he lifted her legs and tucked them underthe covers. Leaning over her with one arm braced on either side of her, Reidgave her a penetrating look. “We’re just…we’re just out of sync right now, andwe’re too prideful of bastards to work this out like normal people.”
Reaching out of the cocoon he created for her, Everly cuppedhis face letting his short, dark whiskers glide over her fingers. “What can Ido?”
Groaning, Reid let his face drop to her breast, nuzzling thesoft globes through the thin gown. “Nothing baby, nothing but rest and don’tworry. You and the baby are the most important factors in our life.” As if toprove his words, Reid peeled back the covers and placed small kisses on hergrowing stomach.
Running her hands through his hair, she fought the wave ofdesire and stayed focused on the topic. “Please Reid, I can’t sleep knowing…”
“Please my love, we will talk in the morning,” though hiswords sounded like a plea for her to consider, Everly didn’t miss the finalityin his tone.
“You swear?” She breathed.
“I swear.”
±
Everly would be lying if she didn’t admit she wasdisappointed when she woke up alone in bed that morning. She was hoping shewould at least see Zane smiling down at her like usual, so she could see forherself that everything was all right. Instead of the two hulking males next toher, she woke up to see a wooden tray on the nightstand filled with food.
Plucking the white note from the tray, Everly read the neatscrawl.
“Eat, wash up, take your time, come out when done.”
The succinct tone of the letter told her without a doubt itwas Reid’s doing.
Biting her lip, Everly flicked the paper in her hand withnervous energy. She wanted to go out there right now and ask for an explanation,but knowing Reid, she knew that wouldn’t work. Reluctantly she followed thenotes instructions, eating and taking a shower. Despite the droppingtemperatures outside, the inside of the cabin was warm and toasty allowing herto wear the cute long sleeve dress Reid ordered for her. The bright blue dressclashed wonderfully with the somber winter season, with bright pink and whiteflowers embroidered throughout the sweeping material. The long skirt fell toher ankles, elongating her form and accentuating her breast in the lowneckline.
Taking a deep breath, Everly wasn’t sure what to prepareherself for as she stepped out of the room. Would they still be fighting orwould they be all bloody and bruised? Following the murmuring sound of talking,she walked into the living room. Circling the large sectional, her heart plummetedat the sight of the two men.
Leaning back lazily with his arms spread out over the topedge of the couch, Zane sat giving her a wide grin with a darkening black eye.Sitting to his left, just as casually, Reid sat with his right ankle balancedon his left knee as he leaned back into the cushions, his expression perfectlyplacid compared to the nasty cut on his swollen upper lip.
Everly covered her mouth to hide a gasp. “Oh my God, whatdid you two do?”
“We had a talk.” Zane’s voice was playful, but she didn’tmiss the wince of pain from the movement.
“A talk?” She repeated, still not believing what she was seeing.
“Okay, more like an argument,” Zane conceded, leaningforward now.
“An argument we have now put to rest,” Reid assured.
