Page 57 of Sterling Heat

“Three days ago.”

“I thought she’d be staying for two weeks.”

“So did I.” Enya looks away, lips returning to Adara’s head for a lingering kiss. Her avoidance suggests she doesn’t want to discuss her sister.

“What did you hear outside? What did it sound like?”

“Honestly.” She turns back to me. “It sounded like someone was walking across the porch.”

Fuck, I do not like the sound of that. I spin toward the front door and glance out the side window at the porch. Someone could easily walk along the decking and peer directly through the living room window.

“Maybe this place really is haunted,” Enya teases.

Sharply turning back to her, I say, “Don’t even joke about that.”

The smile on her face disappears and I step toward her, brushing her hair back from her cheeks and scooping it behind her ears. “I’m going to stay tonight.”

The suggestion—no, demand—that I stay should surprise me. It’s like when I volunteered to be Adara’s dad. But my immediate request isn’t random. Unease at spending time in a place that holds so many bad memories is outweighed by the need to keep Enya and Adara safe.

Enya’s forehead crinkles in shock. “What about your plans?”

“What plans?”

“It was loud when I called you. Were you out with friends? Or maybe on—” She cuts herself off and pulls back from my hands on her neck. Turning away from me, giving me her back, she mumbles, “Never mind.”

A slow grin curls my lips. Did she think I was on a date? Would that upset her? I don’t want her thinking such a thing and I cover her shoulders with my hands, swiping them down her arm to her elbows and tugging her back to me. I inhale at her neck once more. “I wasn’t on a date, baby. So don’t be like this.”

She spins toward me, a little fire in those dark eyes. “Be like what?”

Jealous. Envious. Worried.

“There’s nobody in my life.” I tip up her chin while I silently wish she was the someone in my life.

“There doesn’t always need to be someone actively in your life. Just one night and . . .” Her eyes shift, and she kisses Adara’s head. Is that how Adara came to be? Was it a one-night stand that led to this precious baby?

Now I’m the one jealous, envious even, that a man had his hands on Enya for one night and fuck him for not standing by her side for all the rest of her days.

Then again, I’m here because someone else isn’t, and I’m not leaving tonight.

“Let’s get you to bed.” With a hand on her lower back, I guide her toward the staircase. Following her up the stairs, I ignore the thump in my chest, reminding me of things that happened in this old house. Maybe that thud is from something different, though. Like the vision of climbing these stairs every night, following this woman to a bedroom we share, and lying next to her like she belongs to me.

Quickly, I shake those thoughts from my head and follow her to a large bedroom at the end of the hallway. I don’t remember such a room being here.

“Did you combine rooms or something?”

“I did. This space was two small bedrooms and I made it into the primary bedroom. I converted another bedroom into a nursery and added a closet. The last bedroom is my office slash guestroom.” She pauses as she nears a bassinet and sets Adara down. The infant crib is beside a queen-sized bed with rumpled sheets on one half of the mattress and a plethora of pillows.

Images of Enya in that bed, tossing and turning with some other man fill my head, causing my adrenaline to rise again.

Leaning forward, I run a hand over Adara’s belly, worried I’ll disturb her but also needing to touch her. To remind myself she’s safe with me here. I’ll never let anyone get to her.

Standing straighter, I look at Enya. Our eyes catch for a second before I lean forward, kissing her forehead and lingering for a second. “Get some sleep. I’ll be downstairs on the couch.”

As I pull back, Enya grips my wrist. “Stay. Please.” Her voice is a smoky whisper in the room illuminated by only a nightlight plugged into an outlet.

I can’t. I shouldn’t.

Her hand lowers for my palm before her fingers slip along mine as if she’s ready to let me go. Swiftly, I catch her hand and lift it to my lips.