AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I got up for some water.’
‘Mind if I join you?’
‘Of course not.’
He sat down opposite her. He’d thrown on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, and his brow was as creased as the crumpled fabric.
‘Penny for them?’
‘Not worth it.’
‘They’re all worth it.’
Sam smiled at him wearily. ‘No one wants to pay for the same thing over and over.’ Whatever she did, she seemed to spiral back to the same thing. It was like trying to find your way through a maze and coming back to the place where Sal had died every time.
He gave a small nod. ‘Do you want to go back to the flat?’
‘It’s three o’clock in the morning...’ Things like that didn’t bother Euan. She knew he’d get dressed and take her back if that was what she wanted, without any further questions. ‘I want to be here. With you.’
‘Go back to bed, then.’ His voice brooked no argument, and what she could see of his face was unreadable. ‘I’ll be up in a minute.’
She should probably try to get some sleep. ‘Okay. Don’t be too long.’
As she rose, he caught her hand, leaning forward to press his lips to her fingers. ‘It’ll mend, Sam.’
She wasn’t so sure about that. But sharing her fears on that score wasn’t going to help. ‘Yeah. Everything mends.’ She gave him a hug and padded back upstairs.
* * *
Euan stared up at the stars, asking silent questions that they were not qualified to answer. One thing he knew. He’d asked too much of Sam, right from the beginning. He’d shared all the most difficult aspects of his work with her, practically forced her to confront her most painful memories, and now he was getting far too involved and greedy for her time.
Euan had promised her nothing, and she’d given him everything. He’d asked her to stay, and she’d stayed. What had he been thinking? That somehow just loving her would chase the nightmares away?
He needed to take a bit more responsibility. Give her a bit more space. He had a feeling that those were just the first two entries on a very long list, but they were a start. Picking up the rug that was draped over the back of his chair, he wandered into the sitting room, arranging the cushions on the sofa and lying down. Tomorrow he would do better.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SAM HAD MEANT to stay awake for him, curl up in his arms and kiss him before they both slept, but she was too tired. She woke in the morning alone.
She found him in the living room, sprawled on the sofa and fast asleep. When she laid her hand on his he didn’t wake, but his fingers curled around hers in an automatic, sleeping reaction.
She made coffee and warmed the croissants they’d bought yesterday. Put it all onto a tray and carried it into the living room. Then put on a smile and woke him.
‘What are you doing here?’ A touch of gentle reproof.
‘Hmm? Fell asleep...’
‘Right.’ And the throw from the conservatory had just happened to find its way through here and arranged itself and the sofa cushions into a makeshift bed. ‘You didn’t think that you might do that upstairs? With me?’
He didn’t seem to want to discuss it. Rubbing his eyes, he focussed on the tray. ‘Breakfast. That’s nice, thank you.’
She plumped herself down into an armchair. Suddenly the sofa was off limits. ‘Are you working today?’
‘Yes. I’m on duty at the clinic until four. Why don’t you stay here?’
Something was up. But if he wasn’t going to tell her what it was, she wasn’t going to stay here, staring at the walls and wondering. ‘No, I’ll come with you. I’ll bring my laptop and find a quiet corner, there’s plenty to be getting on with.’
‘I’ll be pretty busy.’
