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I climb onto the rocks and bend down to pull her out of the water, even though Ren does most of the work. Her cold skin meets my fingers, and my fingers tangle themselves with hers. She lets me help her up, then quickly lets go.
I can’t contain myself any longer.
“Why did you faint at the Christmas show?”
I’ve asked it before I realize I’m asking it. Immediately, I kind of wish I could take the words back. But I also kind of want to know. So I keep my mouth shut, and sit still as water pours from me. Waiting for her answer.
“Because seeing you hurt too much,” Eden replies.
Oh, right.
Meanwhile, seeing you is a walk in the park.
She’s reaching out a hand to brace herself against the jagged rock, but her fingers are shaking so badly and she keeps slipping and almost stumbling off the cliff. Her clothes are waterlogged and the cold is making her movements sluggish. I make a fist to stop myself from wrapping my arms around her, like I had when we were in the water. I never should have let go.
I never should have let Ren take over.
No one touches her but me.
But I shouldn’t be touching her right now. What am I to her? Just some jerk who is too famous to care about being polite to her. I am her employer—who has been threatening to fire her ever since she arrived. Eden is still struggling with the slippery stones. I step out of the way to let her pass.
I’m studying her face, trying to memorize every single change. Her eyelashes are heavy with droplets of water and her lips have gone from white to cherry red.
It’s enough to drive a man to distraction.
My arm shoots out to grasp her wrist.
“Stay,” I murmur.
I can feel the veins of her slender wrist buzzing beneath my fingers. A fat drop of water slides from her braid onto the back of my hand. I don’t wipe it away.
“Stay,” I repeat, my lips numb and wet, my eyes on her mouth.
Her eyes flicker towards my face, and then Ren is wrapping her in his huge arms and taking her to the car, because she is shivering so hard she can barely walk. But I know she heard me.
And I think, Ithinkthat she nodded.
My heart threatens to jump out of my chest.
What have I gone and done now?
The Elliot sisters chat room
Eden: I’m staying.
fourteen
As soon as I’m out of the shower and have somewhat stopped shivering, I call Spencer. This time he answers.
“Did you do this to me?” I say, in lieu of ‘hello’.
“Do what.”
He’s in a hurry. Well, too bad. I’m in hell.
“Ede—The poet. Did you personally choose her for me?”
“Kind of,” Spencer replies. “Is everything ok?”
