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Her voice was soft when she responded. "I know. Just one more minute?"
"Yeah. One more minute."
She laid her head against the back of the chair and he studied her profile for a long time. Another stupid lump grew in his throat, and he swallowed a few times to get it down.
Finally, she sighed, then began picking up their discarded wrappers, wine glasses, and wine bottle and set them gently into the cooler.
Fastening the lid on top, she stood, stared out at the farm once more, then turned to Henry. "I'm ready."
She was ready, but he wasn't. However, he lifted his body out of the chair. He suddenly felt as though he'd gained a thousand pounds. The weight of the world on his shoulders. Bending to pick up the cooler, he took Everleigh's hand in his, carried the cooler in the other, and they silently strode toward the truck. He was melancholy. He wondered if she was too.
26
Henry pulled into the parking lot of the Homeland Guest House and put the truck in park. "I'd like you to come back to the HOG. Pack your things and come back with me. We'll have protection, and after today with Craig, I don't trust him not to start something. He's already shown his brass."
She swallowed and looked down at her hands in her lap. "I was wondering about that. I don't want to impose."
"You are not an imposition."
"Do you have enough bedrooms?"
"We do. But I have a king-size bed with one side empty."
She chuckled. "And parents in the house."
"Who also know how I feel about you."
"How do they know about..." She swallowed. "How do you feel about me?"
"I have never cared for anyone the way I care for you." She noted the catch in his throat.
She nodded but said nothing.
"What about my car?"
"Let's leave it for now. Tomorrow I can have Flynn's garage come out to fix the tires and bring it to the HOG."
She swallowed the knot in her throat. It was going to hurt so bad when she left. So. Fucking. Bad.
She whispered. "Okay."
They exited the vehicle, and he kept his hand at the small of her back as they walked. But she knew he was watching all around. That was what he did.
Upstairs in her room, she pulled her suitcase from the closet, and began methodically packing as she always did, only this time she wasn't leaving town. Henry sat at the desk and answered emails and texts. She had a system, so she didn't need his help. She was a master at this.
After packing her suitcase, she slid her laptop into her case, and inserted her notebooks inside as well. She tossed her laptop bag over her shoulder, pulled the handle up on her suitcase and grinned. "I'm all set whenever you are."
He turned to face her, his eyes scanned her suitcase, her laptop bag, her purse, and finally her body. His eyes slid up to hers, a grin formed on his lips. "Efficient."
"I've done this a time or two."
He stood, took the suitcase handle from her hands, lifted her laptop bag from her shoulder then held his hand out toward the door. "After you."
She turned on her heels and stepped to the door. Once they'd moved into the hall, he pulled the door closed, then followed her to the elevator.
"Do I check out?"
"No."
