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Griffin wasn’t sure he should bring it up. But honesty was important between them, so he’d tell her even if he didn’t want to broach the subject.
When five o’clock finally rolled around, he was out the door on the dot. Enough keeping his distance. He needed to see Eve and make sure she was okay. If she wasn’t, then he’d soothe her worries away in any manner he could.
Juliet’s car was in Eve’s driveway when he arrived home. So his sister had stayed the entire day. Did that mean Eve was stuck in a rut that she couldn’t get out of?
He hesitated walking over to her house, then shook off the nerves, forcing the confidence out. If Juliet could be by her side, then there was no reason he couldn’t be either.
His fist against the door was solid, and perhaps a bit too loud. He hadn’t meant to bang on the door.
Eve opened it a few seconds later with a smile on her face and the worry erased from her eyes. It’s as if she had never seen her brother earlier in the day and dealt a semi-blow to the bubble she lived in.
“I have chicken and broccoli in the oven. You’re right on time.” She left the door open for him to enter and walked back toward the kitchen where Juliet sat at the table snipping the ends of beans.
“We went to the farmer’s market today. There are fresh strawberries in the fridge if you want some,” Juliet said in way of a greeting. It also gave him a clue as to why she was snipping beans in the first place.
“I can even make you a strawberry daiquiri if you’d like.” Eve lifted a glass that looked like said drink she just offered.
“A beer is fine.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek before walking to the fridge and grabbing his own.
He had expected to walk into…well, he wasn’t sure, but not this. Smiles and laughter and like the day hadn’t started with tension. His gaze caught his sister, who looked tired yet full of spirit. He knew he’d have to thank her in the best way for helping Eve today. For removing the terror from her eyes and making her forget what a horrible man her brother was.
“Duke stopped by,” Juliet stated, throwing a cut bean into a bowl. “He said Darrian left town already.”
Griffin nodded, darting a glance at Eve to gauge her reaction to the news she obviously already knew as she didn’t flinch in the slightest. Then why say it at all because Juliet knew he’d have had to know. No doubt to let him know they knew and she was fine. Eve would be fine, no matter what.
“He thinks he won.”
Griffin saw the slight tremble in Eve’s hand as she cut an onion. Even her words were a bit wobbly. So not as unaffected as he thought. But she sure was putting on a great performance. For whose sake? His? Or Juliet’s?
“The truth always wins.” Griffin set his beer down without taking one sip and moved closer to her, boxing her in from behind. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and pressed his lips to her neck, lingering. “No matter what happens, I’m here. Always. I will never let anyone hurt you.”
She sighed, leaning her back against his chest. She trusted him enough to know he’d always catch her.
“I know that. I’m starting to believe it. In all of you. Juliet has been…” She inhaled sharply, shivering as she let out the breath. “It’s been a long day. I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too.” He pressed a few more kisses along her neck before forcing himself to stop. It wouldn’t take much for him to have his wicked way with her. “How soon do you think we can kick Juliet out?”
Eve giggled, shimming until she twisted around in his arms. Her eyes were lit up with pleasure and gone was the anguish he had felt moments before. “Start helping with the beans and maybe we can make it faster.”
“I’m on it.” Then he snatched another kiss, winked, and grabbed his beer and sat across from Juliet.
“I hope we get bean soup one of these days with all these you bought.” Griffin made sure to add a charming smile to his wish.
“Juliet has offered to lend me her recipe, so you’re in luck.”
“But only if I’m invited as well,” Juliet replied. “I am not missing out on some bean soup.”
“Deal!” Eve beamed with happiness at the prospect, and Griffin didn’t have it in him to argue. Not when she looked so enamored at something so simple.
He’d do whatever he had to to keep that beautiful expression on her face.
Even though Eveknew the cameras were gone, she didn’t feel comfortable yet in her own house. Again.
Why did it always come to that for her? Not feeling safe in her home.
While they had supper—a lovely one—at her house, when Griffin suggested sleeping at his house, she didn’t argue. She even packed a bag because the thought of sleeping in her house sent the anxiety coursing through her.
Of course, she hid it as well as she could. Griffin was already worried about her; she didn’t want to add any more worries to his plate.
