I’d been out of the office since early this morning—busy with off-site meetings and a trip to the doctor with my dad. What should have been running through my mind while I walked to my office were the hundred things I needed to do today. For work. For my company. Not the fact that I’d been inches away from kissing Everly in my kitchen yesterday.
The fire hadn’t caused any damage. But I hadn’t missed the look on Everly’s face when I’d gone back to my office. She hadn’t said anything about what had almost happened. Neither had I, but I probably should have.
I’d spent the rest of the day avoiding her. Stayed in my office and went to bed late. Which made me feel like an idiot.
I had serious issues when it came to feelings. Every time I started to experience a deep emotion, I clammed up. Shut down. I’d seen my mother do the very same thing. I didn’t know why I did it. My dad had always been free and open with his emotions. Ethan was too. They talked about how they felt with what appeared to be ease and comfort.
But me? Strong emotions made me retreat into myself.
Maybe that was why I’d always chosen shallow women to date. They were safe. They wouldn’t stir things up that would make me uncomfortable.
That was a disturbing revelation to have, especially since I was having it right as I walked by Everly’s desk.
I gave her a curt nod and went into my office. Shutting the door, I pushed her—and the confusing knot of feelings—out of my mind. I rolled up the sleeves of my button-down shirt, sat at my desk, and got to work. I had another meeting this afternoon and I needed to be sharp.
Losing myself in financial reports helped. But she was still there, a constant presence on the edge of my consciousness.
I glanced at the clock. Nolan Carter, my CFO, would be calling in for our meeting in a few minutes. His wife had just had a baby, so he was working from home several days a week. I opened the meeting app and waited for him to connect.
There was a soft knock on my door and Everly peeked her head in. “Hi. Sorry, I know you’re about to get on a call, but can I see you afterward?”
“Sure.”
She wasn’t quite looking me in the eye. “Thanks.”
Maybe I should have said something. After all, it had been me who’d almost kissed her. I’d been the one stalking her like a predator while she cooked. Who’d stared at her mouth so long there was no way she hadn’t noticed.
But there was that barrier again. I couldn’t articulate what I wanted to say. Hell, I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to say. So I didn’t say anything.
She slipped back out and quietly shut the door.
Fuck.
Nolan connected to the app, so I tore my focus away from the door—and the image of a forlorn Everly—and answered.
Not ten minutes into my meeting, my phone lit up with a call. Normally I wouldn’t answer, but it was my dad. An instinct flared to life. Something was wrong.
“Nolan, can you give me a second. I have to take this call.”
“Sure, no problem.”
I muted him and answered my phone. “Dad? Is everything okay?”
“Thank god you answered. No. Something happened to Ethan at work. They had to call 911.”
“What happened? Where is he?”
“I’m not sure, but we think anaphylaxis. They’re taking him to the ER at Virginia Mason. Grant’s trying to get over there, but he’s stuck in traffic. So am I.”
Ethan had a severe peanut allergy. One of my sharpest childhood memories was when Ethan had unknowingly eaten something contaminated with peanuts. It had almost been fatal.
“I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks, son.”
I hung up and quickly told Nolan I had to go for a family emergency. Making sure I had my phone and keys, I rushed out of my office. It barely registered that Everly wasn’t at her desk—she was probably in the restroom. I headed straight for my car and drove to the hospital.
My mind raced. Ethan’s allergy was life-threatening, but he carried an EpiPen. His co-workers were all aware. How had this happened? How bad must it have been if he was being rushed to the hospital? The thought of Ethan going into anaphylactic shock—or worse—left me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Fear turned my blood to ice and I gripped the steering wheel, clenching my teeth.
He had to be okay.
I wasn’t what you’d call close to my brother. But I wasn’t close to anyone. That was my fault, not his. Even so, there were very few people in this world I cared about more than him.
Traffic on the surface streets wasn’t bad. I made it to the hospital, parked in the garage, and hurried to the ER.
The woman at the front desk couldn’t tell me anything. I texted Dad and Grant to let them know I was here. They were both still fighting traffic on the freeway. I paced around the waiting room, consumed with worry. Why didn’t they know anything yet? Where was he?
I was about to go back to the front desk and bark at the receptionist to let me the fuck back to see Ethan, when I felt a gentle hand on my arm.
Everly stood next to me, her eyes soft with concern. “Are you okay?”
I stared at her. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw you leave and I could tell something was wrong. You didn’t answer your phone, so I called your dad. Do you know anything yet?”
Her hand on my arm was so soothing, her simple touch enough to keep me calm. “No, not yet.”
“I’m sure he’s okay.” She rubbed my forearm. “He’s getting the medical attention he needs.”
I nodded, desperately hoping she was right.
She led me to a chair and we both sat. I stared at the floor, tense with worry. I hated feeling so helpless. I was usually good in a crisis—always calm and controlled. But this was different. There was nothing I could do but wait.
It occurred to me suddenly that Everly was holding my hand, our fingers twined together. She leaned her head against my shoulder and rubbed my arm.
Turning my head slightly, I inhaled her strawberry scent and squeezed her hand. She squeezed back, her gentle touch reassuring.
“Excuse me, Mr. Calloway?” A nurse with a clipboard in her hand approached.
Keeping Everly’s hand gripped tightly in mine, I stood. “Yes.”
“We’re treating your brother for anaphylaxis, but I wanted to let you know he’s conscious and breathing on his own. It was severe, but the worst is over and we’re doing everything we can for him.”
“Can we see him?”
“Soon,” she said and Everly squeezed my hand again. “We’ll come get you as soon as he can have visitors.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse left and we went back to our seats. I dropped Everly’s hand and slid my arm around her shoulders, hugging her against me. I didn’t worry about whether or not I should. Didn’t care that no one was here to see it. This wasn’t for show. I was scared for Ethan—I was man enough to admit that—and holding her felt good. It felt right.
Grant came in, followed closely by Dad. I gave them what little information I had. Grant was visibly relieved, but he didn’t sit. He paced around the waiting room like I had when I’d first arrived. Dad sat with his hands in his lap, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
No one mentioned my mother. She lived in Portland, so it wasn’t as if she could rush over here. Neither of us had much of a relationship with her, but she’d want to know. I decided to let Grant and Ethan handle that when it was over and we were sure Ethan would be fine.
It took a while before we were given another update. We all stood as soon as the doctor came out. Ethan was doing better and so far showing no sign of a secondary reaction. He’d been at a restaurant and had been served something contaminated with peanuts. It made me furious. I wanted to burn that fucking restaurant to the ground.
But Everly slipped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my chest. I held her close, ignoring the line I was crossing. My dad was here now, so it stood to reason I could do this—hold her and stroke her arm with so much familiarity. But I wasn’t doing it for him, any more than I’d held her hand for show. This had nothing to do with our ruse, and I didn’t give a fuck.
I wanted this. Needed it. Needed her.
Eventually, we were all taken back to see Ethan. He’d been admitted overnight as a precaution, so the nurse led us to his room on another floor. Everly, Dad, and I waited outside while Grant went in first. Gave them some privacy.
When we went in to see my brother, he looked pale, but smiled. He was hooked up to an IV and there were still traces of redness and swelling around his mouth.
I stood at the foot of the bed, my hand once again clasped with Everly’s. “It’s good to see you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” His voice sounded hoarse. “I still feel like I got hit by a bus, but the worst is over.” His gaze flicked to Everly and he raised an eyebrow at me.
“Sorry, I know this is private and not the best way to meet, but I’m Everly.” She wiggled her fingers at Ethan and Grant. “I’m really glad you’re all right.”
“It’s still nice to meet you,” Ethan said.
She squeezed my hand. “I’ll wait outside. Take your time.”
I spoke quietly with Ethan, Grant, and Dad for a few more minutes before excusing myself. Ethan was okay, and he needed rest after his ordeal. He had Grant to support him and Dad said he’d stay a bit longer.
“Are you ready to go?” Everly asked.
“Yeah.”
She slipped her hand in mine as we walked down the long hallway. It felt good to touch her like this. Natural, like she really was my fiancée. Like that ring on her finger wasn’t just for show.
We stopped in front of the elevator and I pushed the button to the parking garage.
I glanced at her. “Thank you for coming.”
She looked up and smiled. “Of course. I’m glad he’s okay.”
“Me too.”
I didn’t look away, losing myself in her eyes—those sparkling pools of blue. Neither did she. Her expression changed, her smile fading into a look of resolve. She grabbed my shirt, right in the center of my chest, popped up on her tip toes, and kissed me.
Her soft lips pressed against mine for a few seconds before she pulled back. Her eyes widened and she took a breath as if to say something. I didn’t wait to find out what it was.
Surging in, I cupped her face and kissed her back. For a beat, we were both stiff. But like ice on a hot day, she melted into me, her body going languid. She slid her hands up my chest and around my neck, leaning into me.
I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue. She opened for me, tilting her head, sliding her tongue against mine. God, this felt good. A deep sense of satisfaction filled me. I’d wanted to do this for longer than I’d let myself admit. And now that I was, it felt better than I’d imagined.
Our mouths tangled, tongues mingling. A long, deep kiss, pushing all my thoughts aside. Vaguely, I was aware that we were blocking someone’s access to the elevator. I didn’t give a shit. I was going to kiss the hell out of this woman, right here and now.
Gradually, I pulled away. We stood together in silence for a long moment, foreheads touching.
“Wow,” she breathed. “That was… I don’t… where are we?”
I laughed softly and brushed her hair back from her face. “That wasn’t in the plan, was it?”
“No.”
“Thank you again for being here.”
Her tongue darted out over her lips. “That was a really nice way to say thank you.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I ushered her inside and hit the button for the parking garage.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “So, are you going home now?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but paused. I had somewhere to be tonight, and tempting as it was to take Everly home and see where that kiss led, it was an obligation I didn’t want to miss. But maybe…
“I actually have to go somewhere tonight,” I said.
Her face fell. “Oh, sure. That’s fine. We drove separately anyway.”
“But I’d like you to meet me there later.”
The glimmer of hope in her eyes made it hard not to scoop her up and kiss her again. “Sure. Where?”
“The Office.”
“You have to go back to work?”
“No, it’s a bar called the Office.” I got out my phone. “I’ll text you the address. I have to get over there early, but be there around eight. I’ll find you.”
Her expression was bewildered, but I decided not to explain. It would be easier to show her, anyway.
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
The elevator doors opened and I walked her to her car. I stood aside and watched her leave, wondering if I’d just made a big mistake. Kissing her had changed everything. I felt it, deep in my chest.
She didn’t know it yet, but I was about to trust her with one of my biggest secrets. The thought left me feeling raw, like an open wound. I wasn’t used to this. But instead of shying away—burying myself in work—I let it happen. Felt the uncertainty, acknowledged it, and decided I was doing it anyway.
