Page 39 of Keeping Eveline

Chapter Fourteen

Eveline was going stir-crazy. She’d been cooped up in Kyle’s apartment for the last three days. Her body no longer ached, but her face was an ugly shade of green and yellow, and she should be glad that she wasn’t going out into the world.

No way was she ready for the looks she’d be given and the unspoken questions she’d see in people’s eyes if she did venture into the streets.

Kyle had been working from home, which only increased her jitteriness. After that morning when he’d woken her from her nightmare, things had shifted between them. For a moment, she’d hoped that they’d be getting closer when they were talking about remembering and forgetting things.

She hadn’t missed the troubled look on his handsome face. The way he’d blanked as he was clearly remembering something he didn’t want to.

If things had been different between them—if they’d been in an actual relationship—she would’ve pushed him to share his troubles. Would’ve done everything she could to help him through it and, maybe not forget it, but acknowledge it.

They weren’t, so Eveline didn’t push.

She’d only had one nightmare since the one Kyle had woken her from the first night she’d stayed at his apartment. Memories of resting her head on his bare chest were never far from the forefront of her mind. Nor how good he looked in the towel and how little it covered.

It’d been impossible to miss his body’s reaction to her closeness. Instead of reaching down and stroking him, Eveline had kept her hand on his chest. Feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounded her and chased away the remnants of her dream. His closeness gave her the sense of safety he kept telling her she had in his home.

She still slept in Kyle’s bed, and each night she clutched the pillow that smelled like him and fell right asleep. Eveline needed to get out. Go for a walk and do something other than wander from her bedroom to the kitchen, to the living room, back to the kitchen, and back to the bedroom.

That was all she’d done for the last three days. The small amount of clothing she now possessed had been purchased online and had only arrived that day. At least she didn’t have to wear Kyle’s sister’s clothes anymore. Eveline wanted more, which meant she needed a shopping trip.

Convincing Kyle she was physically okay to go shopping would take a little work, but she wasn’t going to give in to him. Of course, the other aspect of her trip would be if he’d let her go by herself. The fact he hadn’t gone into the Alliez offices suggested he didn’t want to leave her alone.

Would Kyle come with her?

Eveline chuckled to herself as she imagined him carrying all her shopping bags as they went from store to store.

Now that she had a plan, she wanted to put it into action. It was time to reclaim her life, and doing a solo shopping trip would be the start of it.

She headed toward Kyle’s office. His place was really nice for LA, and she couldn’t deny she felt safe there. The security of her complex had always been a worry she’d pushed to the back of her mind. Her small apartment was what she could afford with her salary, and she’d made it her home until it hadn’t been.

He was sitting at his desk a notepad to the side and his laptop in front of him. He looked to be in the middle of something so she stood in the doorway, not making a sound. One minute, he was reading something on his laptop,1 and then he was writing on the notepad.

What was he doing?

Most of the time, Gerald played solitaire while the others did the work. Occasionally, her boss did the odd security job, but he hadn’t done one in the last six months. He’d schmoozed clients a lot.

Kyle, though—no way would he sit and play solitaire, as evidenced by him scribbling on a notepad. No, he’d be involved in everything. Meeting with clients and making sure they got the best service. He’d also probably take on some jobs himself.

How many worked at Alliez? Eveline assumed it was only a small number, which was surprising considering the level of business they did. Maybe he used contractors instead of employing a lot of staff.

“How long are you going to stand there without saying anything?” Kyle continued writing, not lifting his head to look at her.

Eveline smirked. She’d assumed she was being stealthy and he hadn’t noticed her. She’d also been in her head for a while, so it was entirely possible he’d spied her loitering in the doorway then. “I’m going shopping. Thought I’d let you know before I left.”

His head snapped up as if he’d received an upper cut punch. “I’m sorry, what?”

Eveline controlled the urge to roll her eyes. “You heard me. I could’ve just left, but I thought I’d be courteous and let you know.”

She was poking the bear, of course. Was she doing it because she wanted to get a reaction out of him?

Maybe.

Yes.

“Well, that is courteous of you to do that, but you’re not going out alone. I’ll go with you.”

Eveline couldn’t help it; her shoulders shook with laughter, and she pressed her lips together in an attempt to stop her mirth from escaping. Her earlier thought about Kyle joining her was going to come true. “You’re going to carry my bags for me?”

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