Page 13 of Coming Unraveled
The second time he saw her this week she had been in the hardware store next to her pharmacy. He observed how she pleasantly greeted everyone, but always held a piece of herself back. He wanted to change that. The world deserves to see Everleigh Connelly in full force. So, when he saw her walk down the aisle where he was congregated he grabbed the package of screws he had been searching for and headed her way as she glanced at the cabinet pulls. As she was lost in her own world he had moved to stand behind her and leaned closer into her space. With a smirk he asked her if she needed a good screw and, just as expected, she turned her head quickly bringing her mouth a few inches from his. His name became a whisper on her lips, drawing his attention to her supple mouth. And instead of balking at his innuendo she simply replied that she didn’t, but he probably needed to get nailed. He laughed, she laughed, and her eyes sparkled in the freedom of her worries. Without a second thought, he snaked his hand into her hair, slanted her head back and captured her lips in an abrupt and frenzied kiss that he ended far quicker than he had desired. As he pulled away, he saw how her eyes had dilated and grown heavy, and a smile remained on her face. With his job done, he turned and left the store, not even grabbing the paint he had ordered the week before.
Even after all their bickering, he couldn’t help himself with her, heck he even let her give him a black eye without any retaliation. As he takes a bite of his sandwich and reminisces about the moments with Everleigh.
They were all gathered at a table in the private area of Angie’s. A place, Avery had told him, they frequented every Sunday. And since he is soon to be a permanent fixture in Carson they had welcomed him to dinner. Of course, the appeal of seeing Everleigh and doing whatever he can to gain her attention appeals to him as well.
Cassidy and her new boyfriend joined the dinner and helped to keep him from staring at the woman beside him all evening. He would reach out every so often and run his fingers along her arm and leg, taking pride in the way she would mask her shivers.
“Brooks, right? Cassidy tells me you work in pediatrics,” his neighbor inquires, extending a hand.
Removing his hand from Everleigh’s knee Brooks shakes the hand of the musical genius beside him.
“Yep. And I will go ahead and say that I am a huge fan.”
“He’s also a jerk,” his opinionated table partner shouts from over his shoulder.
“Everleigh!” Cassidy exclaims from her seat beside Harlan. “I have no idea why you hate Brooks so much.”
“Because he butts into other people’s business.”
“You mean like you did just now?” Brooks replies, ignoring the eyes widening in his direction.
Everleigh’s eyes narrow towards him, the vein in her neck pulsating as her rage builds. She stands suddenly, her chair almost falling backward at the movement, and she exits the room quickly.
Knowing he needs to make things right Brooks then stands from the table and apologizes to everyone before quickly following Everleigh from the restaurant.
The walk to her apartment above her pharmacy is short, only two blocks, but with the anger growing in each of her steps Brooks feels as if it is miles.
“Talk to me, Everleigh,” he shouts from behind her.
She ignores him, quickening her pace.
“Come on, talk to me.”
“Go away,” she barks but he can hear the subtle quiver in her voice from her building tears.
Needing to make it right, make them right, he picks up the pace and practically runs to catch up with her. Brooks grabs her arm just as she turns the corner and forces her to face him.
He stares down at her, her cheeks reddened from their speed and her eyes watery with unshed tears.
“Everleigh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that you butt into people’s business.”
“Yes, you did. And you’re right. I don’t want people to know about my life so why should I care about anyone else’s,” she retorts as she jerks her arm in his grasp.
“Everleigh.”
“Please, let me go,” she whispers, her words holding more meaning than the physical.
“I can’t.”
And in a swift movement, he yanks Everleigh closer while his head sinks closer to her. He captures her mouth in his and the world spins around him. She stiffens at first but then relaxes in his hold, her tongue peeking out to taste him. It lasts just a second, a moment in time etched into his mind forever, until she pushes herself away from him.
“That was…” he begins as a smile begins to grow on his face but it quickly diminishes as he watches her cock her arm back.
Brooks doesn’t have a moment to respond, nor would he choose to. Her fist collides with his face and he grunts at the connection.
“I suppose I deserve that,” he explains as he hunches over slightly and presses his hand to his eye.
She shakes her hand freely as she tries to subdue the pain in her appendage.
