Written with You (The Regret Duet #2)(40)

After inspecting my face the first time, Rosalee had cornered me with a box of crayons and a mountain of coloring books. Caven had attempted to come to my rescue, but after the day I’d had, sitting at his dining room table and quietly coloring with the girl I loved most in the world seemed like the best way to unwind.

Much to my surprise, Caven didn’t hover. Well, at least not over Rosalee. I’d caught him creeping on me several times when he’d thought I wasn’t looking. I had no idea how he did it, but the moment my ice pack would start to warm, he’d magically appear with another one. Thanks to his constant care, the swelling on my cheek was minimal. But given the ache behind my eye, I had a sneaking suspicion the bruising wasn’t going to cooperate as nicely.

Hence the Tylenol and water—another of his magic tricks.

Caven proved his experience by clicking exactly two buttons on the remote. When two lizards duking it out appeared on the screen, Rosalee squealed almost as loudly as she had when she’d learned we were having cake and french fries for dinner.

Caven grinned down at his daughter before he turned his attention on me. “Did you talk to Beth?”

Boy, had I talked to Beth. First, she’d screamed at me when she found out I’d gotten attacked and hadn’t called her. Then she’d screamed in surprise when she found out Caven showed up pulling the Alpha routine. Then she’d screamed again when she found out I’d agreed to stay with him and hadn’t packed the first piece of lingerie. Then she’d told me to call her the minute we finished having sex. I assured her Caven and I weren’t having sex that night, or likely ever again. So then she screamed at me for being so blind. Finally, I hung up on her and put my phone on silent. I did not need to be reading into his White Knight act and this sleepover any more than I already was.

I avoided eye contact as I replied, “Yeah. We…uh…talked.”

“Good, I know she was probably worried.”

Yes, that I didn’t bring the appropriate sleepwear to seduce you. I laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. She was. It’s all good now though.”

“Listen. I found a cleaning company to go over to your studio in the morning.”

The side of my mouth hitched. I wasn’t surprised. I’d heard him on the phone while I’d been coloring a field of one-dimensional daisies. It was still crazy sweet that he’d taken the initiative to help me. The sewage in my studio was far from my biggest concern, but I liked that someone cared.

No. Strike that. I liked that Caven cared.

“Thank you.”

He slid his arm behind his daughter and across the back of the couch, capturing a lock of my hair. He rolled it between his thumb and his forefinger. “I also found a restoration company that will cut the mural out and seal it so they can reinstall it when the cleaning and repairs are finished. If you give me the keys, I’ll go over there in the morning and let them in.”

First, he’d saved my life. Then I’d lied to him for months. And now, he was letting me stay in his home, with his daughter, and sending cleaners and a restoration company out to my house. I did not deserve that man.

Though I didn’t exactly have him, either.

There were over six thousand languages, and while I only spoke English and broken Spanish, I could have known them all and still not have been able to find the words to adequately express my gratitude. So, as the guilt crashed down over me, I took a play from Caven’s playbook. “I’m so sorry.”

The muscles at his jaw twitched. “Don’t do that. Not tonight.”

I had no idea what else to say, so I said nothing.

The hum in my veins sang as I stared at him, remembering the boy and then the man who had once given me his body. First with a shared bullet. And then years later with a night wrapped in each other’s arms.

But he wasn’t mine.

Even if I had always been his.

“Awww, why doesn’t she want a hug?” Rosalee asked.

I glanced up in time to see a lioness fighting with a lion attempting to mount her.

“Because that is how you should act any time a boy tries to hug you,” Caven replied.

“What about Jacob?”

“Especially Jacob.”

I giggled, and while he didn’t look at me, I saw his lips twitch.

He clicked the remote just before the lion was successful. “I think we should pass on TV tonight. It’s been a long day. Maybe we should all hit the hay.”

“You got hay?” Rosalee asked.

“No, baby. It’s a saying. It means go to bed for the night.”

She tilted her head to the side. “In the hay?”

“No hay. Forget I said anything about hay. Let’s just go to bed.”

She sighed, scrambled off the couch, and tugged on my arm. “Come on, Willow. You can sleep on my tremble.”

Caven stood up with her. “Nope. Willow isn’t sleeping on your trundle. She’s staying in the guestroom, like I already told you.”

“Whyyyyyy?” Rosalee whined.

“Because I said so. Now, go brush your teeth and I’ll be up to read you a book in a minute.”

My heart could not take the cuteness as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her father. “I want Willow to read me a book.”

“Then I suggest you drop the attitude and ask Willow to read you a book.”