After the Storm (KGI #8)(98)

“Eve, what’s wrong, honey?” Donovan asked as he strode down the steps to meet them.

Cammie promptly put her arms up for Donovan to pick her up and he complied, but he positioned her on his hip, his gaze still firmly directed at Eve as though he were trying to pry her thoughts right out of her head.

“Just a headache,” she said. “I thought I was better. Maybe I overdid it.”

Guilt entered his eyes and she realized he was likely blaming himself for the two nights of lovemaking so soon after her injury.

“Come inside and get comfortable,” he said, urging her toward the door, Cammie still perched on his hip. “I’ll get you something for the headache. How bad is it? Any blurred vision? Nausea or dizziness?”

He was making her dizzy with all the questions and heartsick that he could pull off such a meticulous deception.

“No. I’m fine. Really,” she murmured as they walked inside.

A burst of cooler air hit her and she wavered precariously for a moment, unable to help her reaction.

Beside her Donovan muttered a curse, and he let Cammie slide from his grasp to stand beside him.

“Go with Travis, sweetheart,” he directed Cammie. “I need to look after Eve.”

Cammie sent her a concerned look, but then Travis stepped in and took Cammie’s hand. “Want a snack?” he asked cheerfully. “Let’s go rustle up something in the kitchen.”

Cammie quickly forgot about Eve and perked up considerably upon hearing the word snack.

Donovan ushered her over to the couch, sat her down and then lifted her feet, removing the canvas shoes one of his sisters-in-law had provided. He pulled the ottoman over and propped her feet up and then slid onto the couch beside her, tilting her chin up with his fingers so he could look into her eyes.

“You look tired,” he said. “How bad is the headache, Eve?”

It was growing worse all the time. She didn’t have to fake that much.

“Would eating help?” he queried. “You didn’t eat much at breakfast.”

The thought of putting anything in her roiling stomach only made the turmoil worse. She shook her head. “Just let me sit here on the couch for a while,” she said. “I’ll be okay.”

He didn’t look convinced, and indecision racked his face. But finally he conceded. He got her to lie down and positioned a pillow underneath her head before retrieving a blanket from one of the closets and tucking it around her.

“Get some rest,” he murmured before kissing her forehead. “I’ll take care of Travis and Cammie while you sleep.”

She closed her eyes, though she knew sleep wouldn’t come. She didn’t want it to. She had too much to ponder and she needed to be left alone to plot her course of action. Maybe today wasn’t the day he planned to dispose of her. But tomorrow? How could she know?

CHAPTER 30

DONOVAN waited and worried. Something was bothering Eve. He was sure of it. When she’d returned from Sophie’s she’d been listless, and lines of pain were etched on her face. He’d wanted to call Maren, but Eve had insisted she didn’t need her. He’d tried to give her an injection, but she’d refused that too.

He’d even called Sophie back, demanding to know what had happened while she’d been over there, but Sophie had told him only what she’d related when she’d first called. That Eve wasn’t feeling well and had wanted to go back to Donovan’s.

She’d lain on the couch for most of the afternoon and into the evening, though he hadn’t known if she’d truly slept. Her features had been too tense for him to believe she’d drifted off. Either that or her sleep was fractured with bad dreams.

He’d awakened her, wanting her to eat dinner with him and Cammie and Travis, but she’d refused that too. So she’d remained on the couch while he had a quiet dinner with the others and he’d soothed Cammie when she’d asked him what was wrong with Eve.

But he couldn’t soothe himself.

After dinner, he put Cammie to bed with Travis and then went back into the living room to Eve.

“It’s time for bed,” he said in a soft voice as he sat on the edge of the couch close to her head. “Do you think you can sleep?”

She looked . . . unhappy. And that bothered him. But she nodded and allowed him to help her to her feet. He guided her into his bedroom, and she stiffened when he started toward his bed. Did she think he’d want to make love to her? Did she think him so insensitive that he’d place his wants and needs above hers?

“Eve, you aren’t feeling well,” he said gently. “I just want to hold you so you’ll feel better.”

She relaxed a little, but he could still feel the rigidity in her body as he tucked her into bed. Taking only time to take off his shirt and jeans, he crawled into bed next to her, automatically reaching for her.

For a long time she lay there, quiet, but he knew she didn’t sleep. She lay in the crook of his arm, her head pillowed on his shoulder. But she stared sightlessly up at the ceiling and she hadn’t relaxed.

After two hours in which neither of them slept, he finally turned to her.

“You’re not resting,” he said quietly. “You aren’t sleeping. Let me give you an injection, Eve. You’re in pain and it’s not necessary. The medicine will help you sleep and take away the pain.”