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“Della, wait.” I don’t stop, my short legs hustling me closer to locking myself away, but then I feel his arms wrap around me from behind. I fist my hands so as not to touch him; I can’t take what he’s feeling. Not when I’m so raw. “What is the rush?” I’m spun around but won’t meet his stare.
“I’d like to clean up. I’m supposed to have lunch with my friend.” Glancing at my watch, I notice I’m already going to be late by the time I get to the pier.
“What friend?” He sounds skeptical.
“Cece.” Crossing my arms, I try to pull away from him.
“I’ll take you.” Surprised, I cease fighting him.
“Why?” It’s my turn to be skeptical now.
When he moves to use a finger to lift my chin, I jerk back but then look at him. He’s cold as ever. I get no emotion from his eyes, from his aura, nothing to hint at his thoughts.
“I want to spend time with you,” he finally says, and that’s when I notice the necklace around his throat. I made that. It was one of the first ones I sold after doing a tutorial video. I know this because that was the only green stone I had. I’ve never been able to procure that particular shade again.
As much as I want to ask him how he got it, I keep my lips sealed and focus on the problem at hand. “You’ll be bored. Lunch and stone shopping is all we’re doing.” He shrugs, so I let it go. Who am I to argue how he wastes his time? “I’ll just get cleaned up, then.”
Stepping away from Holy, his critical eyes watch me as I back up to the bathroom. Shutting the door, I inhale deeply while closing my eyes and counting to ten. Leaning over the sink, I turn the cold tap on and run the water over my wrists to calm down slightly.
My heart feels like it’s beating a million miles a minute with no end in sight. Shutting the water off, I dry my hands and fix my hair before putting on a light layer of mascara and peach lip gloss. After fixing my clothes, I prepare to head out and meet Holy downstairs.
Opening the door, I flick off the light and stop short when I see the man in question sitting silently on my bed. He looks mighty comfortable in a space not meant for him, and yet, the longer I stare, the hotter I become, and I debate turning around and jumping in an ice-cold shower to cool off.
“Ready?” He stands and strolls over to me, not a misstep in his stride. Confidence exudes off him in waves, and I find I’m envious of his nature. I wish I could be so sure of myself.
“I suppose. You didn’t have to wait for me.”
That casual shrug again. Like he doesn’t care about anything at all.
“Didn’t. But wanted to.” He confuses me. His body language is standoffish, but his words imply something else.
“You’re very hard to read.” And as someone who can read a person just by standing in the same room as them, that is difficult for me to admit.
“How so?” Offering me his arm, he waits while I hesitate before taking it and allowing him to escort me back downstairs.
“You just are.” I’m not sure if he knows about my abilities, and I don’t like telling people. It opens up a field of questions I never have answers for.
I remain silent as Holy and Cowboy inspect the car and start the drive to the coast, where I’m meeting Cece. Dad already sent a car ahead to pick her up, so I know she’s likely there right now, and I’m late. I hate being late. Punctuality is something that helps keep me focused when I continually feel like I’m drowning in a world of too many emotions.
Reining in my excitement as the fresh sea air hits my face is difficult, but I don’t want Holy to have too much of an advantage over me. The ability to hide my emotions has always been easy for me, but the man holds a special knack for reading me like an open book.
CHAPTER 4
Holy
Della has some dark demons she’s hiding away, and I wonder if even Carter knows what they are. I watch her from the front seat as she rolls down her window, eyes closed, and inhales deeply. Her face remains a mask, one I’m all too familiar with, but I see the easing of her shoulders, how her back becomes less stiff, and her fingers fan out as though she’s reaching for the sandy beach and salty ocean.
It’s then I decide we’ll be taking a detour today. She will get her feet wet, reach deep in the water, and touch the earth to center herself. I’m making it happen if it’s the last thing I do.
“Cece.” There’s a smile in her voice as Cowboy parks the car, and she notices the girl standing near a light pole looking anxious.
When the young woman started coming around the house with Odette, I’d been skeptical at first. I hadn’t trusted her. I always expect the worst in people, however, so that was more on me than her.
“Don’t get out,” I tell Della and catch the way she frowns at me as I slowly exit the car before scanning the area for threats. Everyone is suspicious to me, but when no one pays too much attention to her, I open the door and allow her to step out.
Chewing on her lip, Della’s eyes convey her questions, but she doesn’t vocalize them before rushing over to her friend—a woman younger than her and, I’m most certain, will eventually be claimed by her father. An odd combination, for sure.
“Not too far, Della.” As I slip my shades over my eyes, she sends me a glare before nodding and gripping Cece’s hands in both of hers.
