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“Whyever not? You’re thirty years old, son. I mean, my goodness sakes, what are you waiting for? Any of you boys could settle down and have a family tomorrow. Even Hudson is old enough. It’s not as if doctors don’t finish up residency with a spouse and sometimes children in tow. Does anyone around here care that I need grandbabies?”
“I care,” his dad said, grinning at her.
“Don’t you patronize me.” Mama swatted at Papa and then she kissed him. It wasn’t just a peck, either.
Miles took that as his cue to leave. He rushed through the front door, intent on getting to Eva and somehow explaining everything. Would she ever believe his intentions were true? That she was the right one for him and Lily never had been?
He feared the answer was no.
Easton and Walker were by the stairs.
“You okay?” Walker asked.
“No, it’s a mess. But I broke up with Lily and she … had some different reasons for staying together so long.”
“Such as?”
“Her secrets to share.”
Walker didn’t appear to like that but he wouldn’t pry. “Where is she?”
“Home, I’d assume.”
“Do you think it’s too late?” He looked at Easton.
“Yes. Calm down, bro. Give the lady a minute to restructure her future plans from being centered on ‘devastatingly handsome Lieutenant Miles Coleville’ before you go chasing after her. You don’t want to be the rebound guy.”
Miles needed to get to Eva, but he couldn’t quite compute that Easton was the one who’d just said that piece of advice. “Did you just …”
Easton shrugged. “I listen to some of the lectures, okay?”
Miles smiled. He sobered as he glanced at Walker. “Keep an eye on her.”
Walker’s eyes widened. “Tonight?”
“No. I’m saying in general. She’s an independent lady but she might need some help.”
Walker’s head bobbed. He rubbed at his jaw line and looked at the front door like he wanted to make a run for it.
“Come on, bro.” Easton grabbed his arm. “Let’s go spar for a bit so you can calm down.”
Miles hurried up the stairs. Lily had admitted there was someone else, and it appeared Walker and maybe Clint were interested in her. That could get messy. Who was he to say who should be with who? He sure hoped Walker didn’t get his heart broken.
Reaching the end of the hall, he stopped. His fist raised to pound on the door, but he stayed it and was able to rap somewhat softly. He waited. No noise inside the room.
“Eva?” he called.
He knocked again. Waited. Had she come into her room? As her bodyguard, he had to make certain. He pulled out his phone and called Easton. “You saw Eva go up the stairs and to her room?”
“Just up the stairs, but I heard two doors open and close, so I assumed she went into her bedroom and then her bathroom.”
“Thanks.” He pocketed his phone, knocked again and heard nothing. He quickly checked the other upstairs rooms. Empty. His chest tightened. They’d all relaxed because of the drama with him, Lily, and Eva. More than likely, Eva just wasn’t answering because she was upset at him, but if there was any chance of danger …
Returning to Eva’s door, he knocked louder and then called, “Eva. I need to know you’re safe. If you don’t open the door, I’m coming in to check.”
He waited with bated breath. What if she wasn’t safe? They’d had no alerts, nobody getting through the gate, but something crazy could’ve happened—a person hiding under the frame of a truck or somehow finding a vulnerable spot where they could maneuver over the fence, disabling the cameras, sneaking into the house …
Footsteps approached from inside the bedroom and the door cracked, but not enough to see her beautiful face. He longed to just see her, see for himself that she was all right, that she didn’t hate him and think he was some two-timer. He thought he should deserve some credit for not kissing her until he broke it off completely with Lily. It had been a struggle, that was for sure.
