Page 39 of Unmasked

Knox had dropped Everleigh off at her parents’ house that morning on his way to work, and she planned to go right back to his place after her meeting with Sierra. She wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. She gathered her things and then headed for the garage, only to be brought up short by her mother.

“Everleigh, you’re home,” her mother said.

Everleigh shot her a guilty smile. “Only for a minute. I have a meeting in town.”

“Oh?” Her mother tipped her head to one side, disappointment evident on her pretty face. “I didn’t realize.”

Everleigh nodded. “I really should get going, but I’ll be back soon.”

“Tonight?” her mother asked.

Everleigh bristled at the question but forced her irritation down. “I don’t think so, no.”

Her mother’s inquisitive blue eyes studied her. “Will you be staying with your boyfriend?”

The word sent a flurry of butterflies battering against Everleigh's insides. It was almost comical to think of Knox as her boyfriend. He was so much more than that, and yet they hadn’t discussed expectations or their plans for the future; they hadn’t truly talked about much of anything over the weekend. It was as if they’d reached a tacit truce to avoid anything heavy after Everleigh's revelations Saturday morning. It was one reason she had decided to keep her appointment with Sierra. They had scheduled it nearly a week ago after Everleigh had decided to move out, and though she had briefly considered it, she hadn’t called Sierra to cancel. She wasn’t sure what would happen between Knox and her, but she wanted to make sure she had options.

“I believe so,” Everleigh said in response to her mother’s question. “If I decide otherwise, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.” Her mother looked uncomfortable for a moment before speaking. “I’d like to meet him.”

Everleigh knew her mother had good intentions, but she wanted to put that off for a bit. Selfishly, she wanted to keep Knox to herself. Their relationship was still new and fragile in so many ways, and she didn’t want anything—or anyone—to ruin what they had going.

“Maybe next week,” she hedged.

“Sounds good.” Her mother smiled. “Be safe.”

“I will.”

With that, Everleigh left the house and headed outside to her car. A smile wreathed her face at the sight of it. When Knox had dropped her off that morning, he had pulled up next to her little BMW parked in the driveway.

“That little foreign thing yours?” he had asked, a teasing smile on his face. “Gotta get you into something American. Those things are trouble.”

He had laughed and kissed her when she pouted, then promised to meet her at his place after work. Everleigh climbed into the car and then drove toward Blackwater Key. Sierra and Everleigh had decided to meet at the same small coffee shop, The Daily Grind, and she parked her car along the street once more in the angled spots. She had touched base with Mason earlier to let him know they were still on for today’s appointment, so she knew he’d be close by even if she couldn’t see him.

Inside the shop, Everleigh lifted a hand and waved to Sierra, who sat in the back of the small cafe. Sierra stood and greeted her with a hug. It was still strange how overly familiar Southerners were. Everleigh had grown up there, so it was welcome in a way, but at the same time, she had been gone so long it felt almost odd. People in the city kept to themselves, avoided eye contact at all costs, and moved along like no one else existed. But down there, it was a different world. Everyone was syrupy sweet, at least on the outside. Sierra, Everleigh knew, was just as nice as she seemed.

Everleigh returned the hug with genuine affection before sliding into the booth across from Sierra. It was nice to have someone familiar, someone she could almost call a friend.

“How have you been?” Sierra asked. “Settling in okay?”

“It’s a little hard to get used to after being away so long,” Everleigh admitted.

“I can understand that,” Sierra sympathized. “I wish every once in a while that I had the guts to leave, but this is home.” She shrugged good-naturedly and smiled. “I was born here and will probably die here.”

“There are worse places to be,” Everleigh said as the waiter came over to the table to take their order. She smiled up at him. “Latte for me, please.”

Sierra ordered a cheese Danish to go with her cappuccino, then turned her attention back to Everleigh. “So, I found what I think may be some good options for you,” she said, practically bubbling with excitement.

Sierra pulled several papers from her purse and set them on the table, turning them so Everleigh could read the details. Everleigh flipped through them one by one, looking at the small collection of available apartments located on the outskirts of Miami as well as two homes that seemed to have potential out near a nature reserve.

Everleigh shot a tiny smile at the waiter as he delivered their order, then turned her attention back to Sierra. “These look great,” she said.

Sierra’s face fell at Everleigh's flat tone. “You hate them.”

“No!” Everleigh shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just... I’ve been seeing this guy and...”

Sierra’s expression changed immediately, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Scandalous. Wanting to shack up with a man before marriage.”