Hold Me Tight(45)

I glance over at Will, who is sprawled on the couch next to Shep. Ben texted him about a half hour ago to say that they were loading up his truck. But Will’s leg won’t stop fidgeting, and Shep doesn’t like it. He gets up and circles once, twice, three times before plopping down again. I don’t think Shep likes sharing the couch with Will either. Ever since Eric’s mom dropped him off last night, he’s been curled up on his blanket, letting Will know in no uncertain terms that it belongs to him and him alone.

“Here they come,” Eric murmurs, catching me off guard.

He’s right. Somehow he heard Ben’s truck approaching before the headlights rounded the bend. I was supposed to be on lookout duty, but Eric’s the one who remained vigilant. He must really be dreading this if he’s that alert before his first cup of coffee.

Eric and Will walk over to join me, and we hear one door slam but not the other. The low vibration of Ben’s baritone is audible but muffled. It’s like he’s talking Tim into getting out. I guess Ben really didn’t tell Tim where they were going beforehand. Tim’s not going to be in a good mood from the start, considering his little brother tricked him into coming here.

“Maybe I should go out there and let him see me. That might help.” My eyes bounce between Eric and Will, but they seem noncommittal at best.

“Give him a minute,” Will urges, rubbing his hand across his chin, pondering our next move. “Ben said he’d probably dig his heels in at the beginning. So let him get Tim used to the idea before we go charging out there.”

“Yeah, but we haven’t got all day,” Eric grumbles, in no mood to compromise.

He’s just cranky and overtired. He busted his ass all weekend long selling trees, and he made a killing. Having the extra manpower Will and Ben provided was a godsend. He was able to haul more trees down to the storefront and give his customers a better selection. Word quickly spread, and they were jammed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I was hoping that Saturday might have been our first date night, but Eric didn’t make it back to the cabin until nearly midnight. He left his muddy boots at the door, trudged up the steps, and collapsed into bed next to me. But I understand. There’s still time for romance. As long as my man is doing everything he can to provide for our baby, I’m not going to stop him. I know how tight things have been since Halloween. Eric’s business is dependent on the season. He has to make it while he can because it’s going to be a long stretch until spring arrives, not to mention the income that comes with it.

I bite my lip and stare at the floor. Eric’s patience is running thin. If Ben doesn’t get Tim in here, I’m afraid of what he might do. The last thing anyone wants is for Eric to barge out there and confront him. Based on what happened the last time these two crossed paths, things could blow up before I even have a chance to talk to him.

Finally, the sound of a truck door slamming greets our ears. We listen anxiously as the tread of their footsteps gets closer. I reach behind me for Eric’s hand, clasping it in mine. Surprisingly, he pulls me into his chest, his breath warm against my skin.

“Whatever happens, you’re a good person for doing this,” he whispers, his lips moving against my hair. “Too good a person.”

I wrap my arms around him and nestle my cheek next to his heart. I listen to it beating, taking a moment to prepare myself for what’s about to happen. There’s no denying that imminent sense of danger hanging in the air. Whether Tim admits to being the father or not, whatever he says is not going to be easy for Eric to hear. Tim thinks he loved Cassidy more than Eric, and if he starts making claims like that, anything could happen. I’m not sure how Eric’s going to react.

There’s a slight pounding at the door, and Eric nods at Will over my head to answer it. I start to pull away from him, but Eric holds me tight. This isn’t a good idea if the first image Tim sees when Will opens the door is me clinging to Eric. I should be the one to greet him. I should be the first pair of eyes he connects with, not Eric’s hostile glare. Having my back turned is only going to antagonize Tim, like Eric’s shielding me from view.

“Wait,” I call out before Will can turn the lock. “Let me do it.”

Eric sighs deeply, making my body move with his.

“Please,” I say softly, raising my head. “We need answers, and this is the only way we’re going to get them. He’s our last link to Cassidy.”

Eric’s eyes are troubled yet tender as they look down at me. He’s doing something he never thought he’d do just because I’m asking him to. That takes a lot of faith in what we have to put it to the test like that. He believes we’re solid enough to get through this. Whatever revelation Tim makes, he knows we’ll still be here for each other, no matter what. And that’s huge.