I stopped just inside the space. It was that same mix here—a dark wood headboard but white duvet and pillows. The bedding resembled a cloud, and I couldn’t wait to fall into it. “This is gorgeous.”
“Glad you approve. My sisters left some sweats in the dresser in case they come over for a movie night and want to be comfortable. Those should fit you.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Don’t be dumb.”
I scowled at Hayes. “I’m not dumb. But I also don’t want to be presumptuous.”
He rolled his eyes heavenward. “They’re just clothes. It’s not the family jewels.”
“Do you have family jewels?” I asked with a smirk.
“I think we might’ve misplaced the crowns somewhere along the line.”
“Such a shame.”
Hayes shook his head and moved in close. He paused for a moment and then wrapped his arms around me in a hug that managed to be both gentle and all-consuming. “I’m glad you’re okay. Scared the life out of me when I got the call.”
My eyes burned as I pressed my cheek against his chest. “Thanks for coming back for me.”
“I’ll come back for you anytime you ask, Ev. Or even if you don’t.”
25
Hayes
I eased down into the chair in my study, hitting the timer on my phone for three hours. I scrubbed a hand over my face as I watched the seconds tick by. Sleep wouldn’t be happening tonight.
Everything in me felt like it was going haywire. Short-circuiting and sending jolts of electricity through me. Like when Everly had pressed her cheek harder against my chest as if I were her only source of comfort. Or looking at her asleep in my guest bed just now. She’d curled herself into a position that didn’t seem at all comfortable, as if she were shielding herself from potential attack, yet her face was completely relaxed.
“Get a grip, Easton.” I tapped a recent call on my phone.
“Sheriff’s department.”
“Hey, Williams, it’s Easton.”
“Hey, Sheriff. How’s Ms. Kemper doing?”
The kid had a good heart on him, and I hoped he kept it as he worked the job longer. It was tough not to let this line of work harden you a bit, make you more skeptical. But if you logged the moments where you saw the best in humanity, you could hold onto that optimism. “She’s going to be fine. Got a concussion and some stitches, but it could’ve been a lot worse.”
“Who’s doing this, boss?”
“I wish I had a clue. Has anything turned up tonight?”
“You know I would’ve called you if it had.”
I leaned back in my chair, my muscles protesting the movement. “I had to check.”
“I know it. Ruiz and I logged the evidence, and the techs should get to it first thing.”
“Thanks. Call me if anything else pops up.”
“Will do. Get some sleep if you can.”
I hung up without agreeing. I didn’t lie to the people who worked for me, and I wasn’t going to start now over something as stupid as sleep. Instead, I lifted the screen to my laptop and tapped a key, waking it up. Keying in a couple of passwords, I logged into our department’s system.
I needed to read over Cammie’s statement again. Maybe that would knock something loose. Any clue that might send me in a new direction. I read everything we had four times before my eyes started to cross.