A Few Tables Away (Glenhaven #1)

by Deb Rotuno

  Daniel stepped forward. “Tell me exactly what happened today, buddy,” he said, gesturing for me to sit down on the sofa, and I did, with Dani sticking to me like glue.

  “My vote is yes,” Faith snapped, holding out her phone. “Show him, Evan!”

  Aunt Tessa looked to my sister. “Sweetheart, why don’t you show us where we can put our things, hmm?”

  Faith nodded, starting with Wes and the library, and then Leanne and Aunt Tessa followed my sister upstairs. I frowned down at Faith’s phone, taking a deep breath and letting it out.

  “I’m…” I started but felt my face heat. “I…I completely lost my temper.” I glanced from Daniel’s calm face to Dani’s loving but worried one. “I just…I couldn’t take it anymore. I’d bitten my tongue the whole time I was here, but…knowing everything my mother had gone through, knowing that he most likely was using her for so long…And then! Then he…he…He insulted Dani, and I just snapped.”

  I started the video for them, flinching at the sound of my father’s foul voice, his hatred. Faith had told me she’d followed him. That she’d heard him leave his room. It was when he slammed his bedroom door that alerted her to his mood. She’d told me that she didn’t want to take any chances. Her view was from the library doorway, and it started just before he threw his drink at me. The footage shook a bit because Faith wavered on whether to keep recording or step in, but she needed proof. Every bit of it was there—the insults, the destruction of my phone, the choke hold, every fact I spewed his way—even more the blood spilling down my face.

  It cut off when I told him to let me go and he did.

  “You didn’t hit him here,” Daniel noted, handing the phone back.

  I shook my head, pulling Dani to me. She was a teary mess. “Pretty girl,” I crooned against her forehead. “I’m okay, Dani. I’m actually sorry I let him get to me.” I snorted a bit, shaking my head again.

  “God, son…” Daniel sighed, frowning. “Jesus himself would’ve lost his temper.”

  “Right,” I said with a chuckle. “To answer your question, I didn’t hit him until after Faith had told him she’d already sent the video to Tyler, when I picked up my phone and told him that he’d been overheard. He then insulted Dani…I couldn’t stop myself.”

  Daniel grunted and nodded. “What happens if you press charges, Evan?”

  “I don’t know. He goes before a judge?” I guessed, shrugging. “I don’t…I’m not sure what to do, but I have to go down there tomorrow.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Dani offered.

  “Yeah, me too, son,” Daniel agreed, standing up from the chair across from us. “I think it’s high time your father and I met.” His lips twitched as he gave a wry smile. He pointed a finger between Dani and me. “You know, since our kids are…serious.”

  Dani’s soft giggle shook us both, and I smiled a little, kissing the crown of her head. “That we are, Daniel,” I promised him.

  “Good. That’s good.” He winked at his daughter and then went upstairs, where there was laughter.

  I collapsed a little to the back of the sofa, looking at Dani. “We are, right? Serious, I mean?”

  “As a fucking heart attack,” she breathed, her lips meeting mine almost roughly. And I kissed her back with all I had. Her forehead met mine softly, her breathing coming out in puffs, but I couldn’t help but smile at her. “I really do want to stay with you, Evan.”

  I was nodding before she even finished that plea. “Okay.”

  “I missed you.” She kissed me again.

  “And I love you.”

  Her smile was sweet and adorable. “Here? Or your room?”

  “My room,” I told her, getting up to pick up the only bag left, which I assumed was hers. “Tomorrow…I…Hell, I don’t know.”

  “Tomorrow…” she stated, taking my hand in hers as we walked upstairs. “Tomorrow, I’m gonna give your Daddy Dearest a piece of my fucking mind.” As we stepped into my room and closed the door, my girl came to a stop at the sight of my bed. “Tonight, though,” she said, pulling me down so that I sat on the edge of the mattress, putting her bag down beside me. Her lips met my forehead, the cut my dad had left, with a sweet softness. She tilted my head a little, leaning in to press a kiss to my throat.

  “Tonight, I just want to love you, hold you, kiss you stupid, and remind you that you are amazing and strong and…” She stopped, trailing her fingers across my face. “Baby, you look so tired,” she whispered, swallowing back emotions I could see her fighting.

  I nodded, feeling completely drained. I’d ridden an emotional roller coaster all damn day, and it was now the wee hours of the morning. I pulled her closer to me as she stayed between my legs, laying my head against her chest. The sound of her heart soothed me as I wound my arms around her.

  “You’re not alone in this, Evan. I’ll hold your hand through it all. We all will. Okay?” she whispered against my head, and I nodded.

  “I’m sorry you missed Christmas,” I mumbled, smiling when she laughed lightly.

  “I’m not.” Her smile was sweet when I pulled back to look at her as her hands cupped either side of my face, and she kissed my lips softly. “Nope. I was missing you too much to enjoy any-damn-thing. Now I wanna cuddle the shit outta you.” She pointed to the bed. “Let’s go, Mr. Shaw. I’ve flown a long way. You’ve been through hell and back…all today. You need spoiling. So severe amounts of cuddling must commence pronto, buddy.”

  A laugh escaped me, and I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I knew the next day would be trying at best, and I knew I’d be hearing from not only the police chief but probably Sean and Tyler as well. But for the moment, my wish of Dani in my room wasn’t a daydream but an utterly perfect reality. And just knowing that they were all here to watch my back made me feel a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt since I’d left them behind in Florida.

  As she started to pull away, I stopped her. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  She smiled. “I’ve got you, baby. Always.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Evan

  I WOKE SLOWLY in a cocoon of covers and legs and skin, surrounded by Dani’s scent. We’d crawled into my bed the night before, completely and utterly exhausted. With all that I’d been through and her long flight, all we could manage was to curl ourselves around each other and a few very long, very deep kisses. Hell, I wasn’t sure which of us had passed out first.

  The gray, early morning light lit up my room, but it was the sight next to me, the perfect body alongside mine, that I couldn’t take my eyes off. Dani was just beautiful. She always was to me—whether she was dressed for school or hanging out at home, it didn’t matter…not to me. But watching her slowly wake, feeling her hands and arms against my bare chest and her legs entwined with mine, was the best thing ever, especially in my old bed. Having her here seemed to chase away the darkness that hung over this house.

  Sleepy-sweet eyes opened up to gaze at me.

  I trailed my fingers up and down her spine beneath her shirt—up between her shoulder blades and down along the edge of her pajama bottoms. I needed to touch her. Hell, if I was being honest with myself, I wanted everything all at once, but today, it wasn’t going to happen. The trip to the police station was weighing heavily on me.

  Dani smiled softly, raking her fingers through my hair as she eyed the cut on my forehead, but she continued trailing her fingers down my jaw.

  “I want to wake up like this every damn morning. I mean, I know we’ve woken up like this before, but still…I mean it. I want this every day.”

  Smiling at that adorable rambling honesty of hers that I’d missed so fucking much, I let out a light laugh as I pressed a kiss to the middle of her brow. “Me too.”

  “We aren’t the only ones,” she teased, her body shifting. “Is this a morning thing?”

  “It’s a Dani thing,” I said with a laugh, shrugging a shoulder. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t help it, pretty girl.”

 
; I tried to shift away, but she wouldn’t have it. She gently gripped my side, holding me to her. Reaching for her face, I tucked her hair behind her ear. I still couldn’t believe she was there, in Key Lake, Montana, in the bedroom in which I’d spent practically my whole life hiding. Absentmindedly, she traced my scars along my side, but I loved it. I loved that something that once made me dress for PE behind closed doors was now something I barely gave much thought.

  She pushed at me until I fell back, and she climbed on top of me, making me grin up at her. “One day, there won’t be just sleepovers at my house. We’ll curl up and read together on our own sofa or bed. We can do ridiculously naughty things to each other and not worry about who’s across the hall.”

  I hummed, cupping her face as she braced her hands on my shoulders. “I’m liking this plan.”

  “Which part?” she asked with a deliciously sexy giggle. “Our own place or the naughty bits?”

  “All of it. Everything. Tell me more, Dani.” I skimmed my hands flat down her back, cupping her bottom and giving it a squeeze to bring her closer.

  Her eyes gleamed wickedly as she fought her smile. “We’ll have our own library. A small one, but you’ll have a desk in there, where you’ll write the most amazing stories. I’ll finally find out if the fairy princess marries her sweet, brave archer boy.”

  “She does.”

  “Does she?” she squeaked, grinning. “Oh, fairy babies…”

  I chuckled at how she sounded like my sister when it came to that particular story.

  “Well, you’ll write and you’ll be this famous author. They’ll make movies about your fairy world.” When that made me laugh out loud, she got serious. “I mean it. And I’ll be your biggest fan, your best cheerleader. I’ll make sure the gorgeous actress who plays the princess doesn’t steal you away.”

  “Never,” I whispered, gazing up at her in awe and wonder and head-over-heels love. “I’ve already been stolen, pretty girl.”

  Her eyes watered a bit at that, and she leaned down to kiss my neck, shifting to kiss the cut on my forehead. “And…And…I swear to God, I’ll never, ever let anyone hurt you again.”

  “I love you,” I breathed, shaking my head slowly at how I’d gotten so fucking lucky.

  My life was a mess, truly. Outside the bedroom door we were secured behind, my world was fucked up. But everything in my arms, every inch of the beautiful girl who was draped over me, was pure perfection. From her adorable toes that were rubbing against my legs, to her sweet smile, to that smart mind—there wasn’t a bit of her that I could live without.

  “I love you too, Evan. I’m sorry he hurt you, and I know we have stuff to deal with today, but if you don’t kiss me, I’m gonna—”

  She didn’t have to finish that sentence, and my lips met hers to stop her and to give her what she wanted. I gave in completely—at least for a few minutes. As much as I wanted her, as amazing as she felt pressing against me, touching me, kissing me, grinding over me, I was well aware of the sounds coming from the hallway. The house was waking up, which meant the chief would be calling, and Sean would probably stop over. There was a decision that needed to be made concerning my father.

  Rolling her onto her back, I loomed over her, finally breaking our kiss. “There’s something missing from this grand plan of yours,” I teased her breathlessly, brushing my lips across hers lightly.

  “What’s that?”

  “If I’m writing, what are you doing?”

  She grinned and shrugged. “I dunno, but I’ll let you know when I do. I just look forward to figuring it out with you.”

  “Fair enough, baby.” I sighed, turning a bit when I heard my sister’s phone ring. Turning back to Dani, I said, “I’d better get up. I need…and then you guys need breakfast, and…”

  “Baby, baby…Evan…We here to help you, not impose. Just tell us what you need.”

  I pressed a heavy kiss to her lips. “Thank you. Let me shower first, and then we’ll get with everyone downstairs.”

  Regretfully, I extricated myself from her arms, mentally preparing myself for the shitstorm to come. I shook my head at the sight of her in my childhood bed, trying my damnedest to keep my thoughts controlled. I definitely needed that shower—a cold one.

  By the time we were both clean and dressed, we came downstairs to find my house filled with laughter and teasing…and food. Lots of food.

  Wes grinned, slapping my shoulder. “That’s one helluva diner you got down the street.”

  Grimacing a little, I shrugged a shoulder. “It gets old. Trust me.”

  “Apparently my big brother got spoiled by home cookin’,” Faith teased from her spot at the kitchen counter.

  “Whatever,” I said as I waved her away. “Just wait until you’ve had Leanne and Aunt Tessa’s fried chicken. That’s all I’m sayin’.”

  Leanne kissed the side of my head. “You need to eat something, sweet boy, even though I didn’t make it.” When I laughed her way, she ruffled my hair. “Daniel’ll be down in a moment.”

  Dani and I took the take-out boxes from her mom, and we sat down at the kitchen table with Aunt Tessa. I didn’t think I was hungry until the first bite hit my tongue, but then I realized I hadn’t eaten since breakfast the day before.

  All of the bullshit my dad had said and done flashed through my head as I ate—the hatred he’d spewed my way, my phone, the threats. By the time I’d cleaned my plate and looked up at Faith, Daniel had joined us.

  “Faith, have you heard from Tyler?” I asked, getting up to throw away the box and taking Dani’s too.

  “Yeah, he’s in the air. And he told me to tell you to…and I quote, ‘Nail the asshole to the wall.’”

  My nostrils flared and I nodded, shoving my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “He’ll kill him,” I whispered, mainly to myself, but everyone heard me. “He threatened Dad at Thanksgiving about you and me,” I said to her. “I don’t…” I shrugged. “I don’t know what the right thing is here.”

  “Evan, he…” Dani started but then stopped, slumping in her chair at the table.

  Smirking at her adorable attempt to keep her mouth under control, I simply said, “I know, Dani,” against the top of her head.

  Aunt Tessa turned to look my way, and in her hand was the long list of chores Faith and I were supposed to have accomplished while I was home. Most of them were done. Some of them had had to wait due to the snow.

  “Has he always been this way?” she asked my sister and me, and when we nodded, she sighed deeply. “These aren’t just…chores. Hell, some of this shit needs a professional…like the chimney and the gutters. Really? It’s fucking snowing!”

  Faith grinned, but she looked to me before she answered. “B-Before Mom died, he never bothered with us. But he really does blame my brothers for the accident. More Evan than Tyler, but Ty came to Ev’s defense so much that he’s just as hated.”

  I quickly explained all I’d learned from Pastor Sean the day before. How my mother had tried to leave my father. How he’d accused her of cheating because I didn’t look like him. How it was a punishment against Faith that had truly kicked it all off.

  “I remember that,” she whispered. “Mom cried when she cleaned me up.”

  That caused a silence in the room for a moment, but then I continued, telling about all the money and accounts and even the file Sean had handed me. And finally, I ended with the fact that my dad had been sued for malpractice.

  “Which means he’ll have a lawyer at his fingertips,” Daniel finally spoke, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He got up from the counter to throw his box away. “You should too, I suppose.”

  “I’m sure,” I agreed, rubbing my face. “I need to talk to Tyler about that stuff. He’s about to turn twenty-one, which means he’s going to inherit his portion. I just…I don’t care about the money, but it seems like my dad used my mother, like he’s been syphoning from her this whole time, and it’s that money he’s threatened us with our whole lives. Th
ere’s…There’s a part of me that wants nothing more than to walk away from this house, him, all of it. But there are questions I want answers to, and I can’t leave my sister here.”

  “Then let’s go ask him, son,” Daniel said firmly. “Maybe after you’ve given him a chance to answer, you’ll know whether or not you want to press charges.” He pointed to Faith. “And as far as your sister goes…we’ll work it out, buddy.”

  Nodding, I sighed. “Okay.”

  “I’m still going,” Dani said, standing up and taking my hand.

  “Me too,” Daniel added.

  “Well, I’m not. I’ll end up in a cell next to Daddy Dearest, and I’m way too pretty for jail,” Wes added, his half smile making me laugh, but he squeezed my shoulder. “Give me your phone, Ev. I can at least go handle some business.”

  “I can’t let you—”

  “Oh, you’ll work it off at the coffee shop. Don’t think you won’t.” He shot me a wink, opening and closing his hand. “I’ll get you something badass along with a new number because I think you’re gonna need it.”

  Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my poor, ruined cell phone. Wes’s face darkened at the sight of the shattered screen and the broken back and power button. He muttered something about doing the same to my dad’s face but tucked it into his pocket.

  “I have to go,” Faith piped up, wrinkling her nose. “They want a statement from me.”

  Nodding, I told her she could drive, and then Leanne was in front of me, cupping my face. “I want to spoil you—all of you,” she said, glancing to my sister. “And if you’ve got your brother coming in, then we’ll stay at the lodge in town, but I want to cook for all of you.”

  “You don’t—”

  Aunt Tessa chuckled. “Well, we are, kiddo. So…suck it up. And since you have such high praises for our fried chicken, the menu is easy.”

  Grinning, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”