Page 44

Not exactly.“Full disclosure, I don’t usually want to fuck my friends.”
Her eyes widened.
“You can’t be surprised.You had to know I want you.Pretty sure I give the secret away every moment when my gaze locks on you.Surely you see the hunger in my eyes.”But now wasn’t the time for this big talk.It also wasn’t the time for fucking.She needed rest and care, and she was going to get both.“Go to sleep, Naomi.You have nothing to fear while I’m close.”
“That’s different.”
“What is?”
“Not having to fear when a man is close.”Her lashes flickered.“I wish I’d never married him.”
I wish the same thing.
“More, I wish I’d never met him.Wish I’d met you first.”
I saw you first.I wanted you first.
And, deep inside, didn’t he sometimes worry…
Did he take you away, just because I wanted you?
No, no, impossible but…
Her eyes had begun to close, but suddenly, they opened and zeroed right on him.“Ebenezer is an unusual name.”
“Yes.”He’d thought she was drifting away, and now this question?
“You’re the only Ebenezer that I’ve ever met.”
“I prefer Eb.”His fingers slid down her cheek.
“Sure you do.It’s tougher, stronger.More you.”
He leaned over her.“I was named after a heartless bastard.You know him, most people do.The one and only Ebenezer Scrooge.”His lips crooked up.“You even called me on it before.A Christmas Carol,remember?”
The darkness of her eyes lit up.She smiled.A gorgeous grin that shot straight through him because it was a real smile.
“You aren’t serious,” she said.Then, immediately, “Please be serious.Please really be named after him and don’t let it just be a coincidence.”
“I’m dead serious.My mother lovedA Christmas Carol.I’m Ebenezer, my twin brother is Jacob, and my sister is Marley.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“Really?You try being named after the miser who turned away love.”
“But he didn’t.”Her hand lifted.Pressed to his chest.No, pressed right over his heart.“In the end, he found out what mattered.”
“He’d already lost the woman he loved.There was no going back from that.”In the old story, Ebenezer had been more concerned with collecting his money.
And I’ve been focused on vengeance.His whole life, the “eye for an eye” mentality had ruled him.
“You don’t know that he lost her completely.There was still time.He got his Christmas when the book ended.Who knows what happened after that?”Her eyes gleamed at him.“I like your name.”
“You haven’t heard my full name yet.”
“What’s your full name?”Softer.Sleep clearly pulled at her once again.
“My mom wasn’t just a fan ofA Christmas Carol.She was a hardcore admirer of the author.So Jake and I were also named after him.”He paused.“He’s Jacob Charles Jones.I’m Ebenezer Dickens Jones.”