Page 62 of Bit's Bliss

“If you and Addy have a boy, name him Trevino.” I winked and he laughed.

When I returnedto the cottage, Michael was sitting in a chair, reading, and Eberly’s eyes were closed. He stood silently and walked out when I sat beside her.

“Hey,” she said, stretching her arms over her head. She looked around the room. “How long have you been back?”

I put my arm around her, and she snuggled into me. “A couple of minutes.”

“I guess I dozed off.”

“Let’s go to bed.”

“Okay, but…”

I raised a brow, and her eyes scrunched.

“What?”

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Her cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, that came out harsher than I meant it to. I don’t want you to feel afraid to say what’s on your mind when you’re with me.”

Eberly put her arm around my waist. “It isn’t you. Since my mom died…I don’t know…I guess you could say I lost my security blanket. Her love for me was unconditional.”

Between her dad and her ex, it was easy to see why she was feeling insecure. “I’ll always want you to say what’s on your mind.”

“I was hoping we could talk.”

“Always.”

It took her a few seconds, but then she sat up. “What happened during the auction Saturday night? Why didyou jump off the stage? Brix said you thought you saw someone.”

“I didn’t think it.”

She put her hand on my arm. “I know. I saw him too. I mean, by the time I noticed, I saw a man leaving and you following, but I didn’t see his face.”

“It was Tiernan.”

“I had a feeling you were going to say that.” She sighed. “Not that it explains why you reacted the way you did.”

“Tell me what you know about what happened in the wine caves a year ago.”

“Not much. I mean, I’d heard you were hurt.”

“At first, I thought he was one of the guys who ambushed me that night.”

Eberly’s eyes opened wide. “Oh my God. Was he?”

I shook my head. “He looked similar enough that I reacted.”

Her eyes darted between mine. “Will you tell me what happened?”

As much as I never wanted to relive the events of that night, I knew what it had taken Eberly to ask.

“To be honest with you, there’s not much I remember. It was my job to monitor the security feeds, and that night, there was a breach.” I rubbed my left temple. “More than one, actually. I was near the caves at the time, which is where the alert pinged from.” I had to take a couple of deep breaths.

“You don’t have to go on, Trevino. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” I looked into her tear-filled eyes.