Madeline's Park by Ellen Mint

Author:Ellen Mint [Mint, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2022-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

All he needed was to change his clothes. Everett held his breath, taking the stairs with his arm flattened against the wall so they wouldn’t creak. He was supposed to meet Maddy at the Grand Royal hotel in under an hour and any place with that much gold in its stationery wouldn’t let a sweat-drenched fireman near their lobby. They’d probably demand a spritz of cologne even if it were on fire.

Ev reached the landing and moved to turn for the bathroom, when a low groan rumbled through the floorboards. He full-body winced and whipped his head down the construction hell of the second floor. The bedroom door didn’t open. Maybe she was out, or taking a nap. In and out fast before she even notices.

Once in the safe confines of the bathroom, he hung up his jacket then took to stripping off the layers. It’d started off freezing cold in the morning, and Ev had thought he was being smart breaking out the Henley to go over his tee. It was brilliant right until the sun broke free and beamed heat on every covered inch of his body. He felt like a baked potato wrapped in foil and tossed in the back of the car.

He should take a shower. At least make himself look presentable for…the hotel people. Not like anyone else would care. Staring at the mirror, the whole of his skin red and blotchy, Ev froze. Dark circles hung under his eyes. He’d slept at the station again in the hopes he’d be bushy-tailed for today. That used to work when things got bad, at least until she’d calmed down. But the droop of his brow and hunch to his shoulders seemed to grow worse no matter what he did.

Everett rubbed random patches of stubble across his cheeks. Pockets of it came in long while others seemed to be struggling. It’d be best if he shaved it all off, but every time he picked up a razor and held it to his face, his hand started to shake. All that work hanging over his head, the station, the ball, fixing his house, Maddy…

If he could just get one thing done, then it’d be better. Tomorrow’s dawn would be brighter. It had to be.

He didn’t realize he’d pushed aside his hair until the bare light struck the spot. It’d looked like a horn when it was first burned, tomato red and damn near glowing under his blond hair. Even though it hurt like hell, he’d worn a hat to hide it. She’d sworn that’d be the last time.

The funny thing was, he didn’t blame her for it like the way he didn’t blame the wind for knocking over a fence. He blamed himself for being stupid enough to believe her.

“What are you doing home?”

The rickety door almost burst on its hinges from how hard Kathy knocked on it. Ev swiped his hair back in place and gripped the sink. “I have to get ready,” he said, his eyes closing tight.

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