Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“No, but I have studied it quite a bit.” Mostly just to marvel over how wrong a lot of people got the stories that were actually true. Like ogres, for example. Big, lumbering, and dumb. The big and lumbering part might be accurate, but he’d always resented the dumb part. He even hated how Cambion demons had that reputation when their inability to vocalize their thoughts easily was all that made them seem that way. He wanted to talk about this with Everett so much right then, the words burned the tip of his tongue. But to this man, those stories were pure fiction and fantasy, so he picked up his glass and let the burn of alcohol chase away his desire to share.
When he looked back at Everett, he found the man studying him and was pleased to see that look of remembered pain had been replaced with a soft smile.
“You’re really easy to talk to, Dax. I feel like we could be good…friends.”
Dax couldn’t help but wonder over the hesitation there. Had he planned to say something different? “I’d like that,” he answered. “And as your friend, I will say again that what happened when you were a child was really not your fault. You shouldn’t be carrying around an ounce of guilt over it, and I’m sorry your childhood was tarnished with so much of it.”
Everett shrugged. “Can’t change the past, but I did honestly have a great childhood. My parents were loving and fun, and then I had Wilson.” He drained his glass and uncurled his legs to stand up. “I think I can sleep now. Thanks for the company.” He held out his hand for Dax’s empty glass. “Are you going to go to bed, too?”
Dax nodded and stood, which placed him closer to Everett than he should be. So close he could feel the warmth from his body and smell the subtle citrus and spice of his cologne. They stared at each other, and he got the feeling Everett wanted to say something else, but instead, he just turned to take the glasses back to the sink at the bar.
“I’ll just say goodnight, then. Thanks for being here, Dax.”
Dax watched Everett leave the room before he moved to turn off the lamps. The whole time, his heart felt three sizes too big for his chest. Everett was a lonely man, and Dax wanted so much to change that.
Chapter Nine
Everett
The estate sale people were making major headway throughout the house. Everett could see notes on items in most of the rooms. They were slow, but methodical. Patient. The real estate agent, however, was just the opposite. The man was pushing for him to let him photograph more of the house, and Everett still wanted more empty rooms for that. They hadn’t even listed the place yet.
Everett had to school his expression before he opened the door to Allen Bellingham the next morning. The man was thoroughly repugnant. Everett should have gone with someone else because it was growing harder to hide his dislike. He’d originally signed with a woman he’d found rather delightful—a recommendation from his friend, Trilla—but she’d had some kind of emergency and passed the listing off to Allen.
Sunlight spilled into the entryway as he opened the door. Allen was short like Everett but they differed in everything else. The agent was round everywhere. In his face, his torso—even his hands looked like fat sausages. But it was his smarmy personality that made him repugnant. He oozed so much disdain, he should have come with a warning label.
Danger. Incapable of honesty. Believe at your own risk.
Dax stood somewhere behind him, and Everett didn’t even have to look to know that. He felt that man’s presence as soon as he entered a room, his body reacting with goosebumps more often than not. Last night, he’d felt so close to Dax, he’d spilled his innermost secret shame, and while he’d thought he’d feel regret for that, he didn’t. It had felt right to talk to Dax about his past.
They were growing close, and a part of him was completely giddy over that fact because he wanted them to grow even closer. He had every intention of asking the man out after he stopped working for him.
He focused back on the reason for opening the door and had to work hard not to frown.
Allen gave him a sleazy grin, reminding him he had to keep his mind on the task at hand. He somehow knew that not paying attention to this man’s every word would be a mistake.
“I already have an offer on the house,” he said in lieu of a greeting before he brushed past Everett without invitation. He halted in the foyer, obviously thrown off by Dax’s presence. He stared for longer than was polite before dismissing him with a snort and turning back to Everett.