Room to Breathe (12 page)

Chapter 18

Eric gently brushes Cora’s hair out of her face. She has been sleeping peacefully for hours. He has no idea what lead her to go out in to the garden half dressed in freezing weather. He is just thankful she is going to be okay.

Eric returns to the chair he has set up next to her bed where he has been since he carried her up the stairs last night. He takes a sip of the drink he has on a small table set next to him. It also has some of his papers and his electronic tablet.

Eric has been attempting to get some of his work done but he is having a hard time focusing. Every time Cora stirs or mumbles in her sleep it draws his undivided attention.

Cora moans softly in her sleep and Eric resists the urge to go to her side again. He has come to care for her more than he thought he could and certainly more than he should.

It has been a very odd twenty-four hours for Eric. His sister sent him an email saying she needed money to move to Paris and he has no idea where that has come from. Then finding Cora passed out in the garden in freezing weather in her swim suit. Equally as strange was that, just before Cora was found outside Lucinda and Claire tried to ambush him. It was no wonder he has his third glass of scotch next to him at the moment.

Eric goes through his new email hoping for the explanation from his sister, Shannon. Still no response from her but he does have two other new messages.

The first is from Hannah in response to the email he sent her about Lucinda. After yesterday he felt even more strongly that she has to go. He had told Hannah about the way she had treated Cora and about how she attacked him last night. Even she has agreed that Lucinda has used up his goodwill.

He doesn’t blame Claire for the incident at all. Claire is a very kind person but she is easily led by someone like Lucinda. Eric has found it even more odd since Lucinda has never shown any attraction to him and knows he has none towards her. He has decided to talk to her about everything but wanted to hear back from Hannah first.

The second email is from Tristan, saying that Eric has been holding out on him and that he is going to be coming this weekend after all. It states he will be arriving Thursday, a whole day before everyone else, and that he can’t wait to meet Cora.

Eric feels the color rise in his face in anger. He quickly sends a text message to Dean to come to Cora’s room. Less than a minute later there is a soft knock on the door. Dean enters the room and scans it quickly.

“Did you send a message to Tristan about Cora?”

“Yes, I did,” Dean knows there is no reason to lie. Eric has a way of always finding things out.

Eric feels his face flush even hotter. Now, he is going to have to find a way to keep Cora from Tristan. Tristan is his best mate but he likes to play with people. Eric knows Cora will be too tempting for Tristan to resist and the more he thinks Eric cares for her the more he will try something with her. If they weren’t in Cora’s room he would punch Dean in his face.

“Hallway, now!” Eric demands. Maybe he can’t punch him with Cora sleeping a few feet away but outside the room is a different story.

*********

I wake to an angry voice, “Hallway, now!” I recognize the sound of Eric giving a command. I open my eyes just enough to see the door to my room is partially ajar. My eyelids feel heavy and gritty. I can barely see Eric’s silhouette in hall light. I close my eyes again and try to hear the conversation that has resumed in a hushed tone.

“I didn’t know that Cora’s presence was a secret,” Dean said, the anger clear in his tone.

“I never said she was a secret. I do not like my personal business of any sort being handed out to anyone. Something, that as my employee of several years you bloody well know. Now, tell me exactly what you said to Tristan to make him want to come here.” I have never heard such concern and anger in Eric’s voice.

“I just told him that you had been very busy lately with the new girl,” Dean says defensively.

I hear the sound of something heavy being pushed against the wall. I open my eyes again to see the outline of Eric holding Dean against the wall by the front of his shirt. Deans blue eyes are wide in a mix of surprise and fear.

“Damn it Dean,” Eric said in an angry whisper. “Tell me everything you told him about Cora and tell me now or I will throw you out of this house through a window.” Eric’s tone leaves no room for doubt that he was serious. Dean lets out a heavy sigh.

“I told him that you have a new charge named Cora Allen and that she is American. I told him that she is only twenty-three and from a working class family. Also, that this is causing you to spend a lot of extra time with her.”

“Dean, I know you aren’t stupid. You knew that what you said was more than enough to peak his interest in her. Why?”

“I am concerned that it’s a bad idea to have her here. She is too young and naïve. I have tried to plead with you since she first arrived that this is not what is best for her or for you, but you refuse to listen. I didn’t plan it but when Tristan asked why you hadn’t interviewed the any of the new candidates yet I took the opportunity. I thought you might listen to him. I have been right about her. Yesterday proved my point didn’t it? I told you she wasn’t strong enough for your lifestyle.” Dean offered in defense.

“I will only say this once; Cora and what is best for her is my concern and no one else’s. You are not to question me or the decisions I make regarding her again. You are not to give anyone information about any of my charges without my permission. If you do anything again that is even remotely disloyal it will be the last thing you do as my employee. I don’t care how long you have worked for me,” Eric hisses through clinched teeth. “Cora is staying until I feel she should leave and that is my final word on it. Now go respond to Tristan and tell him we will welcome him on Thursday and to please let us know how many will be in his party,” Eric released Dean’s shirt only after issuing his orders. I could hear Dean silently rush down the stairs to fulfill his employer’s request.

I close my eyes just before Eric enters my room again. He gently brushes my hair from my face. I want to see him. I need to talk to him. I open my still sleepy eyes.

“Well good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Eric says with a smile. He reaches for the command center and presses a button. “Sally should be bringing you up some tea and something to eat.”

I don’t want to accept any favors from him, but my mouth is really dry and my stomach is painfully empty. One of my dressing chairs has been moved the side of my bed along with a small table. There is a tea tray, a few books, and Eric’s tablet resting on top. Eric himself looks strangely unkempt. He hasn’t shaved and his clothes are rumpled. He is wearing a plain black t-shirt and jeans that look like he literally threw them on.

I sit up in bed and lean back on the pillows. I am careful not meet his gaze. I know if I look in his warm eyes my resolve will melt and I will start sobbing all over again. Mercifully, Sally is as swift as always and comes into the room only a moment later. As promised, she has a tray with tea and some sandwiches. Sally sits the tray on the bed next to me.

“I am glad to see you are feeling better, Miss Cora,” Sally says kindly with a warm smile. “I brought you some of the cucumber sandwiches you like. Can I bring you anything else?”

“No, thank you Sally. This is perfect,” I am genuinely grateful for the food as my stomach gives a rumble. Sally nods before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. I drink a cup of tea quickly. The hot liquid feels like heaven on my sore throat. The cold air had made it feel raw.

I didn’t realize how hungry I am until I bite into a sandwich. I eat a few of the petite sandwiches, drink a second cup of tea, and then move the tray a little ways away.

“Do you feel any better?” Eric asks as he sits on the edge of the bed.

“A little. I am still very tired,” I answer, keeping my eyes lowered to the bed. “How long was I asleep?”

“Almost a full day. The doctor gave you something to help you sleep last night and then again this morning.”

I dare to look straight at Eric for the first time since waking up. Even disheveled he is breathtaking. His shirt is clinging to his toned chest and arms. His jeans hang low on his hips. He runs his hand through his dark brown hair and leaving it messy. Even his stubble simply adds to his masculinity. I can feel my thighs clench at the sight of this rough version. I am enjoying looking him over so much that I had almost forgotten why he is here.

“Honey, would you like to tell me what happened to cause you to end up in the garden half naked?” Eric’s voice was calm and measured. It is clear he trying to be delicate. I am not sure how to answer him. I don’t want to think about last night. I am afraid I will start crying all over again.

“I don’t think I have ever slept that long,” I say with a weak attempt at avoidance. “There was one time I slept sixteen hours, but that was after a graduation party. And I hadn’t slept at all the day before. It is funny that I could sleep that long and still feel so groggy. I have always thought that was odd about medicine to help you sleep.”

“Damn it Cora! Enough,” Eric demands in a voice that makes me jump. “Stop rambling and tell me what in the hell happened. I have spent the last day worried sick about you. You could have died from exposure. Did you know that? The temperature was below freezing last night. When we found you, your lips were blue. Now you are going to tell me what is going on and you are going to tell me now!”

I have never had someone talk to me like that before. Part of me wants to tell him off and the other part of me is a little scared.

“I saw you,” I say quietly looking down.

“What do you mean ‘you saw me’? You saw me where?”

“I saw you in your study with…
them
”

“Them?” Eric looks confused for a moment then it seems to become clear. “I assume you mean with Lucinda and Claire?”

“Yes,” I can’t help but shudder at their names. I get a flash of a memory from last night. I think I am going to be sick. I take a deep breath and calm myself. “I saw… I saw you kissing Lucinda and Claire was… Claire was…” I can’t finish my sentence. My eyes are pricking with tears. I fight to hold them back.

“I see. Why would that bother you to the point you ran out of the house?”

“You said I was special,” even as the words leave my mouth I know I sound like a spoiled child. I feel like I have been wrong about him this whole time. I don’t feel like I mean anything to him. I feel like he will be happy to unload me to the first person that shows any interest.

“Honey you are special,” Eric’s tone is soft. “You have no idea how special you are or how many of my own rules I have broken for you. You apparently did not stick around a few more seconds to see me push them both away and demand they leave my office either.“

“What?”

“Yes, Lucinda kissed me and Claire did attempt to unfasten my trousers. It lasted only a moment then I pushed both of them away and asked that they leave. The whole thing was odd really. I have never had even a little interest in Lucinda and I have made that quite clear to her. I think of Claire more like a sister. In fact, the reason I first took such interest in her is that she reminds me a great deal of my sister.”

“Oh, no I didn’t see that,” I respond. I feel as though someone has lifted a boulder off my chest. It is wonderful as long as I can believe him. “I just have been feeling so tense lately. Once the panic started I just couldn’t stop it.”

“As of right now you are going to start taking better care of yourself. I can’t imagine what could have happened to you if we hadn’t found you,” he says gently tucking a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “That still doesn’t answer why you were wearing a bathing suit in January.”

“Oh, I was on my way to the infinity pool. I just was going to see if I could talk you into joining me.”

“The infinity pool? It has been broken for two weeks now. Waiting on a part from Germany, I think. Who told you about the pool?”

“Lucinda mentioned at dinner I should try it,” I say as I start to put the pieces together. I should tell him that I am starting to think I haven’t given Lucinda’s evil nature enough credit.

“Lucinda? Well I think you may have been set up, honey. I will certainly speak with her in the morning. I can promise you that nothing has happened or will ever happen with either of them.”

“But just them?”

“Cora, nothing has happened with Claire or Lucinda.”

“But you can’t promise that it won’t happen with someone else.”

“No, I can’t. I don’t make promises I am not positive I can keep.”

“I know. I also know that you don’t belong to me. And I know that I have no right to ask anything of you but I am asking anyways. If you want someone else then let me go. I am not going to pretend that if you decide you want to be with someone else that it won’t matter to me. I think last night proved that it would matter a whole lot. I just don’t want to feel like I am being made a fool of.”

“Honey, I don’t know who you take me for but I can assure you that if I was interested in engaging in anything with someone else I would tell you. For the record, I am not by the way. I enjoy being with you more than I should. I would never intentionally make a fool out of you,” he says bringing my hand up and kissing the back of it. “Now if you don’t mind I am exhausted.”