Page 96 of Into These Eyes
Staring at my reflection, I try to study myself through Gavin’s eyes. That special way only he looks at me, like he’s seeing something he wants to devour and possess, but also love, nurture and protect. How he conveys that through his eyes alone, I don’t know. But I feel it in that part of me I’ve kept buried for so long. And I like that he’s digging. Because when helooks at me like that, I’m not a daughter or a sister or lawyer or a colleague. I’m the me that’s been forgotten.
I had no idea I’d been suffocating until he began breathing life back into me.
The next day, while I eat lunch at my usual café and I scroll through my phone, Pete plonks himself down in the chair opposite.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” I greet him with a smile.
“Yeah, I wanted to have a word.”
He’s not smiling back. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so tense. I put down my phone. “Of course.”
When he leans forward, I not only notice the tension in his body, but the dark circles under his eyes. “I need you to do me a favour.”
“Since I owe you a million times over, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“You’re going to have to trust me on this, Jamie. Can you do that?”
“You shouldn’t even have to ask.” The way he’s looking at me so damn seriously has my stomach knotting. This isn’t like him at all.
“I need you to cool it with Gavin Lake’s case. Just for a couple of months.”
I blink at him, my heartrate picking up. “Why?”
“I can’t tell you. That’s where the trust comes in.”
He’s looking directly into my eyes with such intensity I can barely hold his gaze. He’s deadly serious. “But he’s waited sixteen years—”
“I really,reallyneed you to do this for me, Jamie. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. It’s just a few months, maybe less. That’s all. Once I give you the word, you can go hell for leather.” He leans back, resting his crossed arms on his belly.
My mind races. What Pete’s asking clearly has something to do with his internal affairs work, otherwise he’d tell me everything. What it has to do with Gavin, I don’t know. Pete’s fully aware of how important getting Gavin’s conviction overturned is, so he wouldn’t ask me to delay it unless—
“Does this have something to do with that threat?”
“I can’t tell you anything, Jamie. You simply have to trust me. Please say you do.”
I let out a sigh. It might only be a few months, but Gavin’s already waited such a long time. I’m not sure how I’m going to explain the delay to him when I don’t have an explanation. But I trust Pete.
“Okay,” I agree with a small nod.
“Promise me, Jamie.”
Wow. He’s beyond serious. “I promise.”
The moment the words are out, all the tension seeps out of him, making him look even more haggard than when he arrived.
Rising, he stops beside me, places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Thank you.”
It’s only when he leaves me there, that I realise he didn’t once try to steal any of my food. He didn’t even look at it. A chill runs travels up my spine as I push my plate away, my appetite gone.
A week later, I arrive home from work to find Gavin pouring himself a glass of icy sparkling water. I haven’t been able to bringmyself to tell him about the promise I made to Pete. I’ll deal with that when I’m left with no choice.
After dumping my stuff on the dining table, I watch as he drains the glass. He’s sweaty and, along with his old t-shirt and bare arms, his hair is spattered with grey paint. I wish certain parts of my body would get used to the fact that, no matter what he’s wearing, he pulls off sexy every time.
“Hi,” I greet him from the other side of the breakfast bar.
He wipes the back of his hand over his lips. “Hey. You ready for dinner in about twenty?”
“Sure. That’s perfect.”
