The house was suspiciously quiet.
That’s what struck Eva first as she walked downstairs. That, and the familiar feeling that she should be wearing a ball gown and carrying a Victorian hand fan whenever she descended the sweeping grand staircase down to the marble-floored, wood-paneled front hall of the Wilder manse.
Darcy had been tucked into bed. Poppy, choosing practicality over stubbornness, had agreed to sleep in Ethan’s room tonight instead of driving to the hotel in the dark after indulging in some bourbon-laced nog. Olivia had been sufficiently entertained and tired out for the evening and looked ready for sleep.
It seemed like a good time for Eva to head back to the lodge—where Linc could tire her out in private. But when she walked through the rooms on the first floor of the house she didn’t hear or see anyone. That was until she hit the office.
There she found William, standing in front of the fireplace, watching a piece of paper burn in the hearth.
She walked closer and got a better look and damned if it didn’t appear to be the will—as in the will. The one that had caused such strife since she’d discovered it. What was left of it anyway as it blackened and crinkled, consumed by the flames.
Still facing the fire, William glanced sideways at her. “Eva.”
“William,” she returned his simple greeting as she tried to figure out how to handle what she was apparently witnessing.
Before she came up with any other response he delivered a knowing glance in her direction. “So the FBI, huh?”
“Crazy, right?” she replied, playing innocent while she continued to watch the very last of the paper disappear.
“Mm-hm. Sure is,” he agreed.
He opened the screen and broke up the remains of the blackened pages with the fireplace poker until they disappeared amid the ashes, no longer identifiable as the one-hundred-year-old will that might have changed everyone’s lives.
She stood and watched him in silence. They didn’t need to say more. They both knew what the other had done and accepted it.
William replaced the poker, closed the screen and turned to face her. “You heading home?” he asked, as if this were some casual conversation at the end of a normal evening.
She wobbled her head. “Not exactly home. You know I’m staying at the lodge—temporarily—but yeah, I was going to head out now. I thought I’d find Linc down here. Did he leave already?”
Jeez. How surreally mundane was this conversation?
The sound of the front door opening and male voices drew both their attention.
“That should be the boys now,” William said, moving toward the hall.
Of course she followed, curious as to where the boys had gone.
“So we went to the apartment—” Ethan began but stopped dead when he saw Eva emerge from the office behind his father.
“And?” William asked.
Ethan’s gaze still on Eva, he said, “And um, he’s gone. Emmett left town.”
“Did you see him?” she asked.
“Uh…no.”
Ethan might be the worst liar on earth. Only surpassed by Linc who had his lips pressed together so tightly it was like he was trying to seal the truth in.
Wyatt, who couldn’t meet her gaze, or apparently be in the same room as her, said, “I’m gonna check on Darcy.”
He fled up the stairs, two at a time.
Amused, Eva turned to Ethan. “Poppy’s staying here for tonight.”
Divide and conquer. She’d be able to get more out of Linc once she had him alone.
Her plan worked. Ethan’s eyes flew wide. “Yeah? I’m gonna go up and see her.”
And then there were two. William, who she had a shared secret with. And Linc, who she didn’t, as odd as that was considering their… relationship for lack of a better word.
She glanced sideways at William.
“It’s getting late. You two head out.” The older man appeared as amused by his suddenly mute son as she was.
Linc nodded. “All right. Night, Dad.”
“Night.” William waved and turned toward the stairs as well.
Eva moved to the front door and pulled on her jacket. “So the apartment’s empty?”
Linc’s gaze shot to her. “Uh, yeah. Empty.”
“And you didn’t get to see Emmett?”
“Nope.” Linc shook his head a bit too adamantly.
She nodded, convinced more than ever that he was lying. “I wonder how he knew the FBI was after him.” Of course what had sent him scurrying to leave town might have been a call from his parole officer instead. Who knew?
“No clue.” Linc shrugged, then met her gaze. ”You’re not going back tonight, are you? To the apartment?”
“No. Not tonight.”
He visibly brightened. “Okay. Good. That’s good. It’s dark. And you’ve been drinking.”
“Mm-hm.” She nodded, not believing those were the only reasons he was happy she would be sleeping at his place tonight.
Linc had never taken off his jacket so once she was buttoned up, he reached for the doorknob and pulled the front door wide. “You know, you might want to consider staying at the cabin through Christmas. Just because we’re hosting the Yule Log party together. It would make sense.”
“Mm. Complete sense,” she agreed, hiding her smile.
He was so easy to read. And with just the promise of sex, he reminded her of a puppy. Young and eager while trying to be well behaved.
As they stepped into the cold, and he pulled the door closed, he turned to face her.
“We going to talk about the FBI call?” he asked, one brown brow cocked high.
Surprised, she let out a short laugh. “Not unless you want to talk about how Emmett was able to skip town with no vehicle.”
She held his gaze and there it was—the same silent mutual agreement she’d made with the senior Wilder in the office in front of the burnt will, but now it was with his son.
And somehow her and Linc’s shared secrets made her feel closer to him than even all the sex had.