the top of the stairs with a teddy bear and a
pink blanket. She wore footed pajamas and her hair was sticking out everywhere
from sleep. She had chocolate brown eyes with grey streaks, wolf’s eyes; they
were exactly what you would expect if you knew about them.
“This is Harper.
She’s going to spend the night with me. Go back to bed Lucy.” He said from
behind Harper.
“I need a milk and
I can’t sleep ‘cause I’m hot.”
“You’re hot
because you insist on wearing those fleece pajamas. Go find a tee shirt to put
on and don’t wake anyone. Lee can get you a glass of milk. He’s downstairs, go
on, and hurry up. Little girls need their rest.” He smoothed a hand over her
hair as they passed her. She hurried down the stairs. “Another bathroom on your
left and the steps up to the attic to the right.” He said to Harper now.
“Uncle Lee, Ryder
said you can get me a milk and a cookie.” Harper heard her say and she smiled
at Ryder who just shook his head.
“Milk only.” He
called down the stairs. “This way.” He took her elbow and led her around a
corner and through another door that opened to stairs.” She climbed them as
well until she reached the top where another door stood open and turned a
corner onto a landing.
The attic was
huge. It stretched the reach of the top of the house when she looked to her
left and to her right. Fresh insulation was tucked into the space between the
roof braces, but it wasn’t finished. She felt cool air coming from behind her
where there wasn’t insulation yet. Someone had swept insulation scraps, dirt,
and dust into a pile in the corner at the end of the room. A mattress was on
the floor under a window but had fresh sheets and pillows with a handmade quilt
covering the bottom half. It looked just made. “We plan on installing hardwood
floors up here. They’ll be honey oak to pick up the light. See,” he pointed,
“they’ve started down there. I’m going to hang drywall and make that whole
wall over there into a closet.” Harper nodded. “We’re working out how to get a
bathroom up here.” She walked over and looked out the window. The barn was out
there to the left and just beyond it trees. The moon was bright and shining
down on the collapsing barn roof. “What do you think?” He asked from right
behind her now.
“I think you’re
right about the barn.” She turned and was caged by him again. He seemed to like
doing that to her. Her hip leaned against the window frame and she felt the
draft against her skin. His huge arms were braced against the window frame.
“Let me help you
out of those shoes.” He bent and lifted her foot then slid off one shoe then
repeated it for the other shoe. “You’re just a little bit of a thing huh? I’ll
get you something to sleep in.” Harper swallowed hard. Her heart pounded with
him so near. He could’ve done anything to her right then but he only made her
more comfortable.
He crossed the
room and opened a box against the wall then pulled out a tee shirt. It was
black and plain but long. He handed it to her and helped her out of her jacket.
“Maybe you should just sleep in this.” He said looking at the lacy top that
Sidney put her in earlier. He let his thumbs trail down her bare arms as he
slowly pulled the jacket off.
“Do you need
privacy to change?” His voice soothed over her nerves making her heart jump
about but calming her all at the same time. She made a circle with her finger
so he would turn around. He stalked back to the box and dug through it while
she turned around and pulled off the lace tee shirt and her new lacy push up
bra. She was going to murder Sidney. If she’d worn her usual attire, she
could’ve just flopped across the mattress. The tee shirt he’d given her dropped
to her mid thigh and it smelled like him. A little thrill raced through her.
She liked that scent. It made her feel safe. She reached under the shirt and
unzipped the skirt then tugged it down her hips. When