The Escape Artist - RIVER CARTWRIGHT

Chapter 6

He watched Clover in the garden running rings around the dog who was clearly over the moon to see her. He'd wondered on the way over if he should have called beforehand. 

He'd secured the dog the evening before, Eugene had gone to River with no fuss. Sensing zero danger, he’d sat patiently on the passenger seat next to him, staring at him like they were new best friends. The puppy yapped excitedly when it caught the scent of one of Clover’s headbands left in the car. It had been far too late to show up at Ella's, so they'd sat together on River's sofa watching a late night film. He'd put out a bed and a couple of toys but Eugene had followed him from room to room as he switched off lights, locked up and brushed his teeth, then the dog had slept on the end of River's bed and snored all night. 

It was worth sharing his space for the look on Clover's face when he'd knocked the door. She peeked out of the barely open crack in the door, shot a wary look across the road at the Range Rover with two of Flyte’s men inside, and then looked directly at River holding the wriggling puppy, then back to the car, doing a perfect double take.

She was rolling around on the floor with Eugene before he could even say hello. 

And then Ella had appeared on the stairs, skidding to a halt on wet feet. Soap suds still clung to her bare legs and he'd followed their path upwards to where the two sides of the towel didn't quite overlap. 

His mouth had gone dry as she'd fidgeted with the end, trying to pull it down, her blush crept down her throat and beyond where her arm was desperately pining the towel against her chest. 

“You -” she started, the disbelief written all over her face, River fought against the smirk of victory at catching her completely unaware. “You got the dog?”

She gently batted the dog away from nipping her ankles, demanding her attention but she struggled to tear her eyes from River until Clover had begged to go outside.

“How'd you get the dog?” Her voice was full of wonder, something he hadn’t heard before. There was an underlying wariness and he got the feeling she’d been baited and trapped like this before.

Her dripping hair had left fat drops of water on the floor and Eugene until River had suggested that she get dressed. Mainly for his own sanity.

Dried and dressed, Ella made her way across the kitchen to stand next to him at the window to watch as Eugene tripped over his ears again. 

He felt her look over at him, her eyes narrowed.

“Please tell me?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“You didn’t break in?”

“I promise I did not break in. And I promise this isn’t some kind of trap or test.” She softened with relief.

“I don't know what to say,” hearing the wobble in her voice, he turned to watch her watching Clover in the garden. “Thank you doesn't even begin to cover -”

“Thank you is fine,” he said firmly. 

“But you're here so early as well, what are you even going to do?”

“Whatever you need me to. Blow up balloons, string up some banners,” he paused at the wide smile on her face, “what?”

She shook her head, grinning. “Nothing. I just… nothing has ever been this easy before,” she said quietly. “None of this has ever come without some kind of conditions or expectations attached to it.”