Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Audrey stepped out of The Birchwood House, smiling as a chilly gust of autumn wind blew against her face.
I’m glad I wore these black nylons, she thought. It’s colder tonight than I thought it would be.
She tugged on the sleeves of her white coat, pulling them a little farther down over her hands.
The elegant coat went beautifully with the black dress she was wearing, and she felt classy and attractive.
She felt excited about her date with Evan, and she adjusted the strap of her red purse on her shoulder, thinking to herself that the accessory completed her look nicely.
A moment later, Evan’s car drove up in front of the mansion. She smiled and hurried down the steps to greet him.
“Good evening, beautiful,” he said, stepping out of the car to give her a kiss before opening her door. “You look radiant.”
She laughed. “Thank you. You look very handsome yourself. I think this gray suit you have on is my favorite.”
“So glad you like it.” He winked and gave her another kiss before helping her into the car.
Audrey sighed happily as she sat down in the comfortable seat. She was ready for a romantic evening out with her considerate boyfriend.
They drove to the Bluewater Bistro and once inside, they were seated at a table that overlooked the ocean. A tealight flickered inside a blue glass cylinder in the center of their table and a live jazz band was playing nearby.
“This is so romantic,” Audrey said, feeling thrilled. “Thanks for taking me out tonight, sweetheart.”
“Thanks for saying yes,” he teased, grinning. “How was your day today? Is it nice having the tiger lily room back in working order?”
“So nice.” Audrey nodded. “We’ve got a couple staying in there now and they just love it.
She was all excited about the orange color in the closet and she said she wants to paint their closets at home fun colors now.
So that’s cute how that worked out—our little misfortune turned into a moment of inspiration for her. ”
“I love that,” Evan said, his tone sweet and sincere. He held Audrey’s hand across the table, looking into her eyes as he spoke.
He’s being so attentive, she thought, her heart stirring with affection for him. I’m so lucky to have a guy who treats me like this.
Their waiter arrived at their table and took their order for glasses of wine and an appetizer of breaded calamari. He returned with the wine a few moments later, and Audrey had just taken a sip of her velvety Cabernet when a lump suddenly formed in her throat.
“What is it?” Evan asked, noticing the way Audrey’s eyes were glued to the front of the restaurant.
She shook her head, fighting back a slew of negative emotions. “Clark and Molly just walked in,” she said, her voice so husky it was almost a whisper.
Evan stiffened immediately, looking around the restaurant with a protective scowl on his face. He looked like a man who intended to challenge someone to a duel.
“Don’t look at them, please,” Audrey said, keeping her own face turned away from the front door. “I don’t want Clark to notice that we’re here. Hopefully they get seated on the other side of the restaurant and we don’t have to talk to them.”
She knew, however, that even if that happened, she wasn’t going to enjoy the meal as much as she’d hoped to. Disappointment twisted in her stomach, and she wished with all her might that Clark and Molly would just suddenly disappear—from the Bluewater Bistro, from Coral Sands, and from her life.
Evan tore his eyes from the front of the restaurant. “I saw them,” he said. “That blonde woman and the man who looks as insensitive as a paper cutter?”
Audrey burst into a fit of suppressed laughter, surprised and delighted by Evan’s unexpected and perceptive critique of Clark.
“Yes, that’s Clark,” she said, shaking her head. “I just hope he doesn’t notice we’re here. That’s why I didn’t want you to look in their direction—”
Evan and Audrey’s heads both turned toward the front doors as they noticed people approaching them out of the corners of their eyes. It was not their waiter, as Audrey had hoped. It was Clark and Molly.
Of course it was. Audrey’s heart sank.
He’s wasted no time in coming over here, Audrey thought, gritting her teeth. They haven’t even been sat at their own table yet.
“Well, fancy meeting you here,” Clark said, a showy grin on his face. It was such a good mask of suave charm that Audrey couldn’t tell what his actual emotions might be. “Hello, Audrey.”
Audrey simply nodded at Clark and Molly. The lump in her throat was bigger now, and she didn’t want to risk talking and having her voice shake.
“Hi, I’m Clark.” Clark held out his hand to Evan for a handshake. “I’m Audrey’s former better half.”
Evan kept his hands where they were. The only movement he made was to grip the edge of the table harder. “I’m Evan McBride, Coral Sands’ mayor. I’m lucky enough to be Audrey’s current partner.”
Audrey could tell that Evan was about to say more—he probably wanted to contradict Clark’s “better half” statement—but Clark threw back his head laughing and immediately cut in.
“So you’ve gone out with her before, huh? Well, I hope things work out better for you two than they did for me and Audrey. I certainly don’t envy you having to help her deal with that mess of a hotel.”
Audrey could hardly believe that Clark was being so rude. Was he secretly jealous of Evan? Was he making a show for Molly, so that she wouldn’t think he still harbored any feelings for Audrey? Or was he really truly just that obnoxiously self-centered?
He’s a bully, Audrey thought, making a fist under the table. I’m so glad I’m not married to him anymore.
“That hotel has been featured in two prominent national magazines, and the reviews for it are glowing, both in those articles and online,” Evan said crisply.
“I would recommend doing research before speaking to people who aren’t just as ignorant as you are.
And as far as Audrey and I go, I feel confident that things are going to go amazingly well between us.
I intend to treat her right, and she makes everything she touches wonderful.
” Evan spoke so quickly that Clark was unable to get a word in edgewise, although he tried a couple of times.
“And that includes The Birchwood House. Audrey is the hardest-working woman I have ever known. What she’s done with the Sutton house is both impressive and admirable, especially considering she started doing it just after she had to pick up the pieces of her life after you shattered it.
” Evan made a huffing sound as he inhaled, finally coming up for air after letting out his long string of sentences.
Clark, finally faced with an opportunity to say something in response, seemed to be struck dumb.
“I am beyond proud to be at Audrey’s side as she runs the hotel,” Evan continued, speaking a little more slowly now and with even more emphasis.
“I love assisting her in any way that I can. As mayor of this town, I have plenty of connections. For example, I’m friends with some of the best lawyers on the East Coast. And as mayor, I can leverage my reputation to hire the best lawyer possible, should you ever foolishly decide that Audrey owes you a single thing after everything you’ve done to her.
Not something I’d recommend—I’ve heard my lawyer friends say that the best defense is an offense, and I don’t think you’d want us to go after you in any way.
Your behavior wouldn’t hold up too well in a court of law, especially considering the lapsed mortgage payments. ”
Audrey’s jaw dropped. She was in shock, but at her core, she wanted to applaud. Evan had charged to her rescue with all the skill and passion that a woman could possibly ask for.
Clark’s eyes were wide, and it was clear that he was also stunned. He finally opened his mouth for a second and then closed it again.
“Come on, Molly, let’s go,” he said, turning toward the front of the restaurant.
“What?” Molly protested. “We’re leaving? But we’ve already eaten at all the other restaurants in town. I wanted to go somewhere new.”
“We’re going,” Clark said between gritted teeth.
Molly tossed her hair as they went through the front door. “You need to take me back to the city, Clark. This place is boring me to death. You said we were going to get that clock and then—”
Her voice faded away as the door closed behind her and Clark. Audrey stared after them for a few moments, completely dumbfounded, and then she turned to Evan.
“Evan,” she said, feeling exquisitely happy but still too stunned even to smile, “what has gotten into you?”
Evan smiled at her. “I will always defend you,” he told her solemnly. “And I meant every word of that. If Clark tries to come after you in any way, he’ll regret it.”
Audrey leaned across the table and gave Evan a big kiss. “My hero,” she whispered.
Evan’s face lit up, and he gave her another kiss. She was glad she’d made him so happy with the comment, but she knew that she was much happier in that moment than he was.
I never expected that, she thought as warmth expanded in her chest. And Clark turned tail and ran! Just like bullies always do.
She picked up her glass of wine and took a triumphant sip, her heart swelling with joy. Evan had come to her rescue, and a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
It looked like she was going to be able to fully enjoy her romantic date with her boyfriend after all.