Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
EVIE
Evie was a bag of nerves.
What had seemed like a good idea after a bottle of wine looked entirely different in the cold light of day.
Too bad she’d texted all three of her prospective suitors while she was still half-cut, and they’d all jumped at the opportunity she presented.
“Oh well, here goes nothing,” she mumbled to herself as she prepared the chicken breasts Posy had delivered.
Evie was going for simple, but impressive - she hoped.
Her grandmother’s Hunter’s Chicken recipe.
Chicken wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cream cheese, before being slathered in barbecue sauce.
She was serving it with herbed mashed potatoes and asparagus, and dessert was a no-cook spiced cheesecake with pouring cream, which was already in the fridge.
Everything was prepared, and Evie had just finished sautéing the asparagus spears in garlic and butter when the doorbell rang, startling Evie out of her nervous reverie. She quickly wiped her hands on a dishtowel and smoothed down her hair, heart racing as she went to answer it.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to find Gabe standing there, looking dashing in his usual suit, since he’d undoubtedly come straight from taking care of the hotel next door. He was holding what looked like an expensive bottle of wine, and his green eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.
"Good evening, Evie. You look lovely," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
He was being chivalrous. What she really looked like was frazzled, both in nerves and appearance. Adrian wouldn’t have hesitated to have told her so.
But he’s not Adrian.
The light brush of his lips sent a shiver through her. "Thank you, come on in," she managed, stepping back to let him enter.
As she started to close the door, a car she recognized as Asher’s pulled into the shared driveway.
Evie's stomach felt like a hoard of hyperactive hornets were buzzing around inside it.
She was relieved when Asher drove around to the small parking lot belonging to The Evergreen, instead of pulling up outside the house, where the whole town could speculate on his visit.
This was really happening. In just moments, she'd have all three men under one roof. What had she been thinking?
But there was no backing out now. Squaring her shoulders, she plastered on a smile and went to greet the next arrival, silently praying she'd make it through this evening with her sanity intact.
Asher strolled to the door, his blue eyes twinkling as he handed Evie a bouquet of delicate Christmas roses. "Thought these might brighten up the table," he said with a wink.
Evie's cheeks warmed as she accepted the flowers, their sweet fragrance mingling with the savory aromas from the kitchen. "Thank you, they're beautiful," she managed, her voice a bit breathier than she intended.
As she ushered Asher inside, the elevated position her parents’ house enjoyed meant she caught sight of Shepherd's lithe frame, his long legs eating up the short distance from his apartment on Main Street. Her heart skipped, and she had to take a steadying breath and will her nerves to calm.
Shepherd strode up the path and greeted her with a slow smile that made her insides flutter. "Evening, Evie," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. He leaned in close, his beard tickling her ear as he whispered, "You look good enough to eat."
Evie's face flamed. She stepped back, flustered, nearly stumbling over the threshold. Shepherd's hand shot out to steady her, his warm touch sending sparks across her skin. Evie's breath caught as she looked up into his dark eyes, momentarily lost in their intensity.
"Everything okay?" Shepherd asked softly, his brow furrowing with concern.
Evie nodded quickly, forcing herself to step back and regain her composure. "Yes, fine. Please, come in," she managed, gesturing toward the living room where the other two men waited.
As Shepherd brushed past her, his spicy scent enveloped her, making her head spin. Evie took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to slow. She smoothed her dress with trembling hands before following him inside.
The tension in the room was palpable as the three men greeted each other. Or was that just her projecting?
She looked between the three of them and noticed the only person who seemed to be uncomfortable was her.
The men were all cordial, shaking hands and slapping backs.
Gabe stood near the fireplace, his eyes intense and alert.
Asher lounged on the couch with his usual easy smile.
And Shepherd walked into the kitchen, comfortable as you please, and deposited a carafe she hadn’t noticed he was carrying.
“I brought some of my special blend coffee for after dinner,” he told her before heading back to chat with Gabe and Asher.
"Well!" Evie said brightly, her voice a touch too high. "Can I get anyone a drink?"
“Already taken care of,” Gabe remarked, gesturing to the glass each of the others held.
“Umm… okay then, well, dinner is ready if you’d like to go through to the dining room.”
Evie didn’t wait to see if they complied but fled back into the relative safety of the kitchen. Her hands shook slightly as she lifted the casserole dish. She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. It was just dinner with three friends. No big deal.
Except it very much was.
She almost jumped out of her skin when she turned to find Asher right behind her.
“Here, let me help you with that,” he insisted, plucking the steaming dish out of her hands and carrying it to the dining room, where the others had settled around the table she’d spent much too long setting with her parents’ best china, complete with linen napkins with silver holders and crystal glasses.
She followed with the side dishes and took her place, then widened her eyes as the conversation halted, and three pairs of eyes turned to her. The weight of their gazes made Evie’s cheeks flush. Hopefully, they’d put it down to the heat of the oven.
"This smells amazing," Asher said, his blue eyes twinkling as he took the lid off the casserole dish. "What culinary delight have you prepared for us?"
"Oh, it's just a simple Hunter's Chicken," Evie mumbled, picking up serving spoons to give her hands something to do. "My grandmother's recipe."
"Nothing you make is ever 'just' anything," Gabe remarked smoothly.
Evie blushed and busied herself serving the food, hoping they couldn't see how flustered she was, but her hand trembled, nearly spilling the sauce.
"Careful there," Shepherd murmured, his fingers brushing hers as he steadied the oversized spoon, causing her skin to tingle. She mumbled a quick "Thanks" and focused intently on serving the rest of the food, at a complete loss for what to say. She took a large gulp of wine to steady her nerves.
Thankfully, the men seemed to have no such issues; they chatted and drew her into their conversation.
And while the wine certainly helped, Evie was amazed to find that she not only settled into feeling at ease with the unusual situation, but she even enjoyed herself.
The one thing she wasn’t any closer to working out was if any one man made her feel more than the others.
They all had their own distinct character.
Their different strengths. She was no closer at all to figuring out her feelings.
Each man brought something different to the table - literally and figuratively.
Gabe exuded quiet confidence, his sharp wit and intense gaze making her pulse quicken. Asher's playful charm and infectious laughter had her smiling despite her nerves. And Shepherd... well, his deep voice and smoldering looks sent shivers down her spine.
During the meal, she found herself staring at Gabe's hands as he gestured while telling a story, remembering how they'd felt cupping her face.
Then Asher's knee brushed hers under the table, and her breath hitched.
When Shepherd's dark eyes met hers over the rim of his wineglass, heat pooled in her belly.
This was hopeless. How was she supposed to choose when they each affected her so strongly?
As the evening wore on and they all settled into the lounge with Shepherd’s superior coffee, Evie felt her heart sink into her stomach.
It was no good. She liked all three equally, and that wasn’t fair to anybody.
The only option was for her to tell them she couldn’t date any of them.
But damn, just the thought made her unbearably sad.
Still, it was the only way, and it was probably best if she tackled it right here and now. Just tore the band-aid off while they were all here together, and she could get it over with in one go, rather than let this drag on.
Evie cleared her throat and took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say. The words felt heavy on her tongue, but she knew she had to get them out.
"I... I need to say something," she began, her voice wavering slightly.
Three pairs of eyes turned to her, expressions ranging from curiosity to concern. Evie's heart hammered in her chest. She twisted her hands in her lap, searching for the right words.
"I've really enjoyed spending time with each of you these past weeks, and again tonight," she continued, staring at her fingers, which she had laced together in front of her to avoid wringing her hands. "You've all been so kind and supportive. But I... I don't think I can choose between you."
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet their gazes. "It wouldn't be fair to any of us if I tried to pursue a relationship when my feelings are so... complicated. I care about all of you, so much so that I can't give any of you what you deserve."
The silence that followed felt oppressive. Evie's cheeks burned as she waited for their reactions. She half-expected anger or disappointment, but instead she saw... understanding?
And… desire.