CHAPTER 15
Eve
When I woke the next morning, Tate was gone and the house was silent. I felt like every time I turned around I was running into one of the guys, so I was nervous as I opened my door to sneak into the bathroom. As far as I could tell, though, the cabin was empty. I took my time in the bathroom and showered before going back to my room to get dressed. I even took the time to dry my hair and put on a touch of makeup before venturing out into the rest of the world. I was overly aware of how rough I’d looked the day before and if I was going to see my neighbors again, I wanted to look somewhat attractive. Not for any particular reason, I told myself.
The cabin was empty but when I opened the front door, I could hear Grandpa giving orders and followed the sound to the side of the house. Grandpa was sitting in a lawn chair, staring up at where Aiden was precariously balanced on a ladder, painting the trim of the cabin.
“If you fall, I’m not taking any financial responsibility for it.” Grandpa grunted. “Matter of fact, I’m going to say you were vandalizing the cabin.”
“If I fall, I think I’ll be just fine. If it barely hurt you, I think I’ll make it.” Aiden glanced down and saw me. “Well, good morning, sleeping beauty.”
“Eve! I’m glad you’re finally up. Since I’m doing so much better already, I was thinking we would cook a thank you meal for our neighbors tonight. Do me a favor and run to the store? I left a list of the things we need on the counter.”
I crossed my arms under my chest and frowned at Grandpa. “Since when do you host thank you dinners?”
“Since now. Go on.” He looked back up at Aiden and grunted. “You get back to work, too, young man. Keep your eyes on the job.”
I sighed. “Please be careful. I don’t think Grandpa would call for help if you fell.”
Aiden winked at me. “Don’t you worry about me, Eve. I’m tough.”
I eyed his tanned chest and blew out a short burst of air. My brain threatened to short-circuit every time I saw all that bare skin. Clearing my throat, I forced my eyes to move away from him. “I guess I’ll be back in a bit. Do you need anything else while I’m in town, Grandpa?”
“Grab some wine, please.”
I eyed him suspiciously. He’d never asked me to get him wine. I didn’t want to ask too many questions, though, lest I hated the answers. I grabbed the list from inside and headed to town wondering what Grandpa was up to.
By the time dinner rolled around and I was seated at our small table with all three of our neighbors and no Grandpa, I had put the pieces together. Sharing a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with fresh baked bread, I made a list in my head of all the ways I was going to get Grandpa back. He’d insisted on cooking, constantly referenced how romantic he thought Italian food was, and lit candles. All before pretending to be so tired that he had to lie down.
I poured myself a glass of wine and shook my head. “Well.”
Nash chuckled into his own glass. “I definitely feel like Hank has a goal in mind here.”
I scoffed. “He’s got a goal, alright. The only way he could’ve made this more obvious was if he’d left out a bowl of condoms and a list of my attributes. I’m a little concerned he doesn’t even care which of you takes me off his hands, just as long as one of you does.”
Aiden shoved a big bite into his mouth and groaned as his eyes fluttered closed. “I can’t give a shit what his goal was when the food tastes like this.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes and then Tate let out a loud laugh that startled me. He laughed so hard his eyes watered and he had to wipe tears from them. “This is a first. Hank set up his own little version of the dating game here.”
I couldn’t help smiling at the sound of his laughter. It was contagious. “He always loved that show.”
“Then let’s not let him down. I’m bachelor number one.” Aiden grinned. “Ask us questions, Eve.”
Tate’s laugh had broken the tension around the table and it was easier to be a little silly when they were so ready and willing to laugh along. I was angry at Grandpa for whatever it was he thought he was doing, but I was still going to have a good time.
“Okay. This one is for all the bachelors, I guess.” I laughed as I looked at each of them and put on a higher voice. “Tell me your idea of a perfect date. Mine is walking along a beach and talking about world peace.”
Aiden nodded seriously. “That date sounds amazing. Since my idea of a perfect date is being with you, I’ll say the same thing. Walking along the beach and talking about world peace.”
Tate scoffed. “Bachelor number two here. Number one clearly didn’t bring his originality today. My idea of a perfect date is taking a long walk along the beach and talking about our future children.”
I laughed. “Okay, wow. And Bachelor number three?”
Nash met my gaze and smirked. “My idea of a perfect date would be to take you on my motorcycle.”
I felt my face flush as my core melted. Sucking in a slow breath, I tore off a piece of bread and chewed it to give myself some time. “Okay. I’ve heard your answers and I think it’s time for me to make my decision.”
Tate made a drum roll sound and they all leaned in dramatically.
“I choose…myself!” I blew a raspberry and then stuck my tongue out. “Sorry, bachelors. It’s not personal.”
Nash grunted. “Sure felt personal.”
I grinned at him and then finished my first glass of wine. “I’m sorry about this. Grandpa isn’t usually so…obvious. He’s never tried to hook me up with anyone before. Matter of fact, he used to complain about everyone I dated and swear up and down I would make a great nun.”
“Maybe the guys you dated were dicks.” Nash shrugged. “Or maybe he just really likes us. We are pretty great, after all.”
“It’s true. We’re wonderful.” Aiden poured more wine for me and then cast a look over his shoulder at Grandpa’s door. “He doesn’t realize we’re deviants set on destroying his granddaughter’s innocence.”
I choked on the meatball I’d been eating and sucked down even more wine in an effort to help. When I was finally able to breathe normally, I was tipsy and lightly sweating. I fanned myself and looked up at Aiden through my lashes. “You can’t just say things like that. You almost killed me.”
He smirked. “I wouldn’t let you choke, Eve. Not on food, anyway.”