Chapter 10 Eva
On my drive back from Beaumont Manor, I questioned everything the universe was throwing at me.
Aston knows how to crawl under my skin and bury himself in there like a parasite sucking the life out of me.
There was a chip on my shoulder the size of Jupiter, so I blasted angry-girl music to release my frustration with the whole situation.
I belted out a song at the top of my lungs, trying desperately to erase Aston’s infuriating invitation to watch him shower.
The nerve of him.
And the worst part of all of this, a side of me, while minuscule, and I’m talking so minuscule you could barely find it with a magnifying glass, imagined what he would look like naked in the shower.
Yes, that image flashed before my eyes.
And my body reacted almost instantly.
Traitor.
On my way home from the manor, my gas light came on, and while at the gas station, Marco invited me to the Spice House for dinner.
I felt like the universe knew I needed a break.
What’s the saying, again? You can get over someone by getting under someone else? Or something to that effect.
Not that I’m trying to get over Aston.
I’m simply trying to forget he’s an asshole.
Besides, Marco is friendly and handsome but doesn’t strike me as a man who would take a woman to bed on a first date. He has respect. Unlike the man-whore I know who would bed a woman in the first ten minutes of meeting her.
Nevertheless, my afternoon and mood have improved.
I light my favorite strawberries-and-champagne scented candle and nestle into my favorite plush reading chair with a book.
Billie suggested this love triangle romance will pull me out of my funk.
I enjoyed reading, but not as much as Billie and Maddy.
They easily binge read two or three books a week, making it impossible for me to keep up.
There are a few book clubs in town, depending on the genre you’re into, but I realized I’m a slow reader and can’t keep the pace like others.
For me, I want to savor the moment, and the words. When I lose myself, I know the book will linger in my thoughts as I lie in bed falling asleep. Given that I have zero romance in my life, the next best thing is living vicariously through the characters.
Well, maybe not zero since Marco asked me out to dinner.
The plot has started getting angsty, and I am super invested in this billionaire losing his mind over this woman dating another man, until my phone rings and Maddy’s name flashes on the screen for FaceTime.
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “Can I please tell you about the day I had?”
I nod, gesturing for her to go on.
“So, I started with work stuff… the whole reason I even drove into the city today,” she says, rolling her eyes. “And, miracle of miracles, it didn’t take as long as I thought. So, I figured, hey, might as well do some shoe shopping for my dress.”
I chuckle. “That sounds pretty harmless so far.”
“Harmless? Ha!” she scoffs. “I nearly broke my ankle in these ridiculous high heels I thought I could pull off. Who was I kidding?”
“Sounds rough,” I say, stifling a laugh. “How high were they?”
“High enough to make me look like I was using stilts. Oh, and then, as if things weren’t already on a downhill slide, I get a call from Myles’s mother,” she continues, her voice dropping as she says it. “I swear, these calls always leave me feeling… I don’t know, on edge.”
“Yikes. Did she go off on one of her rants?”
“Don’t even get me started,” she groans. “And just when I think I can finally get home, there’s this… rat.”
I blink, holding back a laugh. “A rat?”
“Yes, a rat!” she exclaims. “It darted right in front of me, and I swear, I nearly had a heart attack! I don’t know who screamed louder, me or the damn mutant rat… Eva, it was so big. I thought it was a cat at one point. I swear to God, it was not a normal rat.”
I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. The rat story continues on, much to my amusement. After she’s done with her much-needed vent, I blurt out, “I have a date tonight.”
“I’ve been talking about a mutant rat for ten minutes, and you’re only telling me this now?”
“I won’t lie to you. The rat story was funny.”
“How was it funny?” Maddy raises her voice dramatically. “I nearly died!”
My eyes roll from the drama this woman conjures up in her head. “You didn’t nearly die. Do you want to hear about my date or not?”
“Yes, carry on.”
“So, it’s with Dr. Wilde,” I say slowly, then correct myself, “I mean, Marco.”
“Hold on one second. Are you dating your doctor?”
“Technically, he was my doctor, but not anymore.”
“Holy hotness. This is so forbidden!” Maddy squeals, and a horn honks in the background. “Give me all the deets.”
“There’s not much to tell yet,” I admit. “We met not long ago. I ran into him at the bar yesterday when you were spiraling over Myles’s family. Then, he called me and asked me out to dinner. Nothing fancy, but still.”
Maddy whistles. “The universe is working overtime.”
“It’s a small town.”
“Cinnamon Springs is small but not that small,” she says, then continues in a rush, “What if he is your prince charming and you marry him? We could double-date with our husbands, and oh my God, what if we have kids at the same time? They could be besties too!”
“Okay, now you’re taking it a step too far. I’m not looking for a husband, just someone I enjoy spending time with.”
“And someone great in bed,” Maddy snickers.
I laugh softly. “That too.”
“Okay, but seriously, Eva. What if he is the one ?”
My laughter dulls to complete silence. We’ve had numerous conversations about meeting the one throughout our friendship.
Though, no matter how often we’ve discussed it, the thought is terrifying.
One person for the rest of your life ? Sure, it sounds fun at times, like when a storm hits and you’re in bed by yourself, wondering if it would be different with someone beside you, a man who made you feel safe.
I’m not one to crave children, but sometimes, a mother walks into my shop cradling a newborn, and I wonder what unconditional love for a human being you created feels like…
But it ends there.
I still want to experience so much and see more of the world. The only man I dated who was remotely serious was my ex Brady. It was college and we dated for six months. He wanted to graduate, move back to Boston, then settle down and start a family.
The more he mentioned it in the time we dated, the more I retreated and wanted to run. It wasn’t the right time, especially since leaving college opened up a world of possibilities.
Even though Brady was a great guy, I wouldn’t be here with my own business if I’d stayed with him. God knows, I’d probably have two kids now, since he wanted four in four years.
My uterus shriveled at the thought.
Maybe getting a dog or cat would be the compromise if I never find the so-called one .
I know plenty of single ladies in town who have cats.
They have a club called Crazy For Kitties.
There are about ten of them of all ages, and they meet every Thursday at the café for coffee and cronuts.
To be honest, they have a ton of fun talking about their fur babies and the books they’re reading.
It’s like a cat and book club all rolled into one.
“How did you know Myles was the one?” I ask, releasing a sigh. “I mean, you’re marrying him. So he is the one, right?”
“Of course, silly.” Maddy ponders quietly, then continues, “I don’t know. I guess there’s nothing wrong with him.”
“But, surely, there’s magic between you two.”
“Like orgasms?”
“Yes, but something more…” I trail off, lost in my thoughts.
“It’s just right,” Maddy quickly adds. “Look, all I’m saying is, I hope this guy is decent. He has to be. He’s a doctor.”
Something tells me Marco is decent.
But is it enough?
Marco is easy to be around. I love listening to him talk, and despite studying medicine for all his adult life, he’s managed to travel and see a bit of the world.
“There’s this restaurant in Venice, and if it’s your anniversary, the old couple who own it take you on a gondola ride and sing the song they danced to at their wedding fifty years ago. Plus, they serve you this delicious almond cake, which they also had at their wedding.”
My lips curve upward. “How romantic, but also embarrassing if you’re an introvert.”
“Very true.” He chuckles but holds my gaze, asking, “Have you traveled much?”
“When I was younger, yes, but now that I own a business, it’s hard to get away. My schedule suits day trips, so I try to at least go for a drive whenever I get a chance.”
Great, that made me sound like I have no life.
Why is this dating thing so hard?
Just relax. Marco won’t judge.
Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly release and feel much more relaxed. “My brother, Elliot, lives in France and I miss him. If the rest of the year goes well, I might visit him. It’s just that I’ve been saving to buy a place, so vacations feel less important.”
“Hey, you’re talking to the person who has student debt that will follow me to the grave,” he informs me. “So, I get that completely.”
I smile, sighing. “But look at you. You’re saving lives.”
Marco places his hand on my knee, and his touch excites me. With my gaze fixed on him, I bite my lip teasingly.
“Saving them, yes. One day, I hope to make them, too. When I find someone to spend the rest of my life with.”
I can’t hold back my grin, but I don’t want to encourage talk about the future. Part of me wonders if that is truly what Marco wants or if he is just saying it to get me to sleep with him. Then again, Marco doesn’t strike me as someone who needs to lie to get a woman into bed.
Eager to shift the conversation without seeming too obvious, I tell him a story about a customer who came into our store with quadruplets.
In the middle of the story, the hairs on my arms stick up as if a cold breeze blew past me—or a ghost. I still my movements, hyperaware of my surroundings while my heart beats erratically.
Then, I see him .
The green eyes that insist on haunting me, but this time, they’re walking toward us ignited by jealousy.
In just one stare, I have all the warning I need.
Tonight won’t end well for any of us.