Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
THEO
One time to get her out of my system is never one time. The next day, we return to our normal routine. We’re back to secret smiles and stolen glances, but I’m barely getting by. As much as I love having her around, it’s a relief when Evie doesn’t join me in the woods.
Grounding. That’s what I need, and spending some time in nature will help.
I’ve never been the type to struggle to keep it in my pants. Why is it so hard now?
Christine is with the group, as she should be, but I can’t help but feel she’s watching me like a hawk. I try to ignore her gaze as I pat down the earth, planting one of the last trees of the day.
“You seem different lately,” she says.
My heart skips a beat. I look up, and my brows lift—an attempt at looking more surprised than I feel. “Oh?”
“Happier.” She nods. “Any reason why?”
Of course, I know why I’m happier—why I’m different.
It’s Evie. She’s changing me from the inside out; all she had to do was care for me.
Her care for me is transformative. It’s enough that I know I’m falling in love with her, something I’ve never let myself do before.
I want to tell Christine. I want to tell everyone, but I can’t.
“You know how I am,” I say. “Being in nature makes me feel like this.”
Her expression falls flat. Christine has a serious side, but it’s rare to see it pointed at me so sharply. My mouth goes dry.
“Walk with me,” she says.
“But I—”
“Someone else can finish the job.”
I hold a higher rank than Christine, but that doesn’t stop me from taking her order. Something is wrong, and goddammit, I already know what it is. I scurry after her.
How much longer can I feign ignorance?
“I know what’s going on,” she says lowly.
What do I say to that? I can’t admit it, not yet. What if she’s talking about something else? Someone else? I won’t throw Evie under the bus. My head swims. I can hardly see the sunlit trees.
“I don’t know what you mean,” I say, finally finding my words.
“Yes. You do. Evie. You’re…”
Once Christine says her name, I find my spine, silencing her with a glare. “Not so loud. The others—”
“Then it’s true?” She presses her lips into a thin line.
I can’t remember the last time I felt like I was disappointing someone, but it was probably one of my parents. Christine, someone I respect and have a professional fondness for, looking at me like that has got to be the worst feeling. At least, it’s close to the top of the list.
“If it is, the last thing I want is everyone else hearing,” I say. “Do you know what that could mean for her? How will the others—her coworkers—treat her?”
“You should have thought about that before.” She sighs, rubbing her temples. “Theo. I thought you were better than this. In all my years of knowing you…”
“Better than what?”
“You know what. You should have considered how the others would react before you began an affair with your assistant.”
My shoulders slump. “It’s not an affair. We’re seeing each other, and we’re consenting adults.”
“Either way, this won’t look good for us—for the company. You know that.” She shakes her head and walks away, pacing through the crunching leaves. “I never wanted to get involved in your private life. I still don’t.”
“Then don’t.”
“If only it were that simple. I have to make an exception this once. I’m sorry.”
“What?” I balk. “You’re running to HR?”
“No, not yet, but you should.” She crosses her arms. “As far as I see it, you only have two other options. Break things off, or she finds other employment.”
Neither feels like the right choice. Evie is here because she needs the money, and I know she’ll be hard-pressed to find somewhere that pays as well as we do.
“It’s just for the summer,” I say weakly. “The position was always seasonal for her. It’s not a big deal.”
She holds her hands up. “If you want to keep your secrets, that’s fine. I won’t be the one to spill them. But Theo… I was only here for a few days before I realized what was happening. You aren’t good at sneaking around. If you keep waiting, this won’t be in your control anymore.”
I swallow thickly.
“This is a scandal waiting to happen,” she presses. “Do something.”
EVIE
It shouldn’t be this quiet tonight. Christine is gone, enthusing about spending a night on the town, and I’m left with Theo. Usually, time alone would be a good thing, but he’s behaving strangely. He has been ever since Christine arrived.
His strange behavior makes sense, given that we’re supposed to be on pause… but this seems like the perfect opportunity to spend time together—without her or anyone else interrupting.
I enter his bedroom without permission, carrying one of the fruit tarts I made. “Look. Just like the one at the bakery.”
He smiles weakly, glancing up from his laptop. His glasses, the ones I only ever see him wear at night, slide down his nose. “You made that?”
“I did.” I sit at the edge of his bed. “Will you try it? I admit, I found the recipe online, and I think I’ll still have to tweak it a little, but it’s good.”
He picks up the pastry and takes a large bite. “This is good. Do you think you’ll serve it at your future bakery?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I think you should.” He finishes off the pastry and turns his attention back to his computer.
Even when he’s lounging in bed, Theo can’t seem to take a break. His expression is severe and scrutinizing, squinting at a spreadsheet I can’t begin to understand. It may be above my pay grade.
“It’s late.” I press a hand against his laptop, trying to shut it. “And we’re alone. Maybe you should relax… with me?”
He shifts uncomfortably. “Evie… I’m so behind on everything…”
It feels like he’s avoiding my gaze, but I can’t imagine why.
My lips tug into a frown. “No, you’re not. I know your schedule, silly. You’re right on track.”
He slowly sets the laptop aside. “I guess you’re right. It is getting late, so… I should probably get to bed.”
“Are…” I tilt my head to the side. “Are you kicking me out?”
“What? No.” He chuckles, but there’s a nervous edge to it. “I mean, Christine could be back any moment… we don’t want a repeat of what happened last time.”
Oh. He really is kicking me out. That’s perfectly within his rights, but I can’t wrap my head around it. Where did we go wrong?
“I thought you enjoyed yourself. I didn’t mean—”
“No, it’s not like that. I did have fun. There will always be a part of me that wants to do it again.” He runs his fingers through his thick curls.
“And I know I had fun. So, what’s the problem?”
“It’s unprofessional.” He shrugs. “And risky. She could catch us next time.”
My heart plummets into my stomach. The feelings I’m usually fighting for him are desire and the urge to keep us a secret, but I’m fighting something else now. It’s fear.
“What’s wrong?” I murmur, moving closer. “Something feels off. Like… you’re being weird, Theo.”
He touches my face, and my worries melt away when his dark eyes meet mine. “Nothing is wrong. I’m sorry. Just stressed about going back to the office so soon.”
“Is that all it is?” A smile creeps onto my lips—a desperate attempt at lightening the mood. “I know something we can do about that… a little stress relief.”
I lean in closer, but he leans away.
“Evie…”
“What?” I pause. “You don’t want to? I didn’t mean to—I mean, we can cuddle.”
He hasn’t pushed me away like this since before we slept together, and it hurts. What am I supposed to do? I stare at him desperately, waiting for an answer—cut me down or lift me, but do something.
There’s another moment of hesitation, a brief crackle of electricity before his fingers curl into my hair. He drags me closer, harsh with his movements, but the way he kisses me is not. Soft, lingering kisses to my lips, face, and eyelids.
“I always want you,” he whispers, sucking my earlobe. “That’s never a question. Don’t ever doubt that.”
His breath against my neck makes me giggle. “I’ll try not to. It’s hard sometimes.”
“Come here.” He pulls me into bed with strong arms—only becoming stronger by the day.
Whenever I’m in bed with him, I’m right at home. This is no exception. He hovers on top of me, his body pressed so beautifully to mine. Our foreheads touch. I could stay here for hours, staring into his warm eyes.
The electricity between us seems to slow, small sparks like when the lightning storm is about to end, but the attraction is still here.
I hold the sides of his face as he rolls against me, pressing his hips into mine, letting pressure build between my thighs.
He rouses to life, too, already hard against me.
I gasp with each bit of friction he builds.
There’s still so much between us, and we don’t have time to waste. We remove our clothes fluidly, letting them find the floor, and we see each other—flesh on flesh. His chest pressed to mine is my idea of heaven.
When he sinks into me, as deep as he can go, it’s something even greater. My worries don’t exist. I gasp, gazing into his eyes, and he meets mine in return.
Everything is right. What was I worried about?
There’s no need to be quiet. There’s no need to hide. For a moment, we’re together… and everything is perfect. Nothing can come between us.