Chapter Twelve
Eden was busy putting together the last pieces of the website for a brand-new author.
She had gotten the contract and the woman’s first book had skyrocketed to the bestseller list. The problem was, she had no website, and she needed one fast. She had moved her to the top of the list, and she wanted to get it live before the end of the day.
At the sound of the doorbell ringing, she wrinkled her nose.
Maeve had gone out shopping for the day.
She knew her sister was picking up some new makeup.
All last night, they had been watching a movie, while her sister scrolled through her phone, finding all the latest makeup releases.
She had asked her to come with, but she wanted to get this website done.
Rubbing her temple, she didn’t bother to look through the peephole, and opened the door only to find Mac on her doorstep.
Razor had told her what happened. He’d gotten into a fight with Mac at the strip club.
If he hadn’t told her, Maeve had been seconds behind him, as the town gossip had traveled fast. That had been nearly a week and a half ago.
She had not seen Razor in all that time, and she was not interested in seeing Mac.
He stood on her doorstep, complete with one side of his face bruised, and she didn’t care at all.
“What do you want?” she asked, gripping the door and standing in the way of letting him come in.
It was because of the fight that Razor was out of town. He told her Doc had sent him and Mac out to deal with some business. Not the same kind, but it was punishment for not handling their shit in private.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Look, I know I fucked up. I want to make it up to you. I want you to give me a chance.”
Eden frowned. “Give you a chance?”
“Yeah.”
“You want me and you to go out and act like boyfriend and girlfriend on a trial period?” she asked.
“Yeah, you and I had something good together.”
Eden looked at him. “What’s my favorite ice cream?” she asked.
“Vanilla.”
“What’s my favorite hot drink?”
“Tea.”
“If we were at an event that served hot dogs or burgers, what would you get me?”
“Hot dogs.”
“Do I like crowds?”
“You love them.”
Eden looked at him, and she couldn’t believe they had even been dating for a year and a half.
She laughed. “Where were you when those flowers were delivered?”
“I was at the clubhouse waiting to get your call.”
She was shocked. “Wow.”
“Look, I want to make this work.”
“Are you for real?” Eden asked.
“Yeah, you know I am.”
“My favorite ice cream is peanut butter. I only drink coffee or hot chocolate. I cannot stand tea. I hate hot dogs, and crowds make me feel uncomfortable and awkward. When I got those flowers, you were at the strip club, paying a couple of women to give you a sex show. Why are you even lying about this?”
With each word she spoke, Mac’s eyes went wide. It would have been hilarious, but Eden couldn’t believe she had even defended him to her sister. Not recently, and not since she caught him cheating, but during their time together. Excuse after excuse she made for him.
A year and a half, and he didn’t know her at all. This was all freaking bullshit, and she was angry at herself for not seeing it before, especially when Maeve had told her. She knew her sister hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but she had tried to get her to see reason.
This was just insane.
“Go away,” Eden said.
“Damn it, Eden, I know you’re too good for me, and I have a problem, okay? I can fix it.”
“No,” Eden said, glaring at him. “No, there is nothing to fix. I don’t want you, Mac.
I don’t want any part of this. I kept dating you because I thought we had a good thing.
” And she hadn’t known how to break up with him.
That was the horrible truth. There had been so many times she wanted to break up with him.
Whenever she tried, he would do something sweet, and she hated the thought of hurting him.
It had all been a lie, and it took dating someone who actually gave her all the feelings that made her realize it.
Razor was not a rebound.
Her and Mac’s relationship had been dead the moment it started.
She had accepted his invitation because she hadn’t known how to say no.
For a year and a half, that was how it had continued, and she was not going to fall down that endless rabbit hole.
She was done. There were no feelings for Mac, not now, not ever.
That night she had caught him cheating on her was more embarrassment she felt, as well as hurt from Hilary.
Hilary had been her friend a lot longer.
They had grown up together, and without a single care for that friendship, she had slept with Mac who was supposed to be with her.
Regardless of her feelings for Mac, the girl code stated Hilary shouldn’t have done that.
Eden gripped the front door tightly.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t want any part of it,” she said. “Leave me alone.”
“Do you think Razor is doing this out of the good of his heart?” Mac asked. “He’s playing you, just like every club brother is playing everyone. You’re nothing but pussy to him.”
And before she even got a chance to slam the door closed, he turned on his heel and walked away, and Eden didn’t like that. She shook her head and closed the door without slamming it, which she felt was rather gracious for herself.
She walked back toward the dining room table where her laptop was set up, and she sat down. She spread her fingers across the keys and couldn’t help but notice how they shook. This was crazy. Why were her hands shaking?
“He’s playing you.”
Eden took a deep breath. “He’s a liar and a cheat. Just focus on work. He came to cause trouble.”
She looked over the work she had done and tried to focus but it was like a nasty tune on repeat, saying the same thing, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t get it out of her head.
He’s playing you.
He’s playing you.
He’s playing you.
The damage had been done, and Eden pushed away from the table and made her way into the kitchen.
Razor was not playing her, and what they had was very real. Mac was just trying to cause trouble again. That was what he always did.
For the next couple of hours, Eden finally was able to put those words out of her mind and focus on the website.
She finished the website and had just gotten everything activated after the author had given the all-clear, when Maeve walked in.
Eden had grabbed a strawberry yogurt from the fridge and was in the process of eating it when Maeve came through the door.
She had several bags in her hands, and from the look on Maeve’s face, she was excited.
“You were gone a long time.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I did eat lunch out, but I’m ready to get those burgers on the grill.” Maeve put the bags in the sitting room. “I am so going to show you everything later.”
Eden winced. “Is this where you give me a whole bunch of your first impressions and then ask to use my face?”
“That is exactly what is going to happen.” Maeve went to the freezer. “Which is why I also stopped by the store and got you your favorite ice cream, because I am the world’s best sister.” Maeve put a couple of cartons into the freezer.
“Wow, you bought a lot of makeup, didn’t you?”
“There were a whole bunch of new releases, and I didn’t have a limit.”
“How’s everything going with Charlotte?” Eden asked.
“So, we have her first makeup kit all ready and we’re starting the techniques in a couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?” Eden asked.
“Yeah, I’ve had a few things come up. Nothing too important. She has my cell phone, and I can talk her through a few things.”
“Another job?”
“Yeah, you could say that. I am starving. Are you wanting those burgers?” Maeve asked.
Eden wanted to ask her sister for advice, but she had a feeling all she would say was that Mac was a fucking liar. She had to agree. Mac had a history of being a liar and a cheat. She hated that he’d gotten under her skin. Hanging out with her sister might help her clear her mind.
That was what she needed. Razor was a good guy, and she had to remember that. He’d not given her any reason to doubt his intentions.
Mac was all bullshit.
****
“You brought me along for this?” Doc asked.
Razor looked at his Prez and shrugged. “You’ve done this before.”
Doc snorted. “Yeah, and that went so well.”
“You’re still good friends with Nancy.”
“That’s true. It hasn’t ended in disaster like other relationships, and I even accept her dating.
” Doc sighed. “Marriage is hard, Razor. Are you sure you want to go to that next stage of commitment? It’s a lot of hard work and that is before you even add kids into the mix.
The moment you add kids, it’s even harder. ”
“You know, you’re not putting me off.”
“Didn’t figure I would,” Doc said. “Once you set your mind to something, there is no stopping you.”
Razor looked across the array of diamond rings.
He didn’t want to make Eden nervous, and if he got her a ring that was too expensive, he knew she wasn’t going to wear it.
He refused to buy her a cheap ass ring. There were so many, but the moment he saw a small delicate one with a single diamond, he knew it was perfect.
He asked the woman behind the counter if he could look at it. Razor was used to people being nervous around him, thinking he was going to run off with the merchandise. Her hands shook a little as she presented the case.
Razor did ask for permission to touch the ring, and he held it in his hand. He just knew he could see it on her finger.
“I want this one,” he said.
She offered him a wobbly smile, and Doc was trying to contain his laughter, which Razor ignored.
She was clearly nervous, and for another twenty minutes, she continually fumbled over her words and just about everything else.