by Zoe Allison
Chapter Seventeen
Eva awoke from a nap, still exhausted from the late night, getting up early, the excitement of seeing Damon and nearly fulfilling her teenage fantasy—then having her hopes dashed yet again.
Her phone started ringing and her heart lifted. It was Damon’s number on a video call.
“Hey,” he said, “I’ve been thinking about you.”
She smiled. “What’ve you been thinking?”
He grinned. “I’ll show you tomorrow night.”
Eva laughed. “Sounds good.”
Damon leaned back. “What’ve you been doing?”
“Not much. Calling Rachel and Jane to assure them I’m not spiralling into depression over a guy.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Which guy? Should I be worried?”
She smiled. “Just this handsome dude with brown hair and come-to-bed eyes.”
He puffed out his chest, smiling. “I’ll need to sort him out.” He let out his breath. “Seriously though, are they still on the warpath with me? I reckon Rachel’s got a mean left hook.”
Eva laughed. “You’re not wrong there. But no, it’s fine. I explained what really happened with Tracey…and the rest of it.”
He gave her a meaningful look. “The rest of it?”
Heat rose in her face. “Not the details. Just an overview.”
He smiled. “We’ll fill in the details tomorrow.”
Eva nodded. She could still feel the blush in her cheeks. She sat a bit straighter. “Have you got any news about Sarah’s dad?”
“Yeah,” he said. “He’s had a heart attack but got there in time to get some treatment. He’s in coronary care.”
“That’s good,” Eva said. “Is he stable?”
“Yes,” Damon said. “I hope he’s okay. He’s a lovely man.”
Eva studied his sad expression. He must miss Sarah’s family almost as much as he missed her. She was sad for him and also for herself, because if he still felt that deeply about Sarah then her own chances of having a serious relationship with him were low. Stop being selfish. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He smiled. “Seeing you is all I want.”
A warm glow settled in her chest. Whatever was developing between them was still more than she could’ve hoped for. Even if it was just a casual fling, that was better than the perpetual longing she’d harboured for years. She smiled. “What time shall I come over tomorrow?”
“The kids are getting collected at six.” He smiled. “So one minute past six?”
She laughed. “I’ll come at six-thirty to give you time to get yourself spruced up.”
Eva went downstairs to forage for some food. Her mum was in the kitchen. Meena placed a full plate onto the table. “There you go. Eat that. It’ll sort out your wine hangover.”
“I’m not hungover,” Eva said, then found that her head was a bit sore and she was starving. “Okay, maybe a little.” She started tucking into her food.
Meena sat across from her with her own plate. “Is everything alright after last night?”
Eva frowned, wondering what that meant. Then she remembered what she’d told her mum the previous evening about Damon and Tracey. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine, thanks.” She took another forkful and mulled over how much to tell. She didn’t want Meena to get the wrong idea and have her and Damon married off in her mind. She swallowed. “Nothing happened with Damon and Tracey last night. I got the wrong end of the stick. And I’m going to see him tomorrow.”
The corner of Meena’s mouth flickered. “Oh yes? Another friends’ get together?”
Eva hesitated. “I think we’re becoming more than friends.”
Meena didn’t do a good job of suppressing her joy. She smiled broadly and poured them both some tea from the flowery teapot. “I knew it.”
Eva sighed. “Don’t get over-excited. It’s nothing serious. I think he’s still in love with Sarah.”
Meena shook her head. “Nonsense.”
“Mum,” Eva said, “I’m telling you. Don’t make this into a bigger deal than it is. You’ll end up disappointed.”
Meena glanced at her. “As long as it’s not you who ends up disappointed.”
Eva smiled. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been toughened over the last few months.”
Meena touched her hand, a pained look in her eyes. “I know. And I don’t want you hurt anymore.” She stirred her tea. “I just want you to be happy. That’s why I’m trying to help.”
“I know,” Eva said. “But you can’t arrange my love life for me. And you were the one who turned down an arranged marriage in order to marry Dad, don’t forget.”
“I’m not arranging a marriage for you. I’m trying to help steer you towards true love.” Meena smiled. “That’s what I have with your father, and I want it for both my daughters too.”
Eva shook her head, smiling. “You can’t force Damon to love me. None of us have control over that emotion.”
Meena eyed her and Eva realised that her previous statement was easy to read into. She’d said that Damon couldn’t be forced to love her, but she hadn’t mentioned anything about her feelings towards him. They were fast getting out of control and she needed to protect herself.
* * * *
After what seemed like an eternity rather than a little over twenty-four hours, the next evening rolled around and Eva got ready to head out to Damon’s. She deliberated over what to wear but then decided it didn’t really matter, because she was rather hoping that whatever she had on would be removed soon after her arrival.
Her nerves weren’t jangling quite so much on the drive over, having been in the same situation the morning before. She wondered how Sarah’s dad was doing and if there’d be any more of an update on him.
Eva parked and got out of the car. Something appeared out of place. The front door didn’t seem properly shut. As she approached, she discovered that was indeed the case. That’s weird. Although Damon knew she was coming, so maybe he’d left it open. Maybe when I open it, he’ll be there in his underwear—or nothing at all. Eva shivered in anticipation. She pushed open the door, shutting it quietly behind her. There were voices in the living room. Who’s he with? She walked along the hallway and peered into the room just in time to see Tracey McKenna throw her arms around Damon’s neck.
A shock of pain stabbed her in the gut and she turned and ran down the hallway and out of the front door. Bile rose into the back of her throat as a vision replayed of arriving home in Edinburgh and being confronted by a similar scene.
Eva ran to the car, got in and started it. She reversed off the driveway at speed, tears blinding her as she roared off along the road.
Chapter Eighteen
The front door slammed. Damon pushed Tracey off him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She frowned. “What do you think? Come here and I’ll show you…” She started to move towards him again.
He held up his hand. “Don’t come anywhere near me.”
She folded her arms, her mouth set in a thin line. “I can’t remember you complaining last time.”
He threw his hands in the air. “Last time I was sixteen years old and you threw me into a bush. I’m now thirty years old and this is my house.” He gestured towards the front door. “I’m telling you to get the hell out.”
She put her hands on her hips. “You can’t be serious. Anyone else would be delighted to be in your position.”
“I’m not anyone else, so piss off.”
Tracey gritted her teeth. “Fine. It’s your loss.” She turned and lashed out her hand, sending a table lamp crashing to the ground as she stalked out of the house. The door slammed behind her.
Damon drew breath. What the hell was that? He’d been quickly tidying, awaiting Eva’s arrival, and when the doorbell went, he figured she was here early. He’d opened the door expectantly and been disappointed to see Tracey standing there, dolled up to the nines. He was thrown, and she’d used the opportunity to march past him
into the house. When he’d gone into the living room after her, she’d said something like ‘This is your lucky night’ and thrown herself at him. The next thing he heard before he got chance to push her off him was the door slamming. Could that have been Eva arriving and departing? Had she seen Tracey with her arms around him in that split second before he’d thrown her off? Damon groaned. Of course she had. He grabbed his wallet and searched for his car keys. Where the hell are they?
He checked the coffee table and in the kitchen before coming back into the living room and finding them under one of the sofa cushions. He cursed under his breath, a valuable few minutes wasted. He hurried out of the front door and got into the car to drive to Eva’s.
When Damon pulled onto the drive, his heart sank. Her car wasn’t there. Where is she? At Rachel’s? Or Jane’s? He sat for a moment, trying to think where to go next.
He decided to go ask Meena where Eva might be. It was possible he’d get a slap in the face if Eva had recounted what she’d seen to her mum, but he might figure out her whereabouts more quickly, so it’d be worth it.
Damon stood on the doorstep and rang the bell, feeling nauseated Eva’s mum answered the door.
“Hi, Auntie Meena.” He waited for her to punch him or slam the door in his face. Instead she smiled and gestured for him to enter.
“Come through,” Meena said. “I’m afraid Eva isn’t here, but you and I need to have a little chat.”
Damon’s nausea intensified.
He sat on the kitchen chair that was offered, and Meena set about pouring them some tea. He smiled, thinking about what Eva had told him about her mum’s tea obsession and how it was her go-to in any stressful situation. But then that thought made him even more nervous. If the tea was out, then the conversation must be headed towards bad news. Meena set a mug in front of him, and he grasped it with both hands.
She sat across from him. “I need to tell you a story. This is in the strictest confidence, because I know Eva hasn’t told anyone except Matthew and me yet. But I also know she would’ve told you when she was ready, so I’m not breaking her confidence really. And goodness knows you two need all the help you can get.”
Damon couldn’t argue with that.
Meena sipped her tea. “This is difficult for me to tell because it breaks my heart, but at least we have the tea to soothe us. It’s chamomile.”
Damon smiled.
Meena continued. “Eva and Callum were in love—or so Eva thought. But things hit a rough patch at work and it impacted her personal life. She was unbearably stressed over a long period. Unfortunately, Callum couldn’t handle it. At the very time he should’ve been supporting my daughter, he was pulling away.” Meena set her mouth in a grim line. “Eva tried to confide in him, but he wasn’t interested. He started making excuses about working late and saying they’d talk later. Then one night she came home from work early and found him in the living room, rolling round naked with his secretary, Hannah.”
Meena looked at Damon. A new tidal wave of nausea crashed over him. Eva had found him in what might’ve appeared to be a similar situation with Tracey.
Damon rubbed his face then put his head in his hands. “I’m assuming Eva told you she walked in on Tracey and me.”
Meena nodded.
He lifted his head. “What happened tonight was a big misunderstanding. Nothing has happened between Tracey and me. She barged in and tried it on but I threw her out.” He sighed. “Eva just happened to witness the wrong two seconds.” He leaned back. “But this thing with Callum makes it a whole lot worse.”
Meena sipped her tea. “I know. It has coloured the way she sees everything…even herself.”
Damon paused, something was niggling at the back of his mind. “What was stressing Eva at the time?”
Meena shifted in her seat, averting her gaze. “It’s not something she’s keen on talking about.” She cleared her throat and met his eyes again. “When something really traumatizes her, she buries it deeply. It really isn’t good for her.”
Damon could tell Meena knew more than she was letting on. But she’d already told him one secret and it wasn’t fair to push for another. He’d try to find out eventually but currently there were more immediate issues to be dealt with. “I need to see her. Do you know where she is?”
Meena nodded. “Yes, and I think it’d be a good idea for you to set the record straight. She doesn’t need any more stress right now. After she got in, she was really upset and gave me a quick gist of why.”
Damon squirmed slightly in his seat.
Meena continued. “Then she called Jane and asked to come see her at work. She didn’t want to go to Rachel’s in a state with the kids being there.”
Damon’s heart swelled. It was typical of Eva to put the wellbeing of Rachel’s kids ahead of her own need for comfort. “She’s gone to Alton Hall now?”
Meena nodded.
Damon got to his feet. “Thanks for the tea—and for confiding in me.” He turned to go and Meena followed him to the front door.
Damon paused in the doorway. “I’m not like Callum, you know. I’d never hurt Eva.”
“I know, because I’ve known you since you were two years old.” Meena smiled. “That’s why we’ve had this conversation. Now go find my daughter.”
Damon didn’t need telling twice. He jumped in his car and drove up the road in record time.
Once he arrived at Alton Hall, he headed directly for the spa and asked for Jane. The woman at the desk went to find her. Damon paced the area. He was aware that a couple of people were giving him funny looks, but he didn’t care.
A couple of minutes later Jane appeared with a wary expression on her face. Despite that, Damon held out hope that she’d be willing to listen.
“Hi,” Jane said. “What’re you doing here?”
“I’m trying to find Eva. Do you know where she is?”
Jane stayed silent, appraising him.
“Listen,” Damon said. “I know you don’t have any reason to trust me, but could I have a private word with you to explain myself?”
Jane narrowed her eyes. Then she nodded in the direction of the spa office behind the reception desk.
She led him in and closed the door behind them. “Go on.”
Damon told Jane everything that’d happened since his kids had been collected that evening. She listened intently, nodding at intervals.
Just before he got to the part about Meena telling him what had happened between Eva and Callum, he paused. He wasn’t sure if Eva had confided in Jane about it and didn’t want to break Meena or Eva’s confidence.
Jane smiled, clearly interpreting his hesitation. “It’s okay. When Eva got here, she told me about walking in on Callum and Hannah.”
Damon finished the story. “I really need to see her and explain it was just a misunderstanding. I can’t stand her thinking I’d do something like that to her.”
Jane nodded. “I believe you.”
Relief washed over him.
“I’ll tell you where she is,” Jane said, “but it’ll be up to her if she wants to listen or not. I’m sure she will, though. She was just shocked and had a knee-jerk reaction because of what she’s been through with Callum.”
“Thanks.” He sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
“After Eva got here, we talked,” Jane said “She was really upset and I didn’t want her driving home, so I called in a favour and got her booked into one of the hotel suites. I told her to get a hot bath and I’ve had some nice wine sent to the room. I was planning on going to see her after my shift to share it with her, but if you play your cards right, you could be the one drinking it instead.”
Damon’s stomach churned. What if she slammed the door in his face? But he had to try. “Okay. What room is it?”
“It’s two hundred and twenty-six, on the second floor,” Jane said. “I’ll call her to let her know you’re coming and tell her I think she should listen—and so does her mum.”
Damon
left the area and went to the bank of elevators in the main reception, riding the lift to the second floor. Room two hundred and twenty-six was set farther into the hotel and relatively hard to find, but he figured it gave Jane more time to speak to Eva and pave the way for him.
He arrived at the room, knocked on the door and prayed, his heart pounding. It opened and he held his breath, breathing a sigh of relief when it didn’t slam shut again.
“Hi,” Eva said.
“Hi. Did Jane call you?”
“Yes.” Eva gestured behind her where the sound of water running was apparent. “I only just caught the call because I was running the bath.”
“Can I come in?” he asked.
He could see her weighing it up, her previous experience telling her not to trust him because of what Callum had done, but the fact that her best friend and her mum did trust him told her to give him the benefit of the doubt.
She stood to one side. “Okay.”
He entered the room.
Eva closed the door behind him. “I’ll just go and stop the bath, otherwise we’ll be swimming out of here.”
She went into the bathroom. The suite was huge. There was a four-poster bed in the main area and, underneath the large bay window, a bottle of sparkling wine was chilling in an ice bucket. The water stopped running and Eva came back through.
She leaned against the bedpost, a few yards away from him. “Do you want a drink?”
“No thanks. I just need to get this all out,” Damon said.
“Okay,” she said.
Damon took a deep breath. “I know you walked into the house before and saw Tracey.” His mouth soured as he said her name. “But it wasn’t what it seemed. Do you remember me telling you about how she was all over me at the reunion and I was trying to get rid of her?”
Eva nodded.
“At the time, I didn’t really think about it but she was asking me where I lived. So I told her the street name but not the number. Then she was asking what kind of car I drive. So I reckon she must’ve driven along the street searching for my car. Anyway, when I opened the door, I was expecting to see you standing there. Boy was I disappointed.”
