by Darcy Burke
“What’s the plan if you guys get serious? You just moved home. Would you consider moving to LA with her? I guess you could split your time and do your job remotely.”
“Why are you planning my long-term relationship when you can’t even sustain one?”
“Ouch. If you can’t do it, coach, right?” He turned toward Evan. “Maybe you’ve already talked to Tori about this, I don’t know. I’m just big-brothering you. She seems like exactly the wrong fit for you. I can’t see you going to Hollywood events with her, strolling on the red carpet with all that noise. And the paparazzi . . . ” He shook his head. “I just want to know that you’re thinking about all of this. Hey, if you’ve already thought it through or this relationship is nowhere near that stage, just tell me to eff off.”
He hadn’t thought about it. Why would he? He had no idea what her life was really like. Hearing Liam talk about it gave him a sick, hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Sure, bro. You ready to head back in?”
“Yep. Let me get the door for you.” He held it open and glanced at Liam’s sling. “Heli-skiing, huh? What’s next on your adrenaline-rush tour?”
Liam flashed him a smile. “Nothing for a while, thanks to this, but I’ll be back in the saddle soon.”
Evan closed the door behind them and followed Liam back to the dining room. His earlier good mood had evaporated, crushed by the reality Liam had painted. Sure, she made him feel good, but what the hell was he doing with Alaina? He thought he knew, but he didn’t. Not really. He had no idea where this was going, and for Evan, that was not a good thing.
Chapter Fifteen
ALAINA FINISHED HER plate of hors d’oeuvres and looked at the empty doorway for the umpteenth time, waiting for Evan to get back. Liam had left, too, and she wondered if they were together. She’d spoken to him only briefly but already had his number. He was an alpha male stud used to commanding a room with an ease and self-confidence that most people never achieved. He’d be a total shark in Hollywood, she had no doubt.
He was also classically good-looking, though not as tall as Evan, and she’d bet his abs couldn’t hold a candle to Evan’s. But then, no one’s could.
Tori came over to join her by the front windows. “Looking for Evan?”
“I think he’s with Liam.”
“Probably.” Tori flashed a look at the door. “I was going to go check on him, but Liam beat me to it.”
“Do you guys always do that?”
“Not necessarily. At least not anymore. When he was younger, I spent a lot of time sitting with him at parties or whatever.”
She pictured a young Tori looking out for her brother. Emily had told her that of all her kids, Tori was the one who had assumed the role of caretaker. The general consensus was that Tori would be the first to have a baby. “That’s really nice of you.”
Tori shrugged. “It’s what we do. We sort of had a buddy system growing up. Kyle looked out for Sara, I looked out for Evan, and Liam kept an eye on Alex.”
She noticed Hayden didn’t seem to fit anywhere in that mix but didn’t ask about it. She didn’t want to stir anything up. “I guess since Alex is gone, Liam maybe needs something to do?”
Tori’s eyes narrowed briefly, and she laughed. “Very astute of you. Yeah, I’m sure that’s part of it. I’m really surprised he came home, but maybe Mom guilted him because of his injury. I hope maybe now he’ll stop being such a thrill seeker.”
She remembered the phrase death wish being used with regard to Liam, albeit sarcastically. Or maybe it hadn’t been all that sarcastic. “This is a recurring thing, then?”
“Totally. And heli-skiing is pretty tame. He’s climbed mountains, jumped out of planes—and then learned to fly them. I keep wondering if he’s going to try BASE jumping, but I think even he isn’t that stupid.”
“Your mom must be worried sick.”
“She is, but she’s also learned to accept it. Or at least worry more quietly.” Tori sipped her wine. “So, can I ask how long you plan to stay in Ribbon Ridge?”
“I’m not sure.” Crystal had called earlier and asked the same question. Again.
“It seems like the press about you is dying down,” Tori said tentatively. “Not that I’m monitoring it or anything, but you’re not trending on Facebook anymore at least.” She offered a weak smile.
Alaina laughed. “That’s a relief. I admit I haven’t been on social media all week. It’s such a treacherous pit. Lots of positive things, of course, but almost as many negative, especially after something like that goes viral.”
“That has to be awful to live with. I’m so sorry.” Tori gave her a heartfelt smile. “You could always retire from public life and move to Ribbon Ridge. I’m sure Evan would like that.”
“Do you think so?” They hadn’t discussed it. She’d known him barely more than a week; how could they plan something so . . . permanent? Except she had been thinking about finding a place in Ribbon Ridge. The area was too lovely, the Archers too welcoming for her not to idealize the entire place.
As if summoned by their conversation, Evan finally reappeared. Alaina’s chest constricted as he came into view, his gray eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. She smiled at him, but he didn’t respond. Don’t overthink that, Lainie. He doesn’t always respond the way you’d expect, and it doesn’t mean a thing.
He came toward her, and her heart turned over at how attractive he was in an indigo button-down shirt. Liam might walk the walk of a major player, but Evan was the heartbreaker with the subtle vulnerability lurking in his eyes and the air of casual nonchalance he carried.
Tori moved away without a word, leaving them alone.
Alaina turned toward him and found his hand, weaving her fingers through his. “Feeling better?”
He nodded. “Did you eat something?”
“Yes, they brought some shrimp and some crostini with pâté. It’s delicious. Do you want a plate?”
“I’ll get it.” He turned from her and went to the table where the food was laid out.
She watched him go with a slight frown. He’d been in such a great mood earlier, but now he seemed deflated. Had something happened when he was with Liam? Or was he just unsettled by the event? Some might find it odd for a person to be unbalanced with their family around, but Alaina understood that all too well. Spending an evening with her mother could practically send her into a panic attack.
Alaina looked around for Liam. He was over by the drink table talking with Derek. If he’d somehow upset Evan, she’d find a way to return the favor. The ferocity with which she wanted to protect and avenge Evan startled her. How deep was this thing getting?
When Evan didn’t come back, she started to grow concerned. Except now he was talking to Sara and his mom. She couldn’t be mad at that.
Sean came over and asked the same thing Tori had—how long was she staying?—and then they started discussing postproduction for the show he was filming with Kyle.
A few minutes later, the servers came in with dinner, and everyone found seats around the table. Rob Archer sat at the head and Kyle guided Evan to sit at the other end. Sean held out the chair on Evan’s left for Alaina to sit.
Evan was quiet through dinner, but that wasn’t surprising to her, and no one else seemed to notice or mind. He appeared somewhat engaged in the conversation around him, answering when spoken to but not initiating anything.
After dessert and coffee, the evening began to wind down. Evan put his hand up to stifle a yawn.
“Do you want to go?” Alaina asked softly.
“Would you mind? I’m tired.”
“Not at all.” She wanted to ask him to spend the night with her but was afraid the answer would be negative again. Had he ever slept with Michelle? No, he’d corrected her before when she’d used the word “sleep.” She’d bet everything she owned that he hadn’t.
She stood from the table, and he jumped up to pull her chair back
. They said their good-byes and were shortly in his car on their way back to the Archer estate. “I had a great time,” she said. “It was good to meet Liam.”
“I’m surprised he came. Glad, but surprised.”
“What did you talk about when you left?”
“You, actually.”
Uh-oh.
There went her cynicism again, automatically assuming it wasn’t flattering. “Really? What did he say?”
“He was pretty surprised that we’re dating.”
Surprised could mean that he was a jerk about it. Or not. Stop it, Alaina! “Why?”
Evan drove up the road toward the gate. “He just wanted to make sure I wasn’t in over my head.”
She wanted to ask for more details, but it didn’t really matter. What mattered was that they were okay. “You don’t feel like you are—do you? Over your head, I mean.”
“No.” He pulled the car through the porte cochere and into the garage.
She waited for him to open her door because he liked that. He offered his hand to help her out. She tucked her fingers in his and stood. But then he let go far sooner than she would’ve liked.
He escorted her from the garage and to the door to the stairway up to the apartment.
“Are you coming up?” She tried not to sound too hopeful.
“No, I’m wiped out after tonight.”
She swallowed her disappointment and forced a bright smile, feeling like the girl who’d asked the guy to the dance but had been rejected. Which reminded her . . . “Can we get together tomorrow night? I had something fun in mind.”
“What is it?”
She shivered as a cold wind whipped between the buildings, and she wrapped her arms around herself. “Can it be a surprise?”
“Okay. What time?”
She couldn’t tell if he was truly interested in what she had planned. He didn’t seem like it, but that was the way he was sometimes. Plus, he was tired. She told herself again to not read too much into it. “Just be ready at six, and dress nicely.”
“Like a tie nice?”
She smiled. “No, like this.” She touched his shirt collar, longing to pull him against her and change his mind about coming upstairs. “Maybe a jacket.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Good night.” He opened the door behind her and held it open while she went inside.
Grudgingly, she climbed the stairs alone, and by the time she reached the top, he was gone. As she went into the apartment, she told herself that he really was just tired. Probably exhausted from having to be “on” all night. Not that he’d been on, but she knew it took an effort for him to make it through a social event like that.
Tomorrow night would be better. Tomorrow night it would be just the two of them.
She hoped he liked what she had planned. If he didn’t, well, that could be a disaster.
EVAN SPENT ALL of Saturday working—first on Archer stuff, then on the book. His siblings and their significant others had all left early in the morning for the family cabin on Mt. Hood for a weekend of skiing, or in Liam’s case, a day of hanging at the lodge. They’d invited Alaina last night, saying it would be easy to go incognito with a ski mask, goggles, and a helmet, but she’d laughingly declined. Presumably because she’d made plans for them tonight.
He wondered what she’d organized and why he had to wear a jacket. He checked his appearance one last time, having just showered and gotten ready. Glancing at the time on his phone, he realized he needed to get over to the apartment.
He jogged downstairs and across the main floor to the back door and hesitated, wondering if he needed a coat. It wasn’t raining, and besides, he had a jacket on. He’d be fine. As soon as he opened the door, he stopped cold.
Parked in the space between the garages was a black stretch limo.
He blinked, wondering where they could possibly go in a limo. Anywhere, dumbass. Everyone rented limos for wine tasting around here. Except it was too late for that. All the tasting rooms were closed by now.
The driver stood at the door to the apartment stairs. Evan waited, unsure of what to do. The driver opened the door, and framed in the threshold was the movie star Alaina Pierce.
She wore a dark blue—like midnight—dress that clung to every curve and plane of her body. It covered one shoulder and terminated just below her knee. On her feet were silver sandals with a ridiculously high heel. All he could think was that her toes must be cold.
She came toward him, and the light from the sconces on the garages caught her diamond earrings. Her hair was swept up into an elegant style so that the earrings sparkled unimpeded, and the shimmer seemed to make her skin glow.
“Hi, Evan,” she said. “You look amazing.” Her gaze swept over him, and her lips curved into a sexy smile.
He didn’t know what she had planned for the evening, but he absolutely knew how he wanted it to end.
“You’re gorgeous.” He wanted to say more, but he sucked at words, at conveying what he felt. That she went to such an awesome extent to look like this for him . . . He couldn’t think of what to say. So his mouth spewed forth the one thing that formed in his brain. “Aren’t your feet cold?”
She laughed softly, like a wind chime barely stirring in the breeze. “Not yet, but let’s be on our way before that happens.”
The driver held the limo door open. Evan offered Alaina his arm and led her to the car. She ducked inside, and Evan followed her in.
The door closed behind them, and a moment later they were on their way. The privacy screen was up between them and the front seat, so they were effectively alone.
“Where are we going?” Evan asked, settling back against the seat but not really feeling settled. On the contrary, his senses were on high alert—but in the best possible way. He itched to touch Alaina, to taste her. She smelled like clove and vanilla, a musky, thoroughly intoxicating scent.
“Is it okay if I still keep it a surprise? If it’s going to bother you, let me know.”
“This is an incredible surprise. I don’t remember the last time I rode in a limo. Maybe after college? We did a family wine-tasting tour—Archers only. It was a blast.”
“Sounds fun. When I come back sometime, when I’m not hiding out, you’ll have to take me on a tour like that.”
When she came back. Meaning she wasn’t staying here indefinitely. Had he expected that? Not really. But he also hadn’t given it much thought, and now it was burning into his brain. He didn’t want her to leave.
He shoved the thoughts away and focused on her beside him. He scooted over until her thigh was snug against his, and he could feel her heat. “You look like you’re going to one of those awards shows.”
“I wore this to the Golden Globes last year.”
“And you just happened to bring it with you to Ribbon Ridge while hiding out?”
She smoothed her hand over thigh, her fingertips grazing his pant leg. “Of course. I never travel without a cocktail dress and diamond earrings or four-inch Louboutins.”
“What are Louboutins?”
She giggled as she lifted her foot. “My shoes. I had my assistant overnight everything.”
So tonight was very special. He hoped he didn’t screw it up.
They didn’t turn toward Ribbon Ridge proper but headed west. Where were they going?
“What did you do today?” she asked.
“Not much, just work. I’d ask what you did today, but I’m guessing it involved hair and makeup.”
She cocked her head to the side. “How long do you think it takes me to get ready? Don’t answer that. Longer than you think, especially when I’m on my own. I even had to paint my own toenails. This is much easier when you have a team.” She chuckled. “Wow, do I sound like a pampered princess or what?”
“You sound like an A-list movie star who’s used to things a certain way. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. “You are the least judgmental pers
on I know. It’s one of the things I like most about you.”
He’d never been good at judging people—for better or for worse. He’d been horribly taken advantage of in his youth on a few occasions. Thankfully he’d had his siblings to step in and protect him from assholes.
They continued to drive west, and his curiosity over their destination grew. “I’m trying to think of where we’re going, and I’m drawing a blank.”
“It’s not exactly an obvious place for a date. At least not at our age.”
Now he was really confused. The limo turned left off the highway and followed the country road for a few miles. They were headed toward another small town southwest of Ribbon Ridge, but there was nothing there, save an Elks Lodge, a tiny, family-owned diner, and a lavender farm. Oh, and the high school that served all of the small towns in this part of the valley.
Just as he thought that, the limo turned up the road leading to West Valley High School. “Are we going to my high school?”
They pulled into the parking lot, so clearly, yes, they were. The limo stopped in front of the gym. The driver opened the right-hand door and helped Alaina out. Evan watched her long legs unfold as she stood on the curb. He liked her in heels. Unbelievably sexy.
He climbed out, and she took his hand. He followed her toward the door to the gym. “What about the driver?”
“He’ll wait.”
Mesmerized by the sway of her hips, he trailed her until she reached the door. He stepped around her and pulled it open. “It’s unlocked.”
She looked up at him, her lips curved. “It’s all part of the surprise. Come inside.” She stepped over the threshold and then to the side to allow him to move beside her.
The door clanged shut behind him, and he felt as though he’d stepped into another world. A world he’d seen in a high-school yearbook but had never experienced for himself.
The gym was awash in twinkling white lights, pale blue and white streamers, and more balloons than he’d ever seen in his life.
“How?” He didn’t get the rest of the question out. Couldn’t.
He headed farther inside, his eyes moving quickly from one detail to another. There was a pergola strung with lights on one wall. In front of it was a camera on a tripod. There was a table with a punch bowl and two glasses. Another table sported all sorts of candy set up in intricate displays—licorice sticks, a cascade of colored candies, even a chocolate fountain. A disco ball hung over the far end of the gym, and at the other was a small, rectangular table with candles and covered plates.
