First, the meeting with Eve, and then the call from the E.R. nurse. His head hadn’t stopped spinning since he left Grady Memorial an hour ago. He opened the refrigerator door and muttered a thanks. A lone green-tinted bottle sat on the top shelf. Perfect. He only needed one.
He uncapped the bottle and took it with him to the living room. Before he dropped onto the tan leather couch, he pulled the key the nurse had given him out of his pocket. It clearly belonged to a safe-deposit box. The nurse had found the key in Rick’s sock the night he was admitted, and knew Evan had a keen interest in Rick’s case. She’d taken a professional and ethical risk and called Evan. He’d promised her and her husband dinner, and against every grain of good sense and ethical bone in his body, he’d accepted the key.
The question was, what should he do with it? Give it to Eve? Or call Liza? He took a long cool sip of beer. After what Eve told him, he wanted to talk to Liza. He’d misjudged her. But she sure had helped feed his imagination. She could’ve explained about Rick, about the lawsuit. Yeah, he knew she’d tried, but only after the fact.
Hell, that was his ego talking. He’d wanted to rescue her. Be her knight in shining armor. He’d wanted to help solve her problems. But who the hell did he think he was? She hadn’t turned to anyone for help, not even her best friends, women she’d grown up with. She’d wanted to handle her own mess. Call it pride or self-sufficiency. That’s who Liza was. Take her or leave her.
She certainly didn’t make it easy.
Shaking his head, he tipped the bottle to his lips. Less than two lousy weeks. That’s all it had been since he’d really gotten to know her. How could he be in so emotionally deep? Was it because he’d finally caught the prize after admiring her from afar, or finally achieving success after having been shot down? He’d never been about the chase. Obviously, because even when he’d thought she’d used him, his feelings for her hadn’t truly changed.
He’d been angry, mostly with himself, but that hadn’t stopped him from wanting her, from lying awake thinking about how good it had been between them. That made him all the more an idiot. Angela had taught him a valuable lesson—don’t get emotionally involved. Don’t be gullible. Have fun, be up front, have great sex. That’s all. How often had he reminded himself? Yet when it came to Liza, his common sense took off in the wind.
He was glad Eve had told him about the diaries. As misguided as Liza had been, she’d tried to do what she thought was the right thing. Eve and Jane had forgiven her. She’d get back some of her old life. But that didn’t mean everything would go back to the way it was between him and Liza. He didn’t even know if she’d stay in Atlanta.
He laid his head back and swung his feet onto the oak coffee table, sending an old issue of Psychology Today flying across the room. He had to call Liza. Tell her about the key. It would be juvenile to ignore her and give it to Eve.
He mentally laughed at himself. As if he would deprive himself of the pleasure of delivering it to her. He still wanted to play the hero, wanted to see the look on Liza’s face when he handed her the key and she realized he’d saved her ass.
He took a last gulp of beer and glanced at his watch. It wasn’t too late. He’d go to her apartment. A block from there he’d call to tell her he was on his way. She’d wanted to explain about Rick, and Evan hadn’t given her the chance. By now she might not even want to see him. Too bad.
He got up, jerked off his loosened tie and then dropped it on the couch. After leaving the empty bottle on the kitchen counter, he grabbed his keys and went out the back door. He hit the garage door button on the wall pad and as the door slid open, he got into his car. He put the car in Reverse and, waiting for the door to finish opening, his gaze went to the rearview mirror. A car pulled in behind him. It looked just like Liza’s.
* * *
She should’ve called. It was late, and what she had to say not only could’ve waited until tomorrow, but also until after Christmas, for that matter. But Liza wanted to see him. Had to see him. That is, if she ever wanted to get a good night’s sleep again.
She squinted at the street sign on the right. Not that she’d ever paid much attention when she’d come to Evan’s house before, but she was pretty sure that this was his street. She made the turn and saw the redbrick two-story house with the white gazebo that she’d noticed the morning he’d driven her to her car.
Nearly every house was decorated with colored lights strung along the eaves or woven through hedges and trees. The brick ranch-style house next to the two-story had a trio of animated reindeers sitting on the lawn, and the one after that had a large blow-up Santa swaying in the chilly breeze. Only two houses on the street were devoid of decorations. One of them belonged to Evan. She could see the starkness of it from half a block away.
She slowed the car down while her pulse sped up. He didn’t want to see her. What if he refused to open the door? Just left her standing in the cold. No, Evan was too much the gentleman. He’d let her in, listen to what she had to say and then throw her out. He’d be polite about it, of course, but there would be no mistake that he didn’t want to see her again.
She squared her shoulders, and turned into his driveway. Admittedly, she’d been through worse. And she did have a perfectly legitimate reason for coming to talk to him. If she was going to be working for Just Between Us again and be at the studio every day, it was only right she warn him. Make sure they could be civil toward each other and not cause tension around the station.
That’s what she’d told herself, anyway, when she’d been sitting in her apartment stewing over being unable to explain herself to him. He could listen for five crummy minutes. However, now that she was here, sitting in his driveway with the garage door slowly lifting, she wanted to get away as fast as she could. Although she just sat there, suddenly unsure.
Evan got out of his car first. Liza followed suit. They walked toward each other but he had the advantage of the garage light shining in her face. His was totally in shadow.
“Hi,” he said. “I didn’t expect you.”
“I should’ve called.”
“No, it’s okay.” He had on a white dress shirt, no tie and no suit jacket. Odd, because it was cold.
“If you’re on your way out I can…” She cleared her throat, and took a step back. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Why did you come?”
She hesitated. The gentleness in his voice unnerved her.
“It’s business. Sort of.”
“Yes?”
“First, I want to thank you for the other night and what you did for me. After that scene at the station…well, you could’ve told me to go to hell.”
“No problem. I was doing my job.”
“Speaking of jobs…” She cleared her throat. “I’ve been offered my old one.” Damn, she wished she could see his face.
“Really?”
She sighed. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. “I know you can’t forgive me for the other night, but I hope we can be civil.”
“You’re staying in Atlanta, then?”
“Yes.”
He took a step closer, the streetlight illuminating his face. At the tenderness in his eyes her chest tightened. “Only for the job?”
“I don’t deserve you, Evan.” She probably would’ve run if fear and shock hadn’t rooted her to the ground. He couldn’t still want her. Was this some kind of cruel payback?
The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. “Why not?”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s a pretty strong opinion. I’d like to know how you arrived at it.”
She glared at him. Why was he putting her on the spot like this? “I never would’ve believed you had such a mean streak in you.”
“Tell me why you don’t think you deserve me.”
“Damn you.”
“Is it me? Or don’t you think you deserve to be loved?” He must have realized she was about to take off. His hand darted out and he grabbed her wri
st. “You want to keep running? How will that change anything? You’ll only take the problem with you.”
Liza tried to twist free but he wouldn’t let her go. “Don’t try and psychoanalyze me.”
“No trying necessary. You lay it all out there.” He pulled her closer. “Liza Skinner doesn’t need anyone. She can take on the world. Translation—the further she keeps herself away from people, the less she’ll get hurt.” He hauled her up against him. “Guess what? I’m not going to let you get away with it anymore.”
She had to tip her head back to look at him. She saw it then, the fierce determination in his eyes that told her he wasn’t giving up on her. What a time to want to cry. She clung to him, blinking back the tears. She’d done too much crying in the past couple of days, more than in her entire adult life.
He brushed the back of his hand down her cheek. “Go ahead, let go,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”
“And waste the moment?” Swallowing back the tears, Liza went up on tiptoes and touched his lips with hers. Softly, sweetly, letting him know how much he’d come to mean to her. How much she never wanted to let him down again. And then she kissed him like she never had before.
Epilogue
New Year’s Day
The party to celebrate the recent distribution of the lottery money had already started by the time Evan and Liza entered the restaurant. The private back room where Eve and Jane and the rest of the staff had begun the festivities was buzzing with excitement. Liza looked forward to meeting some of the new members who had joined the show since she’d left. The initial sting of seeing everyone else was gone.
Between Eve and Jane and one too many Christmas parties, Liza was no longer persona non grata. Everyone who needed to know had been advised of the blackmail, but the details were kept to a minimum. Eve had welcomed her back with open arms and that seemed to be good enough for everyone else.
Christmas decorations were still up, and Liza whispered to Evan, “It’ll be nice not to have all this stuff around, huh?”
He slid an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, I don’t know. I have a new perspective on Christmas.”
She smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yep.”
“Any particular reason why?” Making sure no one saw them, she brushed against his fly.
“You will pay for that.” Stepping sway, he smiled at Eve, who waved them over to where she and Mitch and Jane and Perry were sipping champagne.
Liza laughed and linked an arm through his as they walked toward the group. The truth was, she’d also changed her mind about the holidays. How could she not after spending Christmas morning in front of the fireplace in bed with Evan? They’d barely made it to his parents’ house in time for dinner.
“About time you two showed up,” Eve said, waving an impatient hand. “Here.” She passed them each a flute of the bubbly. Liza had already met Mitch and Perry, but Evan hadn’t, so introductions were made.
“Nicole just informed me that she really doesn’t want a going-away party so we’re having a farewell toast soon,” Eve said.
Liza said a silent thanks to Nicole, who was standing near the dessert table smiling at her significant other, Devon, who’d be going to California with her. Liza really didn’t know Nicole, the woman who’d replaced her, but because she was leaving, Liza would be back at her old job tomorrow.
Cole Crawford, the show’s supervising producer, walked up with his girlfriend, Jessie, and shook Evan’s hand, and then kissed Liza on the cheek. “Where’s Liza and what have you done with her?”
“Knock it off. You’ve seen me in a dress before.”
“Once.”
Liza frowned down at the simple-cut black dress that probably made her look way too thin. “No.”
“Yes,” Eve, Jane and Cole said at the same time.
“Okay, already.”
Carrying drinks, Zach Haas and his girlfriend Kelly, an actress whom he met when she was a guest on the show, joined the group. Liza didn’t really know Zach. He’d started with Just Between Us as a cameraman after she’d left. But she sheepishly recalled talking to him once when she’d wanted to pump him for information about the lawsuit.
“So,” Evan said, “now that you all are filthy rich, what are your plans for the money?”
Zach laughed. “I don’t know about filthy rich. I’ve always wanted to make a small indie film. That’ll about wipe me out.”
“Really?” Jane looked from him to Kelly. “You’re exaggerating, I hope.”
Kelly smiled fondly at him. “It’s a huge risk, but he’s going to do such an incredible job, he’ll get his money back ten times over.”
Conservative Jane frowned. Liza understood. Blowing all that money on one thing was scary. But she loved how Kelly supported Zach and his dream.
“What about you, Cole?” Liza asked. “I hope you don’t have plans of retiring soon.”
Eve scoffed. “He’d better not.”
Smiling, Cole slipped an arm around Jessie. “We’re taking the girls on one of those Disney cruise vacations,” he said, referring to his twins, for whom he had sole custody. “And then we’ll leave them with Annie and George while we tour Europe for three weeks.”
Jessie beamed at him. “He’s such a good guy, he’s buying Annie a new car, too. But it’s a surprise.”
Cole looked embarrassed. “The rest goes into college funds. The little monkeys are growing so fast I can’t keep up with them.” He looked at Eve, clearly eager to redirect everyone’s attention. “What about you?”
Eve glanced cryptically at Jane, whispered something to her date, Mitch, and then looked at Evan. “May we borrow her for a moment?”
Before Evan answered, Jane took one of Liza’s arms and Eve took the other. They steered her to the far corner of the room away from everyone, and faced her.
“We have something to say and I’m warning you that this is not a negotiation.” Eve had on her no-nonsense face. “Nor is it a request.”
“Got it?” Jane added.
Startled, Liza nodded.
Eve reached into the small silver evening bag hanging over her shoulder. Jane’s hand disappeared into a pocket of her blue silk dress. They exchanged pointed glances before each withdrew separate folded pieces of paper, and then at the same time, shoved each one into Liza’s hands.
She looked down. It wasn’t just paper. They each had given her a check. “What is this?” She unfolded one of them and nearly fell over at the sum.
“It’s for you,” Eve said. “Jane and I decided our shares should be split three ways.”
Liza shook her head, and tried to give the checks back. “No way. I’m serious. No way.”
Jane glared at her. “You wanna bet? Didn’t Eve make it clear this is nonnegotiable?”
“You guys…” She couldn’t accept this money. It wouldn’t be fair. “If I cry and mess up my makeup, I’m gonna be really pissed.”
“Tough.” Jane wasn’t having any of it.
Liza still hadn’t gotten used to the change in her. “Seriously, this is such a nice gesture but—”
“Seriously…shut up,” Eve insisted, “we have the diaries back and it didn’t cost us a thing, thanks to Evan. Rick will not be seeing the outside of a jail cell for a while. Life is good. Enjoy.”
Liza opened her mouth to protest further, but Jane cut her off. “Look, give some of the money to Mary Ellen, if it makes you feel better.”
That got Liza’s attention. She’d promised Mary Ellen that she’d help get her and Freedom out of that unsafe apartment complex. But that would have to wait until she got her first paycheck. The thing was, Liza was so broke that she could really use the money herself. Her pride told her to pass the checks back. It took every ounce of humility to keep them in her hand.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You guys are the best.”
“Enough of that.” Eve waved a hand. “Did you like Evan’s parents? You went there for Christmas, yes?”
“Oh, here we
go,” Liza said, bracing herself to be interrogated. “Yes, they were very nice. Yes, Evan and I are talking about moving in together.”
Jane let out a shriek that got everyone’s attention. She briefly covered her mouth. “Sorry, but that is so cool.”
Eve smiled, looking extraordinarily pleased. “He’s a good man, Liza.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” Her gaze drifted toward him. He met her eyes and winked.
Neither of them looked away. How did she get so lucky? To have the best friends ever, and a guy she never dreamed could be so terrific. She hadn’t told anyone yet, but she’d looked into trying a twelve-step meeting for adult children of alcoholics. If someone had suggested such a thing a year ago, she would’ve told them where to go. Not now. Evan meant too much to her. No way was she going to screw up this relationship.
She watched him say something to Mitch and Perry, and then head her way. As if they knew Liza needed a moment with him, Eve and Jane sort of drifted back to the guys.
Liza was standing alone when he reached her. He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “You are the most beautiful woman in this room, and I am the luckiest guy.”
Readily, she stepped into his arms. “You couldn’t be more mistaken, Evan,” she whispered, tilting her head back for his kiss. “I’m the luckiest one by far.”
What She Really Wants For Christmas Page 17
